Hi Mitchell, Parallels runs like any other Mac OSX application. You do not have to run parallels at startup. A few files are installed into the OS to support networking. When installing parallels, you create a disk image file that is expandable in size. You install windows or linux or whatever x86 OS you want to use into the disk image, then you can install subsequent apps onto the disk image. When you start parallels, it opens the disk image file and treats it like a separate hard drive. It boots from the installed OS. Parallels runs in a window, or optionally can run in full screen mode. It runs very well for most applications. It's device support is improving; however, it's graphics mode does not support advanced graphics necessary for the latest games. I find Parallels very easy to use, with excellent performance - nearly as good as boot camp without the hassles of having to reboot (I've used both boot camp and parallels - I only run parallels now). You can share a folder to allow use of files in both OS X and the parallels environment. There are other ways to share files as well using such tools as webdav, ftp, ssh, and samba sharing. For my fairly limited needs, Parallels is an outstanding product that fulfills an important need for my work requirements. I run a MacBook Pro, 2 GHz, 2 gig of RAM on 10.4.7. HTH, Norm --- Norman A. Cohen nacohen at mac.com "So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work." Peter Drucker On Sep 6, 2006, at 02:50 AM, Mitchell Senft wrote: > Continuing my series of simple questions from simple people: > > We're contemplating a dual-boot MacBook so Parallels is very > attractive (as opposed to BootCamp). Question is that I've read and > read, including parsing the Parallels start guide, and I still have > no idea exactly it works. Does it have to be booted like an app on > startup every time? And I assume the Win apps get installed where > apps normally get installed? Day to day, how easy is it to use? > > Thanks, > > Mitchell >