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Since I unfortunately don’t have the time to get deep enough into the new Parallels Beta to write a valuable review about the new features, here’s the LifeHacker review instead. The review covers most of the beta build’s new functionalities and also has nice pictures and videos.

Having a few fun plans for a 2002 iBook G3, I was searching for online instructions on how to take apart the notoriously feisty little thing. And then I found the Fixit Guide Series, by iFixit. [Cue the heavenly background music]

Each Fixit Guide has detailed disassembly instructions that walk you through the process of easily accessing and replacing components in your iPod, PowerBook, or iBook.

This, to me, is just brilliant. Here is a company that sells Mac parts, and has the clairvoyance to think that their customers might want to do it themselves, whether for fun or to save a few bucks, and actually helps them doing so without trashing their box. Pure genius!

And they do it well too. All the the guides are clear, concise and well illustrated.

I was not only able to browse and get PDF copies of all the instruction sets I’ll probably ever need for my 12″ iBook G3, but also for our Mac Minis, 13″ MacBook, 12″ PowerBooks and 17″ PowerBook at the office. And to top it all off, they even have iPod repair guides.

I didn’t know iFixit before tonight, but now, I know where I’m shopping next time I’m searching for Mac parts online. If their service and prices match this kind of spirit, they just gained a client for life!

Thanks, and good job guys. I’m usually not that easy. ;)

Update: 2006-12-10:

I’ve been in touch with the iFixit crew after posting this, and on top of all the above, turns out they’re nice guys too. :)

I mean, what else can I say? If you watch the attached video, you’ll see what I mean.

• Mac OS X 10.4.8, Parallels Desktop
• Windows XP, Internet Explorer 7
• Fedora Core 6, Firefox 2
• Ubuntu 6.10 Desktop, Firefox 2

All running on my usual 2GHz Core Duo MacBook with 2 GB RAM (512MB/VM).

Performance is awesome. The video is in real time and the only reason the VMs were set to 800×600 was to try and keep the screencast relatively crisp when converted to a small FLV.

Tip: It’s in the docs and all, but it took me a while to remember how to launch multiple windows in Parallels Desktop, since it loads VMs in the same window when opening them: File menu » New Window

This screencast illustrates installing Fedora Core 6 Linux as a virtual machine in Parallels Desktop for Mac. It is based on the series of screenshots offered for download, along with the resulting virtual machine, in my previous post.

Related posts:

• Fedora Core 6 (Zod) in virtualized environment
• Fedora Core 6 VM Image for Parallels Desktop for Mac

Enjoy!

I’ve been toying around in iMovie, experimenting with it as a screencast tool. A bit away from what I usually do with it, but it’s not bad so far. Fun and easy to work with, as usual.

Nothing fantastic, but I have a few Linux install movies coming up in the next few days. I’m also going to try uploading them to MetaCafe. We’ll see how it goes.

Trying to fit this between my 7 year-old son’s hockey games (so far undefeated!).