While most of my work is done using a Mac, the Web work I do requires Internet Explorer in a Windows environment, which used to mean I had to work on two separate computers. However, because I work with a bunch of Apple nerds for such a great company, when my old iMac died I got outfitted with a brand new MacBook–capable of running Windows right alongside Mac OS X using some software called Parallels.
Running two operating systems on one computer might not sound like that big of a deal, but trust me, it’s awesome. Not only does it save me from having to physically move back and forth between two machines on my desk, but when I want to take my work home I can just grab the MacBook and go–no more worrying about what files I’ve copied to the server (or if the Windows laptop will actually connect to the server once I’m at home). And, I can actually copy and paste content back and forth between the two environments. Got some text in a document I wrote in the Mac OS that I need posted to the Web? Open-apple C will copy my text from the Mac environment and open-apple V will paste it into the Windows area. (Yes, I realize I sound like a colossal dork right now. But after months of using my computer this way, I’m still impressed with how much more efficiently I’m working.)
And you know what the best part is? I don’t have to lug around that ugly 12-pound IBM anymore.