The free beta version of Apple's Boot Camp software has vanished from Apple.com replaced with a warning to customers that the program will expire when Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard goes on sale later this month.
Apple representative say a Windows installation on a user's Mac will continue to work after the Boot Camp license expires. However, the Boot Camp Assistant beta software will not work after the expiration date and Apple will not offer driver updates to beta users. The Boot Camp Assistant software helps set up and manage Windows on the Mac.
Apple has stated the complete Boot Camp release will be bundled into the Oct. 26 release of Leopard. Boot Camp is a Mac program that makes it possible to run Windows natively on Intel-based Macs.
Replacing the download link on Apple's site is a message to Boot Camp user of the beta 1.3 and 1.4 versions of the program: "The license to use Boot Camp Beta expires when Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is available to the public. To continue using Boot Camp at that time, upgrade to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard."
As observers at MacDailyNews point out the beta Boot Camp may not be available through Apple but it is still available from sites MacUpdate and VersionTracker.
Apple has made no secret of its intent to expire the beta. Nevertheless time is running out and options are getting fewer for people who want a free copy of the beta Boot Camp.
I find it extremely odd that anyone would ever choose a mac. I have used them from time to time, and found them extremely limiting, in terms of software offerings, Operating system configuration, stability, and upgradability. Its a nice looking system, almost as nice as vista, but that alone is not a reason to buy a platform. Steve Jobs has crafted this operating sytem as his vision, to be a 'mac" experience for the user. But just like the iphone, users are only allowed to experience the ride, but not drive the system. That is why I opt out of the mac. I'm sure all the mac bigots out there will flame this post, since they are avid prostelizers of their limited system, and take any attempt of criticism as heretical. I for one will continue to enjoy my PC experience, that has always been open to any configuration, be it software or hardware option, that I have ever desired. I will not be limited by the vision of Steve Jobs, and neither will 500 million other PC users.