4 ms·

> Indefinitely? How do we know it's a feature vs a temporarily convenient oversight? I would point out that Apple has permitted booting alternative operating s

by DCKing 6y ago

> Indefinitely? How do we know it's a feature vs a temporarily convenient oversight? I would point out that Apple has permitted booting alternative operating systems throughout their m68k (at least the m68ks that could meaningfully boot Linux or a BSD derivative) [1], PowerPC [2], and Intel [3] phases. It's only on Intel they actively made this a feature, because Windows Bootcamp probably allowed to sell them a certain percentage more Macs. The only reason to believe they would change this is that the Apple Silicon architecture changes would have Apple be interested in the Mac being some sort of equivalent to an iPod Touch. I don't really see Apple being interested in that, and Apple reps have gone on record to argue similar points as well. [1]: e.g. https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/mac68k/ https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/mac68k/ [2]: e.g. https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/macppc/ https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/macppc/ [3]: Uh, anything that boots on x86 EFI will probably boot.

Teknoman117 6y ago
And at that Bootcamp is a BIOS emulation layer. You don't need to go through the bootcamp process to run operating systems with native EFI support such as Linux, Windows 7+, etc.
- marcan_42 6y ago
  I don't think recent Intel macs even support "Boot Camp" (CSM) any more. You need to go through UEFI, Boot Camp now is just a software wizard for getting UEFI Windows installed.
  - zinekeller 6y ago
    You're totally correct, it is indeed just putting the drivers on the installation media and partitioning magic.
    - Tsiklon 6y ago
      On 2017+ machines you don’t even need an external drive, during the partitioning setup it carves out a temporary partition to store the contents of the ISO + their drivers, windows installation customisation etc. And it’s all deleted after the installation of the drivers after windows is installed
      - johnwalkr 6y ago
        It's one of the easiest windows installs you can do.
      - Kwpolska 6y ago
        My 2015 Mac (running Big Sur) did that temporary-partition dance too.
e12e 6y ago
> The only reason to believe they would change this is that the Apple Silicon architecture changes would have Apple be interested in the Mac being some sort of equivalent to an iPod Touch. I don't see any great difference/reasons why the iPad pro is locked, and a MacBook isn't. I hope Apple "computers" will remain unlocked, but I'm not sure I see a real business case for Apple to keep them open.

by DCKing 6y ago

Teknoman117 6y ago

And at that Bootcamp is a BIOS emulation layer. You don't need to go through the bootcamp process to run operating systems with native EFI support such as Linux, Windows 7+, etc.

marcan_42 6y ago
I don't think recent Intel macs even support "Boot Camp" (CSM) any more. You need to go through UEFI, Boot Camp now is just a software wizard for getting UEFI Windows installed.
- zinekeller 6y ago
  You're totally correct, it is indeed just putting the drivers on the installation media and partitioning magic.
  - Tsiklon 6y ago
    On 2017+ machines you don’t even need an external drive, during the partitioning setup it carves out a temporary partition to store the contents of the ISO + their drivers, windows installation customisation etc. And it’s all deleted after the installation of the drivers after windows is installed
    - johnwalkr 6y ago
      It's one of the easiest windows installs you can do.
    - Kwpolska 6y ago
      My 2015 Mac (running Big Sur) did that temporary-partition dance too.

e12e 6y ago

> The only reason to believe they would change this is that the Apple Silicon architecture changes would have Apple be interested in the Mac being some sort of equivalent to an iPod Touch. I don't see any great difference/reasons why the iPad pro is locked, and a MacBook isn't. I hope Apple "computers" will remain unlocked, but I'm not sure I see a real business case for Apple to keep them open.