Apple to charge $29 for Boot Camp?

Filed under: Utilities, News, Windows, Macintosh, Commercial

Apple to charge $29 for Boot Camp?

by Brad Linder Jan 22nd 2007

MacScoop reports that it has obtained a document suggesting Apple will release a final version of Boot Camp for Mac OS X Tiger this Spring -- and that it could cost $30.

At the same time, Apple will be launching Mac OS X Leopard, which will include Boot Camp, so if you want the option to dual boot two operating systems, you'll have dual choices: purchase a copy of Boot Camp or upgrade to Leopard.

The beta version of Boot Camp has been around since April of 2006, and should still work for free until September. The final version is expected to support Windows Vista.

This follows news that Apple will be charging users $2 to enable 802.11n support in the Apple TV, and that the company could be charging more than twice the manufacturing costs for the upcoming iPhone. But then, does anybody expect a company like Apple to make money by giving away software or selling hardware with narrow profit margins?

Tags: apple tv, AppleTv, boot camp, BootCamp, dual boot, DualBoot, iphone

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

james-42 said 11:45AM on 1-22-2007

When you say that the current version of Boot Camp will, "...still work for free until September." Does that mean it will stop working on a machine that currently runs it, or that it will not be supported anymore (no updates)? Isn't it a boot hack and drivers? So how would it stop working?

As for Apple making money off of Boot Camp, I think they have done that. I know two MacBook owners, both of whom only bought the MacBook because they could install XP on it. If Apple then force people to pay for it, it seems a little like extortion. MacBook owners who run XP already have to fork over $90 for XP to MS, having to also pay $30 to Apple could sour the deal. The premium then may well become to high and Apple would only loose says.

scottie said 12:07PM on 1-22-2007

They did it with iChat AV- free on Panther, $30 on Jaguar. I suppose it's kinda the same thing

nWODT_Cobalt said 12:20PM on 1-22-2007

"I know two MacBook owners, both of whom only bought the MacBook because they could install XP on it."

This is totally true. I'm considering switching because of many reasons, amongst whose I thought they had a better way. I know they have to make profit but this is really extorsion, they get their funds back by the new users buying some 2000 euros iMac, not meaning fees !

Fenriz said 1:51PM on 1-23-2007

Yeah, that is kind of lame to ask $30 to add it to already $1000+ machines. I thought it was always the Mac experience to just drop a huge roll of dough on the machine (50% more than the same hardware setup would cost for a Windows machine), but in exchange you get *everything*. It seems more like a ploy to entice people to upgrade to Leopard rather than a profit earner.

Not that it's going to hurt Mac sales. Really, who was considering paying $1500 for a MacBook and an additional $100 for WindowsXP, but is scrapping the plans because of the extra $30? It's irritating, but I'd suck it up. Plus the $80 for Parallels.

James said 6:11PM on 1-26-2007

Recently S.J. blamed accounting rules for the need to charge these micro costs ($2 for n). Lynn Turner (big accounting guy) tried to shift the blame back to Apple...but didn't do a very good job of it.

As an accountant, it's guys like me who really cramp Apple's style when it comes to adding functionality.

Here's the set-up: Revenue can only be recognized when it is earned and reasonably collectible. So if Apple promises to give owners upgrades on a laptop they just bought, has Apple really EARNED that revenue? Owners expect Apple to give them more right? and continue giving them more.

If Apple started giving upgrades away for free then it would set a precedent that might not allow Apple to recognize revenue for quite some time after they actually sell the original product. And what about all those prior sales? Apple would have to go back and restate (not pleasant) a couple of years worth of financials because the revenue # might be "wrong".

The solution is one of three choices:
- don't provide the upgrades (no one likes that)
- change the accounting rules (in process...kinda)
- sell the upgrades separately for something reasonably close to the value that users would otherwise attribute to them had it not been bundled with the product in the first place

So sadly, the $29 for Boot Camp actually makes some sense here. But that's just my opinion.

If you really want to get lost in all this look up the term "multiple element revenue recognition", understanding that the rules for software are slightly different than those for hardware.

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