Technically vim exposes the x11 clipboards (plural) as registers - I never use registers, but I think

  "+p

[Ed: for those not familiar with vim: " can be thought of as 'with/from/into register named:', + is the register and p is paste. Similarily "+yw is 'yank/copy current word into register named +' ]

should be paste x11 selection. I don't normally use gvim/vim as an x11 application, but looks like * (star) is typically system clipboard:

http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Accessing_the_system_clipboard

why does it work on osx then ? is there something special happening at the OS level there ?

Afaik ctrl-v works in gvim? (I think its just bound to "+p or similar).

Only with :behave ms (default on windows), else ctrl-v starts block visual mode.

Yes, except when you have to select something in between the time you copy & paste, e.g. change focus to the URL bar of a browser. Then ctrl-C is your friend, and works everywhere except the terminal.

But the terminal is a special case when it comes to copy/paste and always will be a little weird on any platform. Especially when it comes to line-wrapping in full-terminal applications like vi.

Pretty much, never had a problem with it.

my laptop does not have middle button. so I have to do a weird left-right button click. Very inconvenient for me.

I truly envy the OSX people just on this one aspect.

shift-insert works in X if you can't middle click. In gvim too, out-of-the-box if you're in insert mode.

I was HOPING for that. Its part of IBM CUA. Unfortunately it doesn't work everywhere.. Especially the terminal (unless you remap keybindings)