# Anyone know where in NYC to buy an iMac Mini with Boot Camp + XP on it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790 "2007-09-02T05:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/1 "2007-09-02T05:41:13Z")
My girlfriend is a PC user. She’s decided she wants a new iMac Mini because of the form factor (and that the specs are pretty decent for price + form factor). It’s only mildly likely that she’ll actually use OS X, she’s a Lotus 123 user and detests Excel. Rather than chase down a copy of XP / Service Pack two and install Boot Camp then XP, is there somewhere in New York City (or, failing that, 800 number or website) where I can buy one already set up in that fashion? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/2 "2007-09-02T06:31:14Z")
There are a lot of companies that make mini PCs. [http://www.cappuccinopc.com/](http://www.cappuccinopc.com/) and [www.littlepc.com](http://www.littlepc.com) are two. Unfortunately looking at those sites it looks like they are a lot more expensive than Mac Minis. To be honest, it’s not that hard to install Windows on a Mini. See: [here](http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_install_windows_xp_on_my_mac_using_boot_camp_1.html) . The easiest solution is probably just going to be to do it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Sparklo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Sparklo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparklo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/3 "2007-09-02T13:53:19Z")
Just to be clear, is she interested in the [iMac](http://www.apple.com/imac/) (all in one computer including LCD screen) or the [Mac mini](http://www.apple.com/macmini/) (small form factor computer that uses a separate monitor)? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/4 "2007-09-02T16:22:37Z")
I could’ve sworn that Apple billed that little sucker as the “iMac mini”. Did they change the name at some point? Anyway, the mini. I do, in fact, have a copy of the XP Pro installation CD. Problem is, I don’t know if it’s of sufficiently recent genesis to be SP2. Can’t use a pre SP2 CD to install using Boot Camp. Parallels is a lot less picky (heck, I could give her Windows for Workgroups 3.11) but at least for now I want her to have the option of booting straight into XP. How can I tell from looking at the installation CD whether or not it has SP2 on it? ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/5 "2007-09-03T12:48:35Z")
Looks like [Tekserve](http://www.tekserve.com/sales/products/microsoft_windows.html) might have what you’re looking for. > [@](#): > > Let Tekserve pre-install Windows XP on your new Intel Mac at time of purchase\* ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/6 "2007-09-03T14:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] I do, in fact, have a copy of the XP Pro installation CD. Problem is, I don’t know if it’s of sufficiently recent genesis to be SP2. Can’t use a pre SP2 CD to install using Boot Camp. Parallels is a lot less picky (heck, I could give her Windows for Workgroups 3.11) but at least for now I want her to have the option of booting straight into XP. [/QUOTE] Have you thought about [slipstreaming SP2](http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp) into your original XP install disc? This option could save you some expense at the cost of a little bit of work. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-where-in-nyc-to-buy-an-imac-mini-with-boot-camp-xp-on-it/417790/7 "2007-09-03T16:41:09Z")
Hi, **Hodge**. Yeah, I came across the info on slipstreaming and am midway into the process. Right now stuck on how the heck to burn a bootable Windows CD when we only have MacOS cd-burning applications on hand. But someone pointed me to a free 7-day demo copy of Nero, which one way or another should result in a slipstream-install CD of XP Pro SP2. ::fingers crossed::