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CrossOver MacThe CrossOver Difference: Superior Integration
Choosing the right Windows-compatibility solution
Whether you're running a Linux or Mac OS X machine, chances are you need a way to run at least some Windows applications or games that aren't available on your platform of choice. And you have your choice of potential solutions to this problem. This page illustrates some of the key advantages that CrossOver has in relation to the other compatibility solutions.
In a nutshell, you have three main choices:
- Dual-booting: running two separate operating systems on one PC, and switching between them as needed by rebooting. Applications such as Apple's Boot Camp allow this to occur on a Mac OS X machine, for example.
- Running a virtual machine: Emulation products such as VMware and Parallels allow you to run a full version of the Windows OS inside a program running on your native operating system. The Windows applications essentially run in a separate "box within a box."
- Running Wine or CrossOver: Unlike emulation, Wine is a re-implementation of the Win32 API, allowing applications to run as if natively on the target OS. CrossOver is a commercialized version of Wine.
Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, as illustrated below:
Feature Dual-Booting Virtual Machine Solutions CrossOver Can run Windows applications without rebooting By definition, no. Can run Windows applications without needing a copy of Windows OS Requires Windows OS license. Requires Windows OS license. Price $199 for Windows OS. $89 for Parallels, $199 for Windows OS. $39.95 - $69.95
and no Windows OS.Can start Windows applications directly from Linux start menu or Mac OS Finder No. Requires rebooting into Windows. No. Requires starting emulator, booting or restoring windows, and then running Windows applications within the virtual environment. Can launch Windows file attachments directly from email in Linux or Mac OS No. Requires saving file to network drive or swap file area, then rebooting and opening under Windows. No. Requires saving file to local file system, booting emulator, then opening within virtual environment. Can launch Windows files directly from Linux or Mac OS file browser No. Requires copying file to shared file system, then rebooting and opening under Windows. No. Requires copying file to shared file system, booting emulator, then opening within virtual environment. Runs all Windows applications No. Some applications which require either video or hardware driver support may not run. This is particularly true for games. No. Wine currently runs some Windows applications very well, some so-so, and some not at all. Runs Windows applications at native speed No. Virtual environment imposes performance penalties.
Note: Applications run as if natively, but minor performance penalties may occur.
Choosing the right Wine-based solution
If you decide to go the Wine route, then you have another choice to make. Wine is an open-source technology, and can be downloaded for free from WineHQ.org. Or, you can purchase a commercialized, supported version of Wine from CodeWeavers. Both types have many similarities. This isn't surprising, since CodeWeavers is the largest corporate sponsor of the Wine Project, and is constantly sharing code updates with the Project. However, there are also some important differences between the two, which are described below:
Feature Free Wine CrossOver Comes with one-click installation No. Comes with a graphical installer for Windows applications No. Comes with Bottles (portable virtual Windows environments)? No. Seamlessly integrates with your desktop environment No. Is consistently tested against a supported application set No. Whether a given application will work can vary from day to day, build to build. Comes with product support The volunteers on the public forums do their best, but... Price $0, and a lot of your time $39.95 - $69.95
Which solution is right for you depends on your budget, technical savviness, and pain threshold. Individuals with the right level of technical skills may find it to their advantage to go the free route. Many business users, though, find a packaged, tested solution is more productive and economical. They value the stability and superior integration that a solution like CrossOver provides.
Also, if you do choose to purchase CrossOver, you can also feel good in knowing that you've indirectly supported the Wine Project by helping us help it, rather than simply lining our pockets. Every single improvement we make to Wine goes back to the Wine Project, which makes the computing world more open and compatible for everyone.
