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CrossOver Plugin 1.0 Demo Version
jwnewman writes "CodeWeavers has released the Demo version of CrossOver plugin." I bought the regular version when it first came out, just to try it out. It's pretty impressive - I've only had some problems with it under Konqueror, but that's had more to do with my plugin setup. The demo version is a full version, but with nags in it. It's well worth checking out.
Personally, i feel programs like these are great. However, having to pay for them takes the purpose out of any free operating system. I'd just assume use windows for those programs, rather then pay a company to allow me to use those programs on a different operating system. Although, i understand why these programs have to be paid for. With the current American Economy, noone will develop anything without a monetary incentive. I just hope somewhere there is someone with extra time who will design a program such as this out of the goodness of his/her heart!
AJ
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artlu.net
For some reason, it bugs me that I have to pay money to use free (beer) plugins on a free (beer&speech) OS. Nice that they have a demo, though. I'll give it a shot; maybe it is worth the price.
I don't know exactly what you mean by "all popular quicktime plugins" but I just installed it (before the story was posted) and it works great for the trailers at apple.com/trailers.
:)
The demo just has the annoying msgs that appear over the movie, they do go away so you can see the full thing but atleast the msgs are semi-entertaining....
-Torawk
I think the crossover plugin is a great idea, but I'm not sure how many people will go for the idea of paying to use plugins on linux that would be free to use under windows (AFAIK, those plugins are all free downloads for win). Kind of an odd turn, using the free Win version instead of paying for the Linux version...
do not read this line twice.
Seems overpriced to me. I would buy it if it was $5, maybe $10, but $20 seems a bit much for its functionality. I will try the demo version and if the nags are like the Quicktime nags on windows then I will not bother buying it (just like I do with QT on Windows). Really the only reason I would use it is for the occasional Quicktime trailer, not worth $20 to me.
When they include Windows Media (which it seems more websites are using unfortunately), it might be worth $20.
Q.
No, actually, unlike Winzip, which only nags you each time you start the program, CrossOver nags you about every 15 seconds, and places the nag right over the top of what you are watching. So, there is an incentive to pay for the thing.
Personally, I applaud the creators. While the nag is annoying, I'm rooting hard for anyone who can release good, useful, commercial software for Linux and make a buck or two off it.
What people won't pay for are the trivial little programs you see announced on freshmeat.net hundreds of times a day.
Why? Does it look any better than watching it on Windows? Was it easier?
It looks the same. Compared to rebooting into Windows, it's significantly easier.
I spend most of my time under Linux. I used only reboot into Windows for games and Quicktime. Now I only reboot into Windows for games. (And thanks to my Playstation 2, I don't boot into Windows for games very often any more.)
Why not just get Windows?
I have Windows, but I don't like it. I'm perfectly happy working under Linux. Crossover allows me to satisify my desire to watch Quicktime videos under Linux. Seems like a good match to me.
Why support a software vendor that refuses to support your favorite platform?
Because I'm a realist. Maybe as Linux's share grows we'll see Quicktime for Linux, but that's not going to happen in the near future. Refusing to use non-native software does nothing to improve the situation.
Or do you consider "it doesn't break under Wine" to be good enough?
I use Linux. I want to watch Quicktime videos. Apple is not going to port Quicktime Player to Linux in the forseeable future. Crossover solves my problem. So yes, it's good enough for now. One step at a time...
This sounds like a great product. I don't understand the people here who disparage it because you have to pay for it - there is nothing that says you can't run payware alongside (or on top of, as the case may be) open source and *gasp* GPL'd software. Don't come down on it because it isn't "free" or Free.
Personally, I don't have a real need for this product, so I won't be buying it - I really don't ever see many QT trailers or whatnot to justify it, and all the Shockwave stuff can go out the window as well - give me quality content and information, I say.
I would much rather see the development of an open source video codec on par with Sorensen, and have it become well developed and widely used, but I tend to doubt such will happen, as so much of the tech involved in such an endevor is locked up in patents.
My main concern about such software (like this plugin) is that related to security - whether any exploits could be run against it to gain root access, or something. I tend to doubt this, and if you are running as a user, and you have a good firewall you should be mostly protected - but it is something I always have in the back of my mind...
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
yes, but it's not codeweavers fault, it's the companys that make the plugins, codeweaver just makes it so that you can run them on linux...
An actual installer! It understands the differences in Distros and even puts links/launchers/icons into the menu systems of BOTH KDE and Gnome! Wholy cow!
This is something that developers have needed to do forever. Forget the RPM vs DEB vs Tarball wars and make it easy for the user dammit!
We all gripe about Micro$oft developing software that is just bloated eye candy with crappy (or no) guts. IMHO Linux developers have been too busy neating up the guts to notice that no one uses their program beacuse it takes two friggin days to satisfy all of the needed dependancies just to compile and then annother two to figure out where the damn thing's files should reside.
Oh ya, after the install the product actually works as advertised too.
These guys get my $20!!! Kudos Codeweavers!
"Smile, listen, agree, and then do whatever the fuck you wanted to do anyway." ~Robert Downey Jr.
wget http://movie.url/movie.mov -O movie.mov && wine C:\whatever\quicktime.exe
Of course I'm sure some Dennis Ritchie wannabe is gonna reply to this and tell me how to do it with piping (you know you want to).
I suspect Apple can get a high quality, Linux native port of Quicktime done relatively quickly and inexpensively. However, what value does it have for Apple? Will it increase sales of other Apple software? Not likely. Will they sell alot of copies of the Pro version for Linux? Not likely. Will the port strategically help Apple in any real way? Nope. In Apple's mind, Quicktime for Linux has no value, so investing any time or effort into it is a bad idea.
Quicktime on Windows is a different story. It probably doesn't make Apple much money. I wouldn't be surprised if it cost more to develop than they make in Quicktime Pro sales. However, if Quicktime stopped being supported on Windows the world would move to another format (probably Windows Media) practically instantly. The market share of Windows is too important to miss. Apple needs Quicktime on Windows as part of their holding action. Linux doesn't have that leverage, so we're going to remain second class citizens for some time.