Codeweavers CrossOver Mac
Run Windows apps - minus Windows
Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider
Review Like many Mac users, I use Apple’s Boot Camp to switch between the Mac OS and Windows as required. However, I also use virtualisation tools - Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion - which have the added convenience of allowing you to run Mac and Windows programs side-by-side.
Codeweavers CrossOver: run PC games on a Mac
The only drawback with virtualisation technology is that it can’t provide the same performance as running Windows software natively, as Boot Camp does. This is especially important when it comes to demanding programs such as 3D games. And, of course, the dual-boot and virtualisation approaches both require you to install a full copy of Windows.
Codeweavers’ CrossOver now provides a third alternative for running Windows software on a Mac – and one that doesn’t require a copy of Windows. CrossOver is actually a paid-for version of the open-source Wine project, which provides technical support and a new graphical interface in return for the £26 licence fee.
There are two versions of CrossOver available. CrossOver Mac is designed for running general productivity apps such as Microsoft Office, while CrossOver Games focuses on running entertainment software.
There are separate versions of general apps (left) and games
I asked Codeweavers for more detailed information about the differences between the two versions, and its illuminating response was: “CrossOver Mac runs Windows applications while CrossOver Games runs Windows games.”
COMMENTS
Not good enough to recommend
The apps that Crossover runs well enough to use on a day to day basis tend to be apps where there is a viable Mac or Linux alternative already available, and that tends to be a better option than running the Windows version in Crossover.
For example you can run older versions of Office except for Access, which doesn't work that well. Access is the only reason you would want to run the Windows version of Office rather than the Mac version or something like OpenOffice.org or NeoOffice.
And for the freetards...
...there's always Winebottler :-)
http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
Works very well for running the occasional Windows app (especially if you you don't need the full power of VMware Fusion or Parallels).
This software would be great if....
it would run Visio properly. It's the only reason I have for keeping a machine with Windows on.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
What you need to know about cloud backup
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Top 10 SIEM implementer’s checklist
