New Crossover Release With Improved Compatibility 104
solanum writes "On March 2nd Crossover 9.0 was released. CrossOver 9 features a new user interface that focuses on making installation of Windows software quicker and easier than previous versions. Another new feature is CrossOver's ability to download installation 'recipes' directly from CodeWeavers online Compatibility Database. 'If another CrossOver user has figured out how to use CrossOver to install a Windows application, they can upload that installation recipe to our database,' said Jeremy White, CodeWeavers chief executive officer. 'As we go forward, and build this online storehouse, CrossOver will begin to automatically install that same application for other users. This enables us to move closer to a world where CrossOver will begin to run the majority of Windows apps, and not just an officially supported subset. In other words, our diabolical plot for world domination is going exactly as planned,' he added. Early reviews and comments are positive, and my own experience is that many more Windows applications work in this new version than previously."
Typo (Score:4, Informative)
Re:User interface and easy installation (Score:3, Informative)
I'm not sure how it works, but if you are submitting information electronically and it needs to be formatted correctly its probably not being looked at by a human in which case its vital that you format correctly.
If you can't be bothered to give them correct information I can see why you have not gotten an acceptable response.
Re:Mono (Score:5, Informative)
I know I will be modded to Oblivion. But thanks I have Mono, open source, Cross platform and .Net Framework (and IMO better than Java). I don't have to muck around with my applications to be compatible with other OS.
I'm not going to mod you, but I will respond. Cross-platform initiatives like Mono and Java take a shot at addressing the realm that Crossover handles, but they are far from a working or complete solution. Here's why:
Many applications - specifically, many of the ones that are important enough to make a person choose an operating system - are not written in Mono or Java. The reason why is worthy of discussion, but that doesn't affect the fact that this is the case. These applications include the obvious set: the Microsoft Office suite, Photoshop, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, mainstream games, et cetera. Linux as a platform could be desired (by the users) or applied to increase productivity, but the criticality of these applications prohibits it from being even considered.
Now, Windows virtualization has done wonders for allowing such software to be usable in a Linux environment, but there are both integration and performance issues with that solution. Furthermore, it can be difficult for a nth-degree-removed user to justify to management why they still need a Windows license but want to go out of their way not to run Windows.
On the other side, even cross-platform languages like Mono and Java still can have platform dependencies written into them. Many applications need or use functionality beyond that which is provided in the .NET Runtime API and resort to native interface calls. Poor programming can result in hard-coded filesystem specifics (like path separators). Cross-platform-aware vendors may write Windows- and Linux-specific parts of their larger codebase, but others will not. Point being, an application is not cross-platform merely on virtue of being written in a cross-platform language.
Be it issues with language or issues with general compatibility, there is a need to run Windows applications in a Linux environment that is not really solvable without a compatibility layer like Crossover. Until (if ever) vendors actually make a point of releasing cross-platform builds (or platform-specific builds for all mainstream platforms), Crossover provides a low-cost functional solution to a real user and industry need, and with it removes a roadblock that can, for many, completely disqualify non-Windows operating systems as a platform choice.
Re:Bummer... (Score:4, Informative)
Just be careful with their Crossover Games product (Score:3, Informative)
I've been using CX Games on and off for almost 2 years now. The product is great if you are running a 32 bit version of Linux. However, if you are running a 64 bit distribution, you WILL have problems. My hardware is relatively modern (dual Xeons, 16G RAM, 9600GT video). The issues you WILL have on a 64 bit system if you try to play a Windows game are continuous random crashes due to running out of memory. I think CodeWeavers has good support as far as they can go. Their problem is that they are basically a 're-seller' of WINE and don't have control over that 'product'. I'm not going to bother submitting links into their support forums on this issue, if challenged I will link to the post where they admit that it just won't work right and there's nothing they can do about it.
BTW, I also use Crossover & MS Office under Trusted Solaris and I think it's a vast improvement over the previous solution (Star Office). I'm not a big fan of Microsoft but when the application (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations) opens 3 times faster and is more responsive and reliable, I take notice.
Re:User interface and easy installation (Score:3, Informative)
Wine developers have a lot of work to do. Getting the version number correct is the least you could do. Submitting the bug to wine's bugzilla and not the AppDB is also very important. The AppDB is for the benefit of end users. Developers don't necessarily read the AppDB, they do keep up with the bugzilla.
I can almost guarantee that if you submit a bug in the right place in the right format, you'll get a response. That response will almost certainly be a request for a regression test [winehq.org]. It doesn't take much skill, so better to have users do it than busy, highly skilled devlopers. When I have done this I have had very good results getting regressions fixed. Sometimes even in the same day.
Re:User interface and easy installation (Score:1, Informative)
Then resubmit it with your errors corrected. Stop being a whiny lib and simply take responsibility for your mistakes.
Sorry but that's how it works out here in the real world with grownups and stuff.
Case closed.
Re:Just be careful with their Crossover Games prod (Score:1, Informative)
Why do you have such a problem with them reselling their own work? Why don't you do some digging and find out where most of Wine development comes from? You are just another clueless user ranting about shit you know little about. Codeweavers represent much of the moving force behind Wine. Alexandre Julliard works for Codeweavers. Why don't you go figure out what he does for Wine.
The relationship between Codeweavers and Wine is like the relationship between Linux and Redhat. You shouldn't hate Redhat for reselling Linux.