I’m currently running the most recent version of Parallels on my brand new MacBook Pro. I will never buy another Microsoft product again. I have owned and used computers since 1983. I am able to run all my Windows software on the Parallels application. PLUS I can access my health system’s programs (I am a physician) using Windows XP to the electronic medical record which includes 500,000 patient records, all of my work desktop applications, and about five network printers as well as my home printer wirelessly with this puter and Parallels. I have NO NEED to buy from Microsoft again. I have been a tireless Microsoft customer and supporter for 24 years and now I am done with them.
Just thought I would point that out.
What you are avoiding is standard Intel PC hardware. Well, not really. This only runs on Intel Core processors in the new Intel based Macs. So, what you are doing is being able to run Microsoft and other Windows products within OSX, a really nice OS.
Nevertheless, welcome to the light. You will find that the less time you spend in the Windows environment, the happier you will be.
Remember, you need to deal with anti-virus/anti-spyware issues in the Windows environment despite the rest of your machine being less vulnerable. This environment IS a real running PC with all that that brings.