Boot Camp: first impressions

I did not waste any time installing the newly released Boot Camp on my MacBook Pro.
And thus, the following is my first impressions.
Once updated to 10.4.6, the firmware updated, and Boot Camp downloaded, the hardest part on the Mac side is done.
The software, and especially its documentation, does a good job of guiding the user step by step through the process.
But things get complicated by Windows. Having a license for VPC and XP, I hoped that I could use it to install Windows. Not only does VPC not contain a real Windows installation CD, but also it's license number is not accepted by a standard Windows XP install CD.
So I reused the license number of a PC, which grows dusty between DVD drive firmware installations, and it's installation disc in order to perform the install. Let me reassure the defenders of license agreements, my situation will be remedied as soon as possible!
Let's return to XP.
The installation is rather boring and long, with a request for the password in the middle of the install, which obliges one to remain near the computer during the entire process. You can make good use of this time by cleaning your screen, the blue color particularly helping to clean every last bit :)
Then the installation of drivers for the Mac begins, nothing too difficult, except that sometimes the windows are superimposed and XP warns that the drivers are not signed.
The real hassle was connecting to the ethernet in order to find drivers on the web in order to get the necessary drivers for a WPA 2 WiFi connection and immediately installing an anti-virus program. It is a very unusual problem for a Mac user :)
With all that finished, one has a Mac with XP that is completely functional and also very quick.
I quickly launched some benchmarks, and they flew! And icing on the cake, ATI Tools allows the overclocking of the X1600.
However there is a small issue of the keyboard mapping. [On the French keyboard] if you press the "-", a "§" will be shown.
In summary, one has a fine PC with XP. Having no further need to stay in Windows, I hastened to return to OS X (Home Sweet Home...).
I'm sure, however, that I will find several reason to utilize this functionality, such as:
- To be amazed, like with exposé, Dashboard, spotlight...
- To make "bidouilles," like flashing the firmware of peripherals
- To play certain games which aren't available for the Mac
- To see how prettier MacBidouille is on Safari on the Mac than on Explorer on the PC.
In all that the potential uses of XP that I have describe, only some game manufacturers for the Mac are likely to suffer any loss.
The transition from PPC to X86 will not be any worse for them than the transition from OS 9 to OS X. They will just have to start releasing their games at the same time for Mac OS and Windows.
For long time Mac users, Boot Camp is only a way to do more on their Mac before Apple allows running it inside OSX through virtualisation. For PC users, who are looking at Apple more and more, it will be a case for buying a Mac.
In short, I sincerely think that Boot Camp is not a means for Microsoft to invade the Mac market, but really a way for Apple to break down the door of the Windows citadel.