http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=76
Pogue's Posts A Parallel Windows Universe David Pogue Last week, the much-anticipated Parallels for Mac OS X finally exited beta-land and became a real, live, shipping piece of software ($50 through July 15). It lets you run Windows (any version-or Linux, or SolarisĀ) on any Intel-based Macintosh. In a window, no less, so you don't even have to restart the computer when you need to duck into a Windows program. It runs in a window of its own, as though the entire Windows world were just another one of your Mac programs. And it's fast, although not fast enough for 3-D games. Parallels sure has come a long way since its beta stages. Everything works in that little Windows window: wireless, networking, audio, CD's, and so on. I just can't tell you how handy it is to be able to live in Mac OS X but have the flexibility to duck into the occasional Windows program without having to restart the Mac. My only disappointment: I wasn't able to get Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the Windows dictation software I use, to work right under Parallels. It *seems* as though it's going to work-the five-minute training session seems to go well, although I had to repeat certain words that NatSpeak didn't "hear." And actual dictation is possible, but transcription is slow and uncharacteristically filled with errors; my guess is that either NatSpeak is expecting a faster "PC," or microseconds of audio are getting dropped in the translation from Mac-land to Windows-world. (As I've noted earlier, however, NatSpeak works with amazing speed AND accuracy on a Macintosh running Boot Camp. That's Apple's free utility that lets you install Windows on an Intel-based Mac; its sole downside is that you have to restart the computer each time you want to switch operating systems.) Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
