“A company called CodeWeavers is using an open-source technology called Wine to allow some Windows programs to run under Mac OS X,” Ina Fried reports for CNET News.
Fried reports, “CodeWeavers is in early testing with CrossOver Office for Mac now and plans to release a final version of the software in July or August.”
“White said CrossOver Office has one big advantage over those other options: Using it doesn’t require the purchase of a copy of Windows. However, it also has significant downsides. Its focus is on application compatibility, not device drivers, so things like printers don’t work with the Windows applications,” Fried reports. “Also, Wine is a compatibility layer, not a true emulator, so it works with only some Windows programs.”
“While many Windows programs may work with the Mac version of CrossOver Office, CodeWeavers will support only a handful. These will likely include Microsoft Project, Microsoft Outlook and the Windows-only game ‘Half-Life 2,’ White said,” Fried reports.
“White said he has some hope that, despite the competition, Mac users will prove less tightfisted than Linux users. Many of these have been reluctant to pay for the CrossOver product, when the technology is also available free in the open-source world. ‘Parting with money is just not part of the Linux way,’ White said. Plus, there are a lot of Mac users out there. ‘There are far more Mac users than there are Linux, at least in North America on the desktop,’ White said.”
Full article with links and more here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft would have a cow (they’d finally “deliver Longhorn” – literally) if this Windows apps without Windows really worked for a wide range of applications. If Apple themselves ever did anything like this in a future Mac OS X, the OS war to end all OS wars would erupt, but it’d be difficult to imagine how Apple do anything but win in spectacular fashion.
Some say that Apple have to have an Office replacement prepped, tested, and ready to go. Maybe virtualization is the way to go; it works well enough (you can always boot straight into Windows when you need top speed) and it’ll take share from Microsoft through millions of tiny bites. Why provoke the bloated behemoth by dropping a Wine-soaked hydrogen bomb directly on Redmond when you can accomplish the same thing over time with millions of smaller virtualized explosions? Unless, you don’t fear retaliation because your OS can already run existing versions of Office for Mac and the Windows version of their Office suite, of course.
Remember: Microsoft is shackled to “backwards compatibility.” They can’t change things very much or very quickly. Older versions of Office that are still in use in millions and millions of businesses and homes must be able to open documents produced by the latest version of Office or they’ll lose their competitive advantage.
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Outstanding! I know none us really want Windows on our perfect Macs!
I just wish Apple would finally release a spreadsheet program with iWork.
They had to have signed a deal with the devil (Mafiasoft) to get them to continue making Office for the Mac. That is the only explanation I can think of as to why they haven’t released the long-awaited “Numbers”.
i think apple have been working on something similar, and will release (free) updates in order to use certain unavailable on mac apps, that would make sense and not make a dent in mac app sales. think about it
There is far more mac users then linux? lol ye right
im definately up for some counter strike on my new macbook..
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Actually there are far more Mac users than LINUX. OS X is the most successful distribution of a UNIX -Like system in history.
I take issue with the “tight-fisted” comment. We’re less tight fisted all right, if the product is good.
I used Crossover Office for several years on Linux when it first came out – it worked great, even back then. I haven’t tried a modern version, but their supported application list has grown substantially from 2002.
The article is misleading in stating that printers “don’t work”, this is false. Clearly Windows hardware drivers won’t work, but the Linux or OS X printing systems can print from the Windows app just fine.
I love moves, plots, and plans that make Windows seem irrelevant.
The question is what sort of effect, assuming this becomes a reality, does this have on the Windows developer world?
I’m a little verklempt!
Talk Amongst Yourselves. I’ll give you a topic.
Microsoft is neither micro nor soft.
In spite of negative reaction from MDN and many posters here, my prediction of doom from viruses and other malicious invaders that plague the Windows world is proving correct.
This is another step down the road to ruin for anyone who makes their Mac Windows capable.
Also, MDN, why are you guys so late in reporting the many problems with the heaters known as Intel MacBooks?
Only when the Macintosh world, including its foremost booster MDN, demand true superior Apple quality will we get it.
Yes, ehh, that is correct. In the consumer market there are waaaaaay more Mac users than Linux users. Absolutely. Do the research.
The only time I would use Windows on a Mac is to run Autocad. Hello Autodesk…….
Explore every opportunity to bring the Devil of Redmond down to it’s knees!!
Mac users do have the money and pay for their software,
But we expect the best and we expect a seemless operation.
We are pampered pets.
Channel Z
Microsoft is neither micro nor soft
No, it’s just too big, too long, too fat and wayyyy too ugly
covered with warts too, ugly ones. oozing puss.
Paranoid? Here’s reality:
Soon, because of the novelty of running Windows on a Mac, Apple will start releasing ‘security fixes’ galore, clogging up my machine when I don’t need ’em, don’t want ’em, and hate being dragged into a Windows driven environment that I never asked for!
Dammit.
Pete, what in the bloody hell are you talking about?
The application of WINE or a WINE-like system of emulating APIs instead of using Windows at all is not going to bring “doom from viruses and other malicious invaders”. Emulating APIs means that Windows (and its vulnerabilities) will simply not be present. In other words, if done properly, nothing “installs itself” without your permission, buffer overflow execution instructions will be meaningless, and you’ll be perfectly safe and happy.
You just don’t get it, do you? This is exciting news, and I’m hoping that many other people jump on this bandwagon. I would love a true compatibility layer that involved running Windows apps flawlessly directly from OS X without a copy of Windows anywhere to be found.
And MDN has had so much coverage that I’m sick of reading about the stupid MacBooks overheating – where have you been? Plastic strips, remove plastic strips, firmware updates… any of this ring a bell Pete?
blucaso…
Mark your calendar for a year end review of how we are doing with virus control. We’ll see.
And, where have YOU been? Removing plastic strips and firmware update is window dressing for serious overheating, swelling and exploding batteries, discoloration of white MacBooks, etc.
And, these are not isolated complaints – huge numbers of complaints abound.
As long as we buy not-ready-for-market products, Apple will keep releasing them.
Everyone was saying that this would be the holy grail and now it is coming. One less excuse, one less barrier.
I, the mac purist, might even consider running a windows app if I didn’t have to look at that butt-ugly interface. Well, only if it was a way cool app not available for the mac. Can’t think of any right now. Never mind.
The more options to run Windows the better.
I don’t want to have Windows either but despite the growth in mac apps there is still a significant gap in software available for the Mac specially in biz apps. This is all good.
One application that these guys should try to make work in OSX is MS Access. There are so many biz apps written for that awful database.
Pete Peterson,
1. Scroll to bottom of this screen.
2. Type “MacBook” into search box.
3. Click “Search MacDailyNews” button.
4. Read all of MacDailyNews’ coverage of yellow MacBooks, hot MacBooks, etc,
5. Stop adding your feedback until you have something useful to type.
Compared to Linux, the usefulness of CrossOver office on the Mac platform is more limited in my business setting. Both OS X and Linux can run a virtualization app and have a sandboxed copy of Windows available, so I didn’t include this option:
Lotus Notes: OS X native vs Linux w/CO
Microsoft Office: OS X native vs Linux w/CO
MS Project: OS X w/CXO vs Linux w/ CO
MiniTab: CO unsupported app, works in virtualization.
SAP Client: OS X native, Linux native w/ SAPGUI
The biggest obstacle, however, is corporate IT which can’t comprehend anything other than Windows and in the name of “security” won’t consider alternative platforms.
Unfortunately, the Windows apps appearance isn’t improved by the windowing subsystem of the host OS when using CrossOver (be it Gnome, KDE or eventually Aqua) – you just get a stark contrast. Hopefully CO will work without requiring the use of Xwindows.
I bought my daugher a Macbook for graduation, and it steadfastly refuses to overheat or change color. Looking at some of the photos of the discolored Macbooks, I couldn’t help but think that the users may have got sunless tanning lotion on the machines, that sure is what it looked like.
Sure, now.
MDN has been last of the primary Mac forums to deal with the MacBook problems.
Even today, MDN’s friends over at TUAW, are reporting still another fault in the new products.
I think it is very useful to all purchasers of Apple products to demand the quality we have been promised.
So, unless MDN wants to delete my post, you can read it or not, but I get to have my say.
Pete, you are an IDIOT. Ever hear of the ungenius (http://www.ungenius.com) site? Let me do your research for you by posting what he said on all your comments.
“So I decided to make some calls around to people I know inside and outside Apple who are responsible for providing warranty support for the darned things. What I’ve found is, largely, that the blogosphere has blown these issues insanely out of proportion.”
“Obviously, the issues being reported are real, and they are affecting people. However, I’m not sure that the conventional wisdom labeling these as a widespread pandemic worthy of herculean recall, as many as casting it, is even close to legitimate.”
Thanks. You may now shut up, troll.
Busting… name calling aside, (why is everybody with constructive criticism a ‘troll’ around here?) what the hell did you think you would hear from those in denial, such as ‘inside Apple’.
My local Apple retail store reports about 20% of new MacBooks being returned by very unhappy customers. 20%!
My sales guy (I’m a very good customer) whispered: “wait… the next generation won’t have these problems”.
If the Mac family wasn’t in such a hurry to buy everything new, everything new would be better. Much better.