Wine 1.2 Released

David Gerard writes "Stuck with that one Windows app you can't get rid of? Rejoice — Wine 1.2 is officially released! Apart from running pretty much any Windows application on Unix better than 1.0 (from 2008), major new features include 64-bit support, bi-directional text, and translation into thirty languages. And, of course, DirectX 9 is well-supported and DirectX 10 is getting better. Packages should hit the distros over the weekend, or you can get the source now."

Comments

Hmmmm.

[click2005]

DirectX 10 is getting better.

I wish someone would port Wine to WindowsXP.

Re:Hmmmm.

[Batty0ne]

It's happening. You can actually somewhat use wine on windows. http://wiki.winehq.org/WineOnWindows

I used to use wine...

[foxtyke]

Long ago when I first switched to Linux I made the decision that I would not run a dual boot environment and would instead use Wine to run my apps I NEEDED from Windows on my Linux machine.

Fast forward six months from that switch, I removed the NEEDED applications because I found better ones (hello GnuCash) and haven't used a Windows application or required Wine since then, that was almost 3 or 4 years ago now when I fully switched my desktop to Linux.

Re:I used to use wine...

[foxtyke]

Gosh, you're SO L33T!

Why do you think the rest of us care?

I know its bad to feed the trolls but here's a thought...

My experience has shown me that I don't need Windows apps as much as I though I needed them, I found better alternatives and while Wine is great at some point you just have to sit back and wonder, "Is it worth it?"

I went through updates which broke previously working applications, I went through configuration edit after edit for each application to get things working and at one point just decided to look for a better way. Don't get me wrong Wine is great for beginning Linux but it really shows the flaws in many Windows programs and with closed source, you can stumble onto one at random even if you're coding to established API for compatibility.

So why my comment? I commented because I felt it showed that Wine helps break the reliance on Windows applications, it's great for transition but not for long haul requirements and I'm not commenting for the sake of commenting, a review of my account can attest to that. You however seem to enjoy placing your finger up your rear trying to tickle the back of your throat hoping something worthwhile will eventually come out of your mouth.

Too bad it is a miss today for you but thankfully, I'm at least not an anonymous coward like you.

Re:Every windows application

[Kell Bengal]

Yeah! Something with a GUI front end, and separate windows for each program... and a start menu. Oh, wait.

Re:Never Works Properly

[Jorl17]

I've used Wine for a long time. I've modified its source-code several times to make my apps run and I'm usually around the winehq.org forums.
I can say with a high degree of confidence that it runs most applications flawlessly. Of course, you need to remove many of the new .NET crap, which is ruining the industry for everyone. The only issues I found Wine to have were related to sound. Progressively, I fixed those and got the best out of my Wine installations. Heck, when I cross-compile, I always test my apps in Wine and verify that they are 1:1 with Windows. I constantly run different games in Wine and sometimes with better performance than my windows peers.

Occasionally, you'll have to bring out the nerd in you and do some hacking to get games to work. For instance, it was a long process for me to get Red Alert 3 to work online and via LAN. The forums helped me a lot. It was also difficult to get Age Of Empires III to run, but I did it.

I am only sorry that so many people end up bashing Wine. If they'd waste part of that time in contributing to the community, submitting patches, helping out in forums and irc, or simply stopping complaining, I think we'd be better.

Re:Never Works Properly

[David Gerard]

"I am only sorry that so many people end up bashing Wine."

It's because no-one complains worse than the people getting something for free.