No matter how clean-cut-looking and convincing the "I am a Mac" guy appears, those switching to a Mac could use some assistance, and Parallels wants to extend its helping hand.
The maker of the popular virtualized software environment that lets you run Windows within a Mac OS announced Tuesday its "complete solution" designed to simplify the process of moving from a PC to Mac.
(Credit:
Parallels)
The product combines the company's Parallels Desktop 4.0 and a set of tools and interactive tutorials designed to help "switchers" understand how to operate Mac OS X, transfer all PC data and applications, and run Windows applications on their new Mac computers.
This is interesting, as Parallels, as well as VMware, another maker of virtualized Windows environment for Macs, need both platforms to do their business.
Nonetheless, this seems like a useful solution for many people as, according to Apple, the switch from PC to Mac is on the rise. While the overall PC industry saw declines of 3 percent for the quarter ending in June, Apple sales were up 4 percent year over year and half of the Macs sold were to customers who had never owned a Mac before.
The Parallels Desktop 4.0 Switch to Mac Edition is available immediately at Apple stores and online and cost $100.
Personally, I prefer Boot Camp, which comes free with the Mac OS X Leopard and later and allows for running Windows natively on a Mac (and therefore suffers no performance degradation). Boot Camp can also essentially completely turn a Mac into a PC.
Unfortunately, Boot Camp doesn't allow for running Windows and Mac at the same time. Also, it doesn't come with tutorials so you would have to figure Windows out by yourself.
Back in September, we introduced you to Logitech's newest diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks. CNET's Rich Brown expressed confusion as to why we actually need a "for Notebooks" model, and after doing a full-length review, I must agree. There's absolutely nothing about the diNovo for Notebooks that makes it strictly for laptops. Well, there is one tiny little key: the eject button. Although, that can still be used for desktops, so I guess that designator means nothing- it's all marketing.
That's not to say that we didn't like the keyboard itself, though. It looks and performance almost exactly the same as the Logitech diNovo Mac Edition, except for a few different shortcut and Windows keys. Both keyboards integrate Logitech's PerfectStroke key design that we're loving more and more as the days go on. The shortcut keys on the top row make it easy to open your most popular applications, and, of course, they're all reprogrammable thanks to Logitech's SetPoint desktop software. Unfortunately, both diNovos suffer from the same shortcomings as well. Neither give you control over angle ergonomics, nor do they include integrated USB ports or backlit keys. The diNovo for Notebooks also daringly boasts the same $100 price tag, which we think is a little too much to charge for a keyboard lacking so many extra features.
Check out our full review of the Logitech diNovo for Notebooks.
After reviewing the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, the diNovo for Mac, and the diNovo for Notebooks, our day-to-day favorite by a long shot is the Illuminated Keyboard. The backlit keys are a huge help in the dark, two feet on the bottom let you adjust the angle of the keys, and the uniformly flat surface area makes things super comfortable on your wrists. Finally, the $80 price tag is easy on the wallet and helps us forget about its lack of USB extension ports.
Read our full review of the Logitech diNovo Illuminated Keyboard.
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