How complicated is it to install Windows on an Intel-based Mac?

It seems to be getting easier all the time.

Using "XOM"

This answer is provided primarily for "historical" purposes. Users who need to "dual boot" an Intel-based Mac would be better served by Apple's Boot Camp solution.

Referring to the "XOM hack" solution originally provided by creative and hard-working hackers, the first version of the Windows on Mac Q&A published April 3, 2006 said:

If you took a quick look at the installation instructions on WinXPonMac (now offline) or watched the video "walk through" at blog Uneasy Silence, it became immediately apparent that compared to installing the average MacOS X application, installing Windows on the Intel-based Macs was rather complicated.

A MacWorld feature documented the process of installing and using Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac via "XOM". The article should be read in its entirety, but regarding the relative complexity, the author said:

I don't think that installing and using Windows XP on an Intel Mac is at a point today where I could recommend it to anyone other than a hardcore dedicated techie type. If everything goes perfectly, yes, almost anyone could get XP installed on an Intel Mac. But when something goes wrong, which it invariably will given the complexity of this project, you're going to want some technical know-how to at least recover from the disaster, if nothing else. You also have to have a bit of a cavalier attitude about your system, knowing it could be rendered unusable at some point by some seemingly innocent action, like installing a new driver.

Once the project matures a bit, and solves the remaining technical hurdles, I would then not hesitate to recommend this solution to those who need Windows XP access but prefer to keep using the Mac as their primary machine.

For more on the original "XOM hack" method of installing Windows, please refer to the Windows on Mac "XOM" Q&As.

Using Apple Boot Camp

Compared to the earlier method released by hardworking and creative hackers, installing Windows XP using Apple's Boot Camp is very easy.

A MacWorld feature summarized the experience:

One word kept coming to mind Wednesday, as I sat down to install Apple's Boot Camp public beta on my Mac mini Core Duo -- simple. Using the software to install Windows XP on my machine? A very simple process. Choosing which OS to boot? Also simple. Installing the necessary drivers? At the risk of repeating myself, simple, simple, and did I mention simple?

For more on Boot Camp, please refer to the Windows on Mac Boot Camp Installation and Boot Camp Usage Q&As.

Using Parallels Desktop for Mac

Due to widespread public beta testing, the final version of Parallels Desktop for Mac is straightforward and easy to install and setup. In addition to Parallels' User Guide and Quick Start Guide, you may find the extremely in-depth set of installation instructions for Parallels' software and Windows XP from the excellent Ask Dave Taylor website helpful.

For more on Parallels Desktop for Mac, please refer to the Windows on Mac Parallels Installation and Parallels Usage Q&As.

Using VMWare Fusion

As of the date last updated (see top), VMWare Fusion is only available in a private beta release, but a wide variety of bloggers have been testing the program and have found it easy to setup and use.