An introduction to CrossOver Office and Games for Solaris

What exactly is CrossOver Solaris?

CrossOver for Solaris is a commercial variant of Wine released by CodeWeavers with (currently) limited support for many of today's most popular office application and games. CrossOver Office and Games for Solaris has been compiled on Solaris 10 and tested for performance and stability with many of todays most popular games such as Guild Wars, Eve Online, and Steam games like Half-Life 2 and Portal. As well as many of todays most popular Office application such as Microsoft Office 97 to 2007, Quicken, Quickbooks, Photoshop, Internet Explorer and many other not mentioned applications.
CrossOver for Solaris will also run on OpenSolaris systems, in this introduction I will be using OpenSolaris 2009.06 the last stable release of OpenSolaris.
Minimum system requirements

Solaris :

• An x86 based Solaris 10 or OpenSolaris distribution based on glibc 2.3 or greater
• Perl 5 or greater
• IJG JPEG library (libjpeg)
• python >= 2.4
• gtk2 >= 2.10
• python-gtk2 >= 2.10
• It is also recommended that you have a web browser installed.
• 100MB of available disk space (plus space for the Windows applications)
• 128MB of RAM

Currently Unsupported builds of CrossOver Solaris

Currently the only way to get CrossOver Office or Games for Solaris is to first purchase a Linux licence of CrossOver. After your purchase you can then go to "My Downloads" (Your Downloads) and then select the "Unsupported Downloads" tab and then select the CrossOver Solaris tab. At this time you can download both CrossOver Office and Games 8.0 and the new 9.0 release from CodeWeavers.

The Demo version of CrossOver

When you download CrossOver Solaris from the Unsupported section it will be a seven day demo. The demo version of CrossOver has all the functions and features of the full version. Any Windows software that works on a full version will also run in the demo version, and vice versa. The important limitation of the demo version is that bottles can only be used for 7 days. This means that any Windows packages that you install using the demo version will cease to work 7 days after their installation. When a demo installation is unlocked, all existing bottles and applications are unlocked as well. To unlock a demo, you must have a support account with CodeWeavers. You can purchase CrossOver licenses and support contracts from the vendor that provided you with your demo or directly from the CodeWeavers store. During purchase you will be asked to provide an email address and password. This address and password will be used to unlock your demo install. (Your Linux purchase will unlock the Solaris demo)

Games :
Games in CrossOver Games for Solaris:

• World of Warcraft
• EVE Online
• Guild Wars
• Prey
• Steam Games, including:
  • Half-Life 2
  • Team Fortress 2
  • Counter-Strike
  • Counter-Strike: Source
  • Civilization IV
  • Peggle Extreme
  • Call of Duty 2
  • Max Payne 2
  • Grand Theft Auto 2
• and more...

Office :

Applications in CrossOver Office for Solaris:

• Microsoft Office 2007, 2003, XP, 2000 and 97
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access ^*1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 & 7
• Microsoft Project
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Visio
• Lotus Notes 5.0 and 6.5.1
• Quicken
• FrameMaker
• Various Web Browser Plugins
  • QuickTime
  • Shockwave Director
  • Windows Media Player 6.4 & 9.0
• and more...

*1 - Microsoft Access supported in Office 2000 only.

Many applications and games that are not on the above list will still work just fine. For a list of such applications, visit the CodeWeavers CrossOver Compatibility Center. At the compatibility center you can search for games, read about other users' experiences, and post tips and hints for other users.

Cost and Support of CrossOver Solaris

If your a current owner of CrossOver Office you will receive a complimentary copy of CrossOver Games. If by chance you don't currently own a copy of CrossOver Office you can purchase the stand alone Games product for only $39.95 with your purchase you will receive *limited support* through their support ticket system at this time, you can join in the discussions that take place at the C4 compatibility center, join a mailing list, vote for your favorite applications and games, and much more.

A purchase also goes toward helping support a full time Wine hacker! the folks at CodeWeavers have over the years given back well over 98% of all the code modifications that went into CrossOver to the Wine project. It also a good idea if you purchase CrossOver for Solaris to VOTE for Solaris in the Compatibility center.

CrossOver Solaris Screenshots (taken on OpenSolaris)

CrossOver Solaris Gnome menu entries


When you select "Install Windows Software" from the menu the CX GUI will start.


If you select install software the installation process will begin.


After you select the bottle you want to install your application or game into the install process will start.



After the install has finished your application or game will be placed in the CX Manage Bottles UI window.


In Manage Bottles you will see "Advanced Settings" tab. From this tab you can create Archives of your installed bottles, perform backups and more.


In the Manage Bottles UI you can run commands in a bottle, view installed applications and games and view the control panel settings.


To register your copy of CrossOver Solaris select the "Register and unlock this demo" from the system menu. You will need to enter your email address and password and the register tool will conect to the CrossOver store and proceed with the registration.


To run a Windows command select "Run a Windows Command" from the system menu. Select a bottle and then run a Windows command from that bottle. With CX Office and Games 9.0 and onward you can now easily create log files and use debug channels from the Run Command UI.


To terminate a Windows application select "Terminate Windows Application" from the system menu.


To uninstall CrossOver Office or Games select "Uninstall" from the system menu. You can choose to leave all of your previously configured bottles intact if you wish to do so.


To run a Windows Application or Game from the system menu simply navigate to the menu entry and choose the installed Application or Game. Or if your a advanced user you can run any application or game from your terminal.

Here is a screenshot of IE 7 running on OpenSolaris with CrossOver Solaris.


CrossOver also runs on FreeBSD and PC-BSD, see this older post for more information on CrossOver for FreeBSD.

In a future post I will be doing a review of Microsoft Office and IE 7 on FreeBSD and OpenSolaris.

 

An introduction to CrossOver Office and Games for FreeBSD

What exactly is CrossOver FreeBSD?

CrossOver for FreeBSD is a commercial variant of Wine released by CodeWeavers with (currently) limited support for many of today's most popular office application and games. CrossOver Office and Games for FreeBSD is tested for performance and stability with many of todays most popular games such as Guild Wars, Eve Online, and Steam games like Half-Life 2 and Portal. As well as many of todays most popular Office application such as Microsoft Office 97 to 2007, Quicken, Quickbooks, Photoshop, Internet Explorer and many other not mentioned applications.
Minimum system requirements

FreeBSD :

• An x86 based FreeBSD distribution based on glibc 2.3 or greater
• Perl 5 or greater
• IJG JPEG library (libjpeg)
• python >= 2.4
• gtk2 >= 2.10
• python-gtk2 >= 2.10
• It is also recommended that you have a web browser installed.
• 100MB of available disk space (plus space for the Windows applications)
• 128MB of RAM

Currently Unsupported builds of CrossOver FreeBSD

Currently the only way to get CrossOver Office or Games for FreeBSD is to first purchase a Linux licence of CrossOver. After your purchase you can then go to "My Downloads" (Your Downloads) and then select the "Unsupported Downloads" tab and then select the CrossOver FreeBSD tab. At this time you can download both CrossOver Office and Games 8.0 and the new 9.0 release from CodeWeavers.

The Demo version of CrossOver

When you download CrossOver FreeBSD from the Unsupported section it will be a seven day demo. The demo version of CrossOver has all the functions and features of the full version. Any Windows software that works on a full version will also run in the demo version, and vice versa. The important limitation of the demo version is that bottles can only be used for 7 days. This means that any Windows packages that you install using the demo version will cease to work 7 days after their installation. When a demo installation is unlocked, all existing bottles and applications are unlocked as well. To unlock a demo, you must have a support account with CodeWeavers. You can purchase CrossOver licenses and support contracts from the vendor that provided you with your demo or directly from the CodeWeavers store. During purchase you will be asked to provide an email address and password. This address and password will be used to unlock your demo install. (Your Linux purchase will unlock the FreeBSD demo)

Games :
Games in CrossOver Games for FreeBSD:

• World of Warcraft
• EVE Online
• Guild Wars
• Prey
• Steam Games, including:
  • Half-Life 2
  • Team Fortress 2
  • Counter-Strike
  • Counter-Strike: Source
  • Civilization IV
  • Peggle Extreme
  • Call of Duty 2
  • Max Payne 2
  • Grand Theft Auto 2
• and more...

Office :

Applications in CrossOver Office for FreeBSD:

• Microsoft Office 2007, 2003, XP, 2000 and 97
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access ^*1
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 & 7
• Microsoft Project
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Visio
• Lotus Notes 5.0 and 6.5.1
• Quicken
• FrameMaker
• Various Web Browser Plugins
  • QuickTime
  • Shockwave Director
  • Windows Media Player 6.4 & 9.0
• and more...

*1 - Microsoft Access supported in Office 2000 only.

Many applications and games that are not on the above list will still work just fine. For a list of such applications, visit the CodeWeavers CrossOver Compatibility Center. At the compatibility center you can search for games, read about other users' experiences, and post tips and hints for other users.

Cost and Support of CrossOver FreeBSD

If your a current owner of CrossOver Office you will receive a complimentary copy of CrossOver Games. If by chance you don't currently own a copy of CrossOver Office you can purchase the stand alone Games product for only $39.95 with your purchase you will receive *limited support* through their support ticket system at this time, you can join in the discussions that take place at the C4 compatibility center, join a mailing list, vote for your favorite applications and games, and much more.

A purchase also goes toward helping support a full time Wine hacker! the folks at CodeWeavers have over the years given back well over 98% of all the code modifications that went into CrossOver to the Wine project. It also a good idea if you purchase CrossOver for FreeBSD to VOTE for FreeBSD in the Compatibility center.

CrossOver FreeBSD Screenshots

CrossOver FreeBSD Gnome menu entries


When you select "Install Windows Software" from the menu the CX GUI will start.


If you select install software the installation process will begin.




After you select the bottle you want to install your application or game into the install process will start.


After the install has finished your application or game will be placed in the CX Manage Bottles UI window.


In Manage Bottles you will see "Advanced Settings" tab. From this tab you can create Archives of your installed bottles, perform backups and more.


In the Manage Bottles UI you can run commands in a bottle, view installed applications and games and view the control panel settings.


To register your copy of CrossOver FreeBSD select the "Register and unlock this demo" from the system menu. You will need to enter your email address and password and the register tool will conect to the CrossOver store and proceed with the registration.


To run a Windows command select "Run a Windows Command" from the system menu. Select a bottle and then run a Windows command from that bottle. With CX Office and Games 9.0 and onward you can now easily create log files and use debug channels from the Run Command UI.


To terminate a Windows application select "Terminate Windows Application" from the system menu.


To uninstall CrossOver Office or Games select "Uninstall" from the system menu. You can choose to leave all of your previously configured bottles intact if you wish to do so.


To run a Windows Application or Game from the system menu simply navigate to the menu entry and choose the installed Application or Game. Or if your a advanced user you can run any application or game from your terminal. See the IE 7 screenshot below.

CrossOver FreeBSD running on PC-BSD 8 screenshots... :)






If you sign up as a Advocte you can get nightly development builds of CX FreeBSD and test newly implimented features and bug fixes!


Here is a screenshot of IE 7 running on FreeBSD 8 with CrossOver FreeBSD.



CrossOver Office and Games also runs on Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris! In my next post I will be doing a introduction to CrossOver Office and Games for Solaris.

 

Google gives Windows the boot and opts for Mac and Linux

With Apples market share growth increasing you really dont see a lot of companies moving from Windows-based computers to Macs. Sure, you will find mixed environments, with Macs predominantly in the creative departments. But, you dont typically see a complete departure from Windows. Well, Google is making the move from Windows based computers to Macs and Linux based computers.
Google is tired of security issues with Windows, and this is what they are doing about it:

Were not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort, said one Google employee. Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks, said another. New hires are now given the option of using Apples Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system. Linux is open source and we feel good about it, said one employee. Microsoft we dont feel so good about.

More companies need to look at what Google is doing, and really look at what the costs are for security prevention versus switching to a more secure platform. Yes, at first the costs will be high, because not only are you replacing the hardware, you will be replacing software as well. One way to look at software replacement costs is this way: when you have to upgrade your company from one version of Office to another, a large cost is incurred. Well, instead of upgrading from one version of Office to another, you take that cost and apply it to the Mac version of Office.

Inevitably you will run into some software that is only made for Windows and not for Macs or Linux. When this happens you, can always look into Crossover for Mac or Linux. These are emulators that allow you to run Windows based applications in OS X or Linux. The application acts as a translation layer between the Windows application and the non-Windows operating system.

I like how Google is giving their employees a choice of which computer they would like to use – a Mac or a Linux-based computer. This is definitely a bold move on Google’s part. They are taking the status quo and turning it on its side by doing this. My only question is when Googles Chrome Operating System is ready for prime time, will they be making the same kind of move, or will they still give their employees a choice? Only time will tell.

 

CodeWeavers Crossover Come To The Light Sale

Codeweavers offers downloads of its Crossover Games for $39.95 and Crossover Professional for $69.95 If you apply coupon code "ComeToTheLight" this will drop CrossOver Games to $29.96 And Crossover Professional to $52.46 That's 20% off and the lowest total price we've seen since a 1-day sale in October 2009. CrossOver enables you to install Windows applications and games on Intel-based Macs and Linux.

Update 01/27/2023 : The ComeToTheLight dealcode has expired, you can now use "TOM23" as your dealcode and save 20% off CrossOver for Mac and Linux.

The new and improved CodeWeavers CrossOver version 9 was recently released, So if you need a Windows Application or Games to run on Linux or Mac OS X this is your chance to get it at 20% off the normal selling price.

CrossOver 9.0 contains many fixes to existing applications, and just generally makes the product better. As of this writing CrossOver has been merged with Wine 1.1.34 and contains many improvements for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Quicken, PhotoShop and many other supported and none supported applications.

Second, the folks at CodeWeavers have re-written the entire user interface from scratch, and have created what they feel is a more intuitive installation process and user experience. The new user interface is written in GTK and the look and feel is much more intuitive then the older Tcl/TK UI that was used before this upcoming release.

Third, and perhaps most important, the CrossOver installer will now be directly linked to their online Compatibility database and allow people to install unsupported software via (recipes) contained on the Compatibility Center.

Keep in mind this sale is for a limited time only, and may be discontinued at any time.

 

Moving from Windows 7 to Mac OS Snow Leopard

I was in the market for a new Laptop, given that mine is at least 3 years old and starting to show its age with non-working USB ports, one blown power supply, and failing batteries. My requirements are slightly above the average:
Any laptop must be able to run the following at the same time within a hosted virtualization solution such as VMware Workstation or Fusion.

• VMware vSphere ESX 4
• VMware vSphere ESX 4i
• VMware vCenter Server on Windows 2008
• Virtual Storage Appliance (I use OpenFiler at the moment)
• Firewall
• Development Environment for my security script

Now I have all this running on my older Duo Core laptop within 8GBs of memory and multiple USB disks and let me tell you, it runs SLOWLY but it will run. I was in the market for something much faster and perhaps with more memory.
So I was in essence looking at a 16GB i7 laptop, but I settled for an 8GB i7 laptop with a 512GB SSD that “Just Works.” I was all set to plunk down cash on a Windows 7 based laptop when I went on the Gestalt IT Tech Field Day and found out that my camera would not stream video and required me to reboot several times in the midst of the briefings. This was just too many reboots during a critical time. I do not believe that ‘fixing’ a problem should require a reboot. A reboot just covers up the problems. My First attempt at a fix was to purchase a Microsoft HD Life Camera, but the video quality was worse than my Logitech HD camera all in all not very satisfactory.
I really agonized over this decision, I had to make sure my applications were all available on the Mac. Most if not all were, and after talking to my friend who was a long-time Mac owner, I switched back to a Mac (actually my first every computer purchase was a Mac IIsi followed soon by the MacBook Duo and up until last year I owned a Mac G4). I knew my VMs would run within 8GBs as they already did, so extra memory was not a huge issue. The big issue was to invest in SSD over standard drives. Now that was a great decision. So soon I was the proud owner of a 15″ MackBook Pro i7 with 8GBs of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Now what did I install on this MacBook Pro?
Paid Applications:

• VMware Fusion 3.0 which now runs in Unity mode my two applications I already owned for Microsoft Windows and use quite often: Visio 2007 and QuickBooks 2010.
• Codeweavers CrossOver Office (in which I could run Visio 2007 but choose not to do so). I do run IE6 within CrossOver office however, only way to talk to my very old Tape Library.
• Codeweavers CrossOver Games (still need to install those games but that should not be difficult seeing as I have already done this for Linux.)
• Microsoft Office Mac (I already owned a copy)
• Final Cut Express (Pre-installed)
• Belkin F5L009 – (USB over Ethernet) to access my Printer
• Livescribe Desktop – I already owned the Pulse Smart Pen
• FlipShare – I need access to my Flip Videos
• Little Snitch – An application based port filtering firewall as I really wanted to know what was going on. Thanks to Scott Lowe for pointing me to this little gem.
• Trillian – I own an professional account on this service for all my IM Needs
• Emailchemy – I had to switch my mail from Outlook to my Mac mail application, first I tried Entourage but that was a bust so I now use the Mac Mail.app even with its quirks
• Transmit – So I can upload those book files easier (I have not paid for this yet, I may switch to Cyberduck, but I still need to test with the file server.)

Now for the Free Applications

• Skype – gotta keep in touch. I actually can use the Windows Beta with multiple video streams inside Fusion but it has a few issues with echos
• Remote Desktop Connection – Still the best way to reach Windows boxes necessary for VMware management
• FireFox – I prefer this to Safari and Chrome actually, but use all to test websites.
• SnagIt Beta – I use SnagIt on Windows and wish to continue to use SnagIt on Mac to capture images. It is what I know and has a powerful image editor.
• Tweetie – for all those tweets. I tried twhirl but my friend said it drains battery being an Air App
• DropBox – For File sharing
• Chicken of the VNC – So that I can access all those Linux desktops not using XRDP
• Tunnelblick – For my OpenVPN connection
• Xcode and X11 – I do develop code so why not!
• Adobe Air – while it does drain battery, I have need for this for an upcoming product from a friend of mine for whom I do some beta work
• Windows Media Components for QuickTime – Gotta view those WMVs everyone posts.

Now for the Extras as in Hardware

• Speck Clear Hard Case (While at EMC World I noticed quite a few of these on MacBooks and I liked the look and feel of the case. The MBP needs a little extra protection).
• 85w MagSafe Power Supply (I picked up a second one so I could have one for travel.)
• USB to PS/2 connector (My laptop hooks to my PS/2 KVMs and the second one I bought works on Linux but not the MBP. The one I bought YEARS ago for the Mac G4 works great with the MBP.)
• Griffen iMic (I have a very good wand Mic that is best for using Skype, etc. as it is unidirectional and it is not amplified so need a tool that would do that for me.)

There you go. Now I have a laptop that “Just Works”, boots quickly, and plays all my music with no major issues.

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