LarryCast.com

By trade I’m a computer nerd, by hobby I’m an amateur photographer (among other things). You’ll see how this fits in, in a sec.
For the last few years I’ve used an Acer Travelmate 110 tablet pc as my constant companion (1Ghz PentiumM processor, 1.256Gb of ram, 100Gb 7200rpm Hitachi hdd) and it served me very well. When I got my Apple Mac Book Pro laptop recently, I realized that my various software purchases were at odds with my choice of OS. Being a Capture One user for raw photos, my Windows version of software wasn’t going to work with my new OS. I could always upgrade to the Mac version, but maybe I wouldn’t have to..

Here’s the other thing, being a person who used to hold various computer certifications (Novell CNE, Microsoft MCSE, Compaq ASE, etc.) I’ve always found myself in jobs where my Wintel experience was what paid the bills. Sadly (at least in my neck of the woods) Mac only consultants have a hard slog supporting themselves. It’s a shame, honestly.

So, given my background, I use Windows OS’s daily and support them, etc. When I started working with the Mac again I started using Parallels http://www.parallels.com and it is slicker than, “snot on a little kids lip” as a friend of mine used to say.
I’m a big fan of MindJet’s MindManager software as well as Capture One for my Canon Digital Rebel (the original one). Since what I purchased are both Windows versions, I tried to use various methods to still use them without having to upgrade. I know this sounds cheap, but the Mac Book Pro cost me enough already!

At work, we have been playing with Windows Vista and although my little Acer tablet gave it a valiant effort, it just couldn’t hold up its end under Vista, especially when you turn on the speech recognition - it would peg the processor at 100% and just stay there for long periods of time.

Under Parallels, Vista runs like a champ and I’ve also installed a separate version of Windows XP to support Capture One for my photo habit. Both run great - the Parallels staff really deserve a nod for their work. It is awesome!

I’m currently running the latest RC version which has a feature called “coherence”. If you’ve played with Crossover, you know that their model was to encapsulate the Windows app in a bottle that would then run on the Mac, giving you the app without the Windows OS screens.

Parallels has done something similar by using the “coherence” feature. What this does is break the various applications into their own windows that let you work within them without having to interact with the supporting Windows OS. Not a big deal for me being familiar with pretty much every Windows OS going back to DOS but for those without the desire, it insulates you from having to see something unfamiliar.

So to keep this post from going on forever, the Parallels team has outdone themselves by supporting various foreign operating systems all within the context of the Mac OS. I mean the Vista speech recognition stuff works great on the Mac - the microphone works, etc. It’s just like running on a regular PC. My poor little sturdy Acer tablet may finally be put out to pasture in favor of a virtual machine.

Way to go Parallels!