[orthocross]

MYTH #1: XP (or Vista, or Linux, or whatever) cannot be installed as the exclusive OS On an Apple Intel PC. I know for a fact that it can be (because I have done it personally several times.) If you want information on how to do it, reply to "orthocross@wildblue.net"). It takes absolutely NO hacking of OS X or XP (or Vista, Linux, or any other Intel-based OS). In fact, OS X is NOT needed, other than to create the initial Macintosh Drivers Disk for XP. Once it is burnt, OS X is no longer needed. The ONLY requirements are that the Apple PC MUST be Intel-based, and it MUST have the firmware updates installed which are needed to install BootCamp, which actually create a virtual BIOS in the EFI chip. In all newer Macs, even these are not necessary, since the necessary firmware upgrades are installed at the factory.MYTH #2: It is possible to install XP or OS X on an external Bootable USB drive.This is not possible in the case of XP. It CANNOT be installed on ANY external drive in the case of XP. The ONLY way to do it on a Mac is to install it on an external Firewire drive. External USB drives simply are not bootable under Windows. Since I've not tried to install OS X on an external USB drive, I cannot speak for OS X, other than to say it WILL install AND boot on an external Firewire drive, since I HAVE done that several times.Myth #3: One must purchase an Apple PC to obtain a "FULL" copy of OS X. This is patently false, since OS X (a "full" copy) may be purchased at any number of third-party stores, such as CompUSA, where I have personally seen it on sale, usually at Apple's suggested retail price of $129, sometimes $10 less. These copies may be installed out-of-the-box on a blank drive, or one with a copy of OS X already installed on the internal fixed-disk.Myth #4: One MUST use a "FULL RETAIL" copy of XP Professional to be able to install it via BootCamp Software on your Apple Intel PC. This is false, as any Windows user who has ever done it knows quite well. Even a "FULL OEM" copy of XP Professional or Home works equally well. Why spend $299 for a Retailcopy of XP Pro or $199 for a Retail copy of XP Home, when one can purchase "FULL OEM" copies of XP Home for as little as $85US, and "FULL OEM" copies of XP Pro for as little as $100US?Myth #5: One must purchase an entire PC, motherboard, or HD to be able to purchase Windows OEM software. While this MIGHT have been true for editions of Windows previous to XP, it is NO LONGER true for XP. The ONLY hardware purchase requirements for the purchase of XP OEM licenses is that that the hardware "item(s)" MUST be "necessary" to use the machine, such as a $1.00 powercord, or $2.00 mouse. Many third-party vendors (even Amazon.com) will include such hardware items in your purchase of XP at little or not added cost.Hopefully, this post will help to clear up the "mystical nonsense" currently revolving around BootCamp and Windows on Apple PCs.Donald L McDaniel