Public Betas For CrossOver Mac and Linux

Jeremy White writes, "I am happy to announce that we have put up a new version of our public beta of CrossOver Mac as well as an equivalent public beta of CrossOver Linux. For Mac users, this release includes fixes to Internet Explorer, fixes for many cases where programs would crash when run (e.g. Microsoft Office 2000 and similar older applications), fixes for Outlook 2003, and a range of other improvements. For Linux users, the big highlights are support for World of Warcraft and many Steam based games (including Half Life 2 and Counterstrike), as well as support for Outlook 2003. Version 6 also represents a major improvement in the core of Wine since version 5 of CrossOver, so you may be pleasantly surprised as you try running unsupported applications."

Comments

Valve's anti-cheat system

[iknowrobocop]

As complicated as Valve's anti-cheat system is (checking various dlls, etc.) I'm not willing to risk testing my Steam account on Counter-Strike Source until I know for sure I won't get banned for "hacking" because of a bug in the compatibility layer. I can't find any info on this offhand.

Re:Valve's anti-cheat system

[daranz]

That's not really a bug in the compatibility layers. Stuff like Punkbuster, and, I assume, VAC demand full access to the operating system (that's why you gotta run games with PB with admin rights). If there is no actual operating system, they automatically consider that you're messing with something. They're paranoid that way.

Re:Valve's anti-cheat system

[jwnewman]

I've been testing Steam for months now on both my Mac and Linux CrossOver setups. (Same account on both) I have yet to see any problems with being banned. As long as you don't do anything dumb like try and log in with two machines at the same time you should be fine.

I'd like it if someone from Valve could comment on this though.

Hmmm

[Nos.]

It seems that Crossover targets people already running windows apps, and thus already with a windows license (okay, not all people have one, but go with me on this). So, if I have a Windows license (and I do), what would be the incentive to go with something like Crossover, when I can use VMWare or Xen for zero cost, and not worry about compatibility of any of my applications?

Re:Hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

At my work (we are part of an institution with upwards of a hundred thousand seats) the monthly fee paid for an Exchange account confers the right to download and use Microsoft Outlook 2003 for free. It does not include the right to download and use Microsoft Entourage 2004 (the Mac "equivalent" client Microsoft makes for connecting to its Exchange server). So unless you want to spring for a license to Entourage 2004 (and its own set of compatibility problems *ahem* Microsoft anti-trust *ahem*), you are stuck with a copy of Outlook 2003 you cannot use on your Mac. Most Mac users at our site do not have a Windows license. So this crossover office thing could be useful for some of our users.

Gotta love it!

[Lumpy]

Crossover office and Linux... together making undereducated windows admins STFU once again when they say "but you need windows to run the important applications!"

Under 5.0 I ran EVERY vertical application we had at work perfectly. I demonstrated a 100% functional and far lower maintaince + TCO laptop to management that gained applause and support from everyone except the CTO... he nixed the project claiming compatability issues...

Compatability with his friends who still worked for Microsoft and were his technical advisors.

Oh well, I was able to prove to several people that linux was viable on the desktop :-)

Re:I sort of get it...

[WhiteWolf666]

Have you tried the new beta of NeoOffice? It's much, much better. The "Aqua" port.