CrossOver Impersonator simplifies running Windows software on Mac and Linux

CodeWeavers Inc has released a major new version of its Wine based CrossOver tool, which is designed to make it possible to run Windows applications and games on both Mac and Linux platforms. CrossOver Impersonator Edition boasts a brand new CrossTie feature, which enables users to install hundreds of Windows applications with a single click. It also incorporates over 4,500 patches that went into the latest release of Wine (1.3.9), and replaces all previous versions.
CrossOver is based on the open-source Wine software which CodeWeavers contributes a massive amount of code to. Wine works by isolating programs in bottles, each complete with its own C drive (including all sub-directories), Windows Registry, Wine settings and of course all the application files. Separate bottles can be created to isolate programs from each other or for setting up different versions of Windows for compatibility purposes. CrossOver Impersonator provides a more user-friendly front end and support, albeit in return for a commercial fee.

Previous versions of CrossOver as well as Wine itself require the user to manually configure a bottle and then install the software within that; CrossTie technology now makes it an easy process: after first launching the program will connect to the CrossWeavers application compatibility database and provide a list of supported software. All you need to do is provide the setup file, then the software will do the rest it’ll automatically detect set-up discs and then it’s a case of following the exact same setup wizard as you’d get if installing the program in Windows. There are over 450 applications and games currently supported in the database, including various older versions of major applications like Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office.

There are three editions of CrossOver Impersonator for both Mac and Linux Platforms: CrossOver Mac/Linux Impersonator Standard and CrossOver Games Impersonator cost $39.95 each, and come with six months’ free updates and support. The third option CrossOver Mac/Linux Impersonator Professional costs $69.95, comes with 12 months updates and higher priority support, and includes a CrossOver Games licence. Professional users can also renew for an additional 12 months for a discounted cost ($35) up to 30 days after their licence expires.

CrossOver Impersonator requires a Mac with an Intel processor running Mac OS X 10.5 or later, while it will also work on most major Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Redhat, Fedora and openSUSE.

CodeWeavers unleashes new Windows Impersonator

CrossOver Impersonator, a Windows emulator, promises high performance for Unix/Linux systems. With Wine 1.3.9 under the hood, it raises the question: what differentiates this Wine based program from any other? We ordered a copy to find out.

On first boot, CrossOver Linux presents the ability to automatically download the list of community-supported applications. If you turn on automatic updating, this list will be checked and updated each time you launch it.
Similar to PlayOn Linux or Cedega, you are shown a list of applications to choose from. Every applications running quality is measured with a medals system ranging from bronze, silver to gold.
Once an application is selected, you have the first option to simply direct CrossOver to the installer file. The second more interesting option is to select a folder that will be treated like an installer disk, saving you the trouble of mounting disk images.
The final step is to install the program selected. CrossOver offers a neat feature for installing applications into separate ‘bottles’. A bottle is a virtual Windows environment. Each bottle contains a unique C: drive. It also contains a complete Windows registry, a full set of most CrossOver settings, and one or more Windows applications.
The program allows you to maintain multiple bottles in one CrossOver installation. This is like having several different Windows machines operating together on your computer. This is is useful anytime you want to install multiple applications yet prevent them from interacting or damaging one another.
The last noteworthy feature is “CrossTie” installer. In a nutshell, this lets you install thousands of programs at the same time without any user input or configuration. To accomplish this task CrossOver contains all the configuration settings needed to create a new bottle and install the application you need into that bottle.

Download

You can download a free 30 day trial or buy the software here.
The standard version will run you 39.95$ and as for the professional 69.95$. All of the above are easily installed through a Deb. package.

CodeWeavers Releases CrossOver 10 for Linux and Mac aka the Impersonator

WEARING SEQUINS AND STILETTO HEELS, CODEWEAVERS DELIVERS DEATH BLOW TO MICROSOFT’S FASHION HEGEMONY
New CrossOver “Impersonator” Release Dramatically Increases Ease of Impersonating Windows on Mac and Linux
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (January 27, 2011) It’s Mac in the back; Windows in the front. Gadfly software company, CodeWeavers, Inc., today releases CrossOver Impersonator Edition. This latest edition greatly increases the ease of running Windows software on Macs and Linux PCs without the need for a Windows operating system license.

Impersonator Edition also includes CodeWeavers new “CrossTie” installer, which lets users install hundreds of Windows applications with just a click of a button. CrossTie communicates directly with CodeWeavers massive compatibility database (c4.codeweavers.com), which lists thousands of software applications including basic office packages, educational software and highly popular games that Windows-less individuals can now operate through Impersonator.

“One click on CrossTie and bam! users are set to run applications on their Mac or Linux machine,” said CodeWeavers CEO Jeremy White, fetchingly attired as the incomparable Lucille Ball, complete with stunning red wig. “Whether it’s the latest Steam game, some random knitting program or Microsoft Office, we put Windows’ lipstick on your Mac, quickly and guiltlessly.”
Both COO Jon Parshall and White dressed in drag as a shameless stunt to draw attention to themselves and their Impersonator software. David Pogue of the New York Times called it “hilarious,” and one of the most creative pitches he’d seen all year. 

“CrossOver Impersonator is the diamond edition of our CrossOver software, and because of the improved functionality, anyone from an open source novice to a hard core gamer can easily use our software, all without paying a dime to Microsoft,” Parshall added. CodeWeavers COO, complete with Cher wig and towering black heels, will be unveiling the new software at Macworld 2011 in San Francisco. “Impersonator delivers the death blow to Microsoft’s fashion dominance. So be there, or be Cher!”
CrossOver Impersonator Edition replaces all previous versions of CrossOver. The software is immediately available at www.CodeWeavers.com.

About CodeWeavers
Founded in 1996 as a general software consultancy, CodeWeavers focuses on the development of Wine the core technology found in all of its CrossOver products. The company's goal is to bring expanded market opportunities for Windows software developers by making it easier, faster and more painless to port Windows software to Linux. CodeWeavers is recognized as a leader in open-source Windows porting technology, and maintains development offices in Minnesota, the United Kingdom and elsewhere around the world. The company is privately held. For more information about CodeWeavers, log on to www.CodeWeavers.com.

All dressed up and MacWorld to go

From Jeremy Whites blog :
These days, the combination of CrossOver and all the hard work of our Advocates is amazing. Within 5 minutes, or less, you can easily download and install CrossOver and your favorite Windows application. But you don't have to buy, install, or hassle with Windows. It's like playing a game like Call of Duty without having to actually be in a real combat zone. Or like a man putting on a dress instead of getting a sex change operation. Feels a little funny, but strangely nice, and you still get to be a man afterwards.


So in 8 days, at MacWorld in San Francisco, we are launching CrossOver 10 'The Impersonator'. This new version of CrossOver will feature our new CrossTie technology that will make it drop dead easy to install a Windows application and only that Windows application - on your Mac or Linux computer. And since we're so excited about this, we're telling everyone we know, including our buddies David Pogue and Walt Mossberg, who ignore us every single freaking year (not that we're hurt or anything, mind you).

Click on the picture above to see what I mean about a dress. And if you're in San Francisco next week, come on down to booth 442 at MacWorld; we'll have real Impersonators on hand, and you can check out the new Impersonator version of CrossOver. Or check this space next week for our launch.

Cheers,

Jeremy

CodeWeavers CrossOver Multi-User Pricing Discounts save up to 43% off full retail

With the recent announcement that the Russian government will mandate A shift from Microsoft to Linux by 2015. I started thinking about what the Russians will do if they have some Windows Applications that don't have Linux equivalents at this time.

One option would be to keep some Microsoft Windows boxes around to run a small number of critical applications. Another option would be for the government to fund the development or porting of the needed applications to Linux. A third option would be they could run the applications on CodeWeavers CrossOver Pro on Linux and save the Windows licences and any development or porting cost.

This isn't just for Russia, this is also true for many other countries around the world that's making the shift away from Microsoft Windows to Linux.

Then their is smaller state and local governments that are also making the shift to Linux. And for smaller governments the cost to develop or to port a custom application to Linux might be prohibitive. But with the purchase of volume CrossOver licences the cost would remain within budget. As the local government would save the cost of the Windows licence that's allot more expensive then the cost of CrossOver.

Next is educational institutions, have you ever thought how much the worlds educational institutions would save by making the move away from Windows to Linux? And how the savings could be used for actually educating our children and young adults.

Then their is the power user who has two or more computers that run Linux or Mac and who wants the option to run certain windows applications or games on their operating system of choice. With a volume purchase of two or more licences you can receive a discount off the full retail price.

Lastly I would suggest LUG users or people who have friends who also use Linux or Mac to setup a home brew Groupon. And one person take every ones order and then make the volume purchase for the discounted price. This way everyone in the group gets a higher discount as more licences can be purchased at a single time.

So how does volume licencing work?

For example if you purchase 2 to 9 licences you will receive a 5.6% discount off the normal retail selling price of $69.95 and as you can see in the table below the more licences you purchase in a single block the higher the discount received. The maximum discount goes up to 43% off retail for 1000 or more licences purchased at a single time. While a $40,000 purchase might seem like allot to a single user, this is well within range of normal software purchases for large business, educational intuitions, and government of all sizes.

For more information on CodeWeavers volume licencing click this link.

SKU pricing Table

Prices for Currency: ($) US Dollar

Name	SKU	Qty Range	List Price Each	Vendor Price Each	Vendor Support Extension Price Each
CrossOver Mac Professional	cxmac
		1 - 1	$69.95	$69.95	$35.00
		2 - 9	$66.00	$66.00	$32.00
		10 - 24	$63.00	$63.00	$29.00
		25 - 49	$60.00	$60.00	$26.00
		50 - 99	$56.00	$56.00	$24.00
		100 - 499	$52.00	$52.00	$21.00
		500 - 999	$45.00	$45.00	$18.00
		1000+	$40.00	$40.00	$15.00
CrossOver Mac Standard	cxmacstd
		1+	$39.95	$39.95	$39.95
CrossOver Linux Professional	cxpro
		1 - 1	$69.95	$69.95	$35.00
		2 - 9	$66.00	$66.00	$32.00
		10 - 24	$63.00	$63.00	$29.00
		25 - 49	$60.00	$60.00	$26.00
		50 - 99	$56.00	$56.00	$24.00
		100 - 499	$52.00	$52.00	$21.00
		500 - 999	$45.00	$45.00	$18.00
		1000+	$40.00	$40.00	$15.00

Educational Discounts

CodeWeavers strongly believes in the power of open-source solutions to help deliver critically needed software at reasonable prices to educational institutions worldwide.