As real-world exciting as the prospect of being able to switch from OS X (cool) to WinXP (corporate) on the same machine is, Boot Camp isn't where the future of Mac computing lies. Virtualization applications like Parallels go dual-booting one better by creating virtual environments in which a second OS can run in parallel alongside your machine's native platform. In otherwords, instead of rebooting to WinXP with Boot Camp, you can create a virtual WinXP machine inside of OS X with Parallels. It's like Virtual PC but, you know, better.

Speaking of Intel-based Macs, the "new iBook" should be ready soon, as education sector purchasing managers are now gearing up to place orders for the '06-07 school year. The eMac/iBook lines have been the core of Apple's educational hardware offerings for the past few years, so unless Cupertino has decided to give schools the cold shoulder altogether, an Intel-based entry-level laptop should be rearing its LCD panel in the very near future.

Reports from around the Web have Taiwanese manufacturer Asustek Computer Inc. securing a contract to build some 1.2 million laptops for Apple. Forbes.com goes so far as to say Apple will start selling the new laptops in June, and that they will feature 13.3" widescreen displays and (of course) Intel chips. Other rumors point towards both single and dual core processors being available in the new machines, a possible choice of colors for the external casing, and a new name - "MacBook" - for the entry-level machine. Also of note is that most pundits are in agreement that the new machine will take the place of both the iBook line and the 12" PowerBook G4, while a flagship 17" MacBook Pro model is also in the works.

Remember back to MacWorld in January when Steve Jobs hinted at some exciting something or other in store for Apple's 30th birthday? Well, the birthday (April 1) has come and gone and there wasn't too much fanfare. Reports abound that Apple was hoping to release the "real" iPod Video in time for the birthday celebration, but development snags have pushed the product's release back as far as next year. The new iPod is reported to sport a widescreen display that takes up the entire front face of the device and features touchscreen controls that disappear from view when not in use. Numerous Apple patent filings lend credence to these rumors, as do the new rumors that Apple plans to beef the nano line up to 8 or even 10 GB to coincide with the newly redesigned iPod video.

Finally, Apple is bringing back the cube. No, not the miniscule if ill-fated precursor to the Mac mini, but rather a cube-shaped Apple store being readied at 59th St. and 5th Ave. in New York City. The store, as pictured on The Gothamist, is said to become the "Mecca" of Apple Stores, and may in fact be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 'Round the clock computer stores? Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.

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