A small bit of hell froze over recently when Apple released "Boot Camp," a tidy piece of free software that allows Windows XP to run on Intel-based Apple PCs.

After decades of fighting with Microsoft, there had to be a bit of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" in this decision, which boosted Apple's stock price and sent thousands of people to the stores to buy Apple laptops and desktops.

But there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

First, Boot Camp is beta software, meaning Apple is not going to support it. The functionality to run Windows will be included in the upcoming 10.5 version of the Apple operating system (which will be supported), but for now you're on your own if something goes wrong. (That is to say, you can rely on the excellent peer support forums and such offered by Apple, but don't expect Apple's support lines to bail you out.)

Second, you have to have one of the new Apple PCs with the Intel processors. Boot Camp won't run on the older Power PC machines (some of which are still being sold by Apple). So if you are buying an Apple with the expressed purpose of running Windows, make sure you are buying one with the Intel processor. (Older Apples can run Windows via emulation using software called Virtual PC, something I am using on my iBook. It's slower but still works OK for non-gaming applications.)

Third, keep in mind that installing Boot Camp will change the configuration of your hard drive. Boot Camp creates a second partition on the drive that will hold Windows XP, so be prepared to lose some hard drive real estate to Windows.

Fourth, installing Boot Camp doesn't give you Windows XP. You need to provide your own full version (not an upgrade version) of Windows XP Service Pack 2, which will run you about $100 to $200 depending on where you buy it (www.newegg.com has some decent operating system prices, but shop around, especially if you're a college student who can qualify for academic pricing).

Once you get Windows up and running (assuming you do) then you may need to get some more specific drivers and updates downloaded using Windows update. Keep in mind there have been some horror stories of people having real problems with this software hosing their systems. So, just like any other major upgrade, do a full backup first. This is not a minor patch — this is beta software that creates a separate partition and does some other major disk operations, and it would be foolish to proceed without a backup.

If you do get hosed up, keep in mind you may have to start from scratch with your initial Apple disks, so make sure those are handy or don't install Boot Camp.

Also keep in mind that once you get Windows XP happily running on your Apple, you also will need anti-virus software running on that partition, so install AVG on it.

On the Apple side, the Windows partition won't be able to see the Apple partition (without some special software such as MacDrive), so unless you've done that you're probably safe.

WEEKLY WEB WONDER: For great coverage of Boot Camp check out MacWorld at www.macworld.com.

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James Derk is co-owner of CyberDads, a computer repair company, and a computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim@cyberdads.com.