My Windows of opportunity

Okay, that must be the worst play on words I've ever used in a post title. But Apple just announced its new computers will be able to run Windows XP, so anything goes. Hear me out.

Twice a year, the university I work for runs a special promotion for students and employees that offers Apple computers at discounted prices. This year - meaning, ever since the release of the Intel-based MacBook Pro - I have been seriously considering returning to the Apple family which I left sometime around 1999.

It's not hard to explain why. My VAIO is 3 1/2 years old, and takes almost 5 minutes to start up - and once you can actually use the thing, it's almost too hot to handle, literally. Plus, several friends are making the switch from PC to Mac - including a former Mac-hater. And hey, there was never a shadow of doubt in my mind that Mac OS X outshines Windows XP by far.

And then, yesterday's announcement. Imagine this: Have all the comfort, the luxury, the pleasure of using a Mac - plus the ability to switch back to Windows if you really need to. If there ever was a reason not to return to Apple, it's gone.

The window of opportunity* to knock 20% off the MacBook Pro closes in 24 hours (for me at least, as I'll be leaving the country once again tomorrow night). When it comes to buying computers, I just can't make decisions that fast. Plus, I've been told by various Apple users to wait for the second round of Intel-based Macs (which will include an iBook, I hope).

But the decision in principle is made, and this blog post makes it official: I am coming home.

*=See? That play on words really wasn't all that bad. By the way, I read about the Apple announcement here first - now, it's on the front page of the FT.)

JJtags:

• apple
• computer
• windows
• bootcamp