Software

SketchUp is a freely downloadable 3D modeling and sketching software by Google (Yah, you heard that right Google!). With SketchUp uou can draw 3D models of houses, decks, space ships or whatever you fancy, color them or use textures and place them in a light source like the Sun and create real-time shadows, without much effort. Once your model is ready it can be placed in Google Earth or printed  out.

The free version works with Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 and requires atleast 128 MB of RAM. A Macintosh version is also in the pipeline.

[Go SketchUp] 

This is a the news that's has the word 'shocker' written all over it. Apple has announced official support for running Windows XP on Intel-based Macs, with a software called Boot Camp. Boot Camp allows users with Microsoft Windows XP installation discs to install and dual-boot Windows XP on Intel based Mac's including the Macbook Pro.

From the Apple site - "Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer."