David Pogue blogs mini-review of Parallels 3

I've only had my MacBook Pro for a couple of months with Parallels, and have migrated every single of my Window's 2000 and XP files from numerous systems over to the Mac and what few applications I still need Windows including SolidWorks 2007 work flawlessly. I'm with Pouge why buy multiple computers when one does it all with style and grace. This is what a personal computer should be!!! I can run Linux, Solaris, XP, you name it without any hiccups or crashes. Kudos Apple and Parallels.

Le Mac est véritablement le couteau suisse de l'informatique. Mieux maintenant c'est de l'argenterie que vous pouvez sortir tous les jours sans honte, avec laquelle vous aurez la productivité la plus élevée possible sur un ordinateur personel . Jobs est en train de prendre sa revanche sur ce pilleur de Gates. Juste retour des choses.

Not only does Apple no longer manufacture 1-button mice, Macs have supported 2-button mice since Mac OS 8 and any 2-button USB mouse worked fine out of the box -- you just needed third-party drivers if you wanted to use a 2-button mouse as a lefty. That said, I don’t know when mice stopped needing third-party drivers for lefties as I've been using a laptop since the second generation Powerbooks.

As for the one-button laptops, I so want a MacBook Pro if only for the two-finger tap = right click. Apple might have been late to the trackpad features game but it's got the best trackpad out there.

Jaybird, your argument for windows compatibility is the number of buttons on the mouse? And then follow it up with: "There is no set of Windows instructions that says, 'two finger click'"? If you need a set of instructions on using your mouse to select or open ANYTHING on ANY OS then the number of mouse buttons is not your problem. Plus, I don't know of anyone who exclusivly uses the mouse provided w/ the system (especially PC). Maybe you're just pissed cuz getting an aftermarket mouse for your PC means downloading some drivers, fun.

I think I'm content not using windows, though I ordered XP just in case Jobs has some super secret stuff planned for Leopard.

The whole "two button mouse" thing jaybird brought up is actually pretty funny. Apple actually doesn't make a one button mouse any more (unless you count only having one button the laptops).

does anyone understand what jayberg is talking about? Because I sure don't.

english...do you speak it? and whats wrong with one mouse button, using an external bluetooth mouse too hard for ya?

can't handle snobbery? then don't buy it, nobody is forcing you to.

i like how apple is associated with snobs. its more like if you can't afford apple don't be sad, get a better job.

"Why not buy a Mac.... to run Windows?" It is not Windows compatible. It still comes with a built in ONE button mouse. Yes, there are work-arounds, but these are not a second button and you have to know the "Apple Only Secret". Why not add the second button? Too complex for Apple to engineer? Too eexpensive to add? Too User Friendly? Less snobish? Fully Windows compatible? Nope. The UI is *not* compatible. Period. There is no Right Mouse Button so you *cannot* click it. Ever. There is no set of Windows instructions that says, "two finger click". Not anywhere. Only Apple would claim 50% is 100% and have people like Pogue buy it and repeat it.

This may not be totally on topic here, but I have an answer to "Why wouldn't you buy a computer that can run all your applications, whichever platform you need?"

While talking to a friend, I mentioned that I use Macs at home and at work. She doesn't like Macs because she feels that the interface is too "childish" and she prefers the Windows interface because it feels more like she's using a computer. Personally I would rather use something that looks nice and is stable (not to mention quite powerful), but there are people out there who associate a difficult and clunky interface with power.

But as long as I can use a Mac, I'll be happy. I've got Boot Camp and XP installed, but I haven't spent more than a few minutes in Windows, and only then to install updates and see for myself what devices were supported. From my perspective, and with the notable exception of gamers, Boot Camp and Parallels only serve as a safety net for people switching from Windows.

What about Aero? Anyone?