Crossover Mac enters Beta 2 phase

We missed this a few days ago, but Crossover Mac, CodeWeaver's WINE environment that allows you to run Windows applications along side OS X applications, with no need for virtualization, has been updated to Beta 2. What's new in b2? Lots, apparently. There are "dramatic" performance improvements and bug fixes for full screen mode, case-sensitive file systems, CPU detection, and the registration process, to name a few. Now I haven't personally used Crossover yet, since I'm supremely satisfied with Parallels, so I can't confirm that those updates are actually there, but I'm willing to give the developer the benefit of the doubt on this one. If you're using it, please chime in with your thoughts.
Thanks, Mike!
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We missed this a few days ago, but Crossover Mac, CodeWeaver's WINE environment that allows you to run Windows applications along side OS X...
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I downloaded the trial a few hours ago, tried to install MS Office 2000 and it just got stuck at the installation stage. Next I tried MS Office XP, it got thru the installation and then completely froze up my machine. Next I found the FAQ on how to completely remove Crossover from my new mac pro. That part worked flawlessly. Back to Parallels.
October 07 2006 at 12:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySince nobody has posted this yet, here's a Video of Crossover Mac running a graphically rich Winbloze GAME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbMhk2fdl_k
it's not as parrallels
crossover / wine is a reimplementation, a rewrite, a bridge, of windows foundation upon os X (and linux / freebsd).
the application is working inside os x without the help of the true windows.
the application is restricted to a specific folder (for example in linux it's /home//.wine/c/ ) so virus will not destroy your os x or files.
crossover can not test ALL windows software
but many will works, really many.
and for complex applications, wine can use the very dll and files of a true windows. if wine can access a full installation of windows (for example you copied a windows installation inside a mac os x directory or its own partition) , wine will use the real dll windows to satisfy the application.
do try. one year ago, I used World of warcraft windows on linux without worries. even if 'officially" crossover was not ready. (I used a development version of Wine, the free/opensource version of crossover. Crossover in fact bring support and tweaking to improve wine)
I actually only started using Crossover today, and was pleasantly surprised that it could run a Win32 N64 emulator (Project64) at native speed. Very impressive. I've used WiNE before, but I'm still not quite used to having it on a Mac.
October 05 2006 at 7:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyso it appears that only word and excel and their predecessors (97 versions) along with the ppt viewer (not the actual ppt app) are getting 'gold medals' and everything else is prone to bugginess....honestly, if they want the level of embrace that their competitor parallels got, i strongly advise them to not charge for beta releases that only support one or two apps...it sounds dreamy, but not bug-free enough for a serious work environment...
October 05 2006 at 7:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply@11: I don't know, nobody has tested it yet (or filed a beta report) not even a report for the Linux version of CrossOver (which is like version 6 or 7 now), but you can try. 12s guess was wrong, you can easily install apps that are not officially supported and a lot do work pretty well. Just install the demo and try it out, it won't make a mess on your HD. Put in the disk and CrossOver should recognise the installer and you can do an express install and see if it works. Though CrossOver has some trouble with USB devices.
October 05 2006 at 7:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDoes anyone know if this app works with the Sony Ericsson Update Suite? I've been dying to upgrade my phone's firmware but don't have access to a pc.
October 05 2006 at 6:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply@9: good question, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't as you have to actually choose which apps you want to run - they can't just go spawning off everywhere.
October 05 2006 at 6:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNo, because the program is restricted to its "bottle" and there's no real Win kernel running, it's virtually immune. I used beta1 for Steam (HL 1 and all mods I tried worked pretty well on my MacBook and HL 2 ran ok, besides the crashes ;) but Steam is high priority for the guys at CodeWeavers it seems) and I am VERY happy with this app. But it seems my demo just expired yesterday :/ Now I gotta find 40 bucks :/
October 05 2006 at 6:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDoes it make OSX vulnerable to virus and worms ?
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