Customer Reviews

RED FROG Code Weavers Crossover for (Mac)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Update: 4-11-11
I used this product for about a year and it worked well as I described below. However, as the Mac OS was updated and Codeweavers waa slow to update their software I eventually stopped using CrossOver For Mac, uninstalled it and moved over to VMWare Fusion. And, I never looked back.

For what it's worth. I haven't used nor had any experience with any of the upgrades that they've made with this product in almost 4 years and so I'm not clear on if this product reflects the upgrades or is this still the first "old" edition.







*Is there a way to get around upgrading to Vista?
**What's available?
***Review of CrossOver
**** New version, 7.0 available as of 6.17.08

*I'm a Mac-owner and proud. With that said, there are several ways of keeping current with technology without needing to buy every product that Microsoft puts out. This is accomplished by several programs that have been created where software (created solely for the Windows platform) is fooled into thinking that the operating system installed is Windows.

CrossOver is a "Wine" -based open-source software, you install it and it automatically (without needing a copy of Windows) fools many current and many more older versions of PC-only software into thinking that there it is being installed on either Windows 98 through XP Pro. The CrossOver sets up the software in what they call a "bottle" and once you engage it-the bottle- or a desktop icon, the software opens.

You can install many of the current Windows-only software and many, many more older versions by having CrossOver. CrossOver also, instantly, installs windows-based downloads otherwise lost on a non-Windows platform and stores it on the desktop.

** I own the recent upgrade of CrossOver For Mac 7.0 (as of 6.17.08). Recently I just got rid of Parallels Desktop For Mac, a program that creates a "virtual (Windows) environment" I'm very sorry, now, to had to buy Parallels last year as I've had to reinstall it several times. The difference is that with CrossOver you're limited to the softwares that CodeWeavers makes available for their CrossOver product. Which, by the way, is very significant, although many current releases are not supported at the moment. With Parallels, once installed, you'd need a legitimate copy of Windows and register before it will allow you to install any current or older versions of your favorite software. CrossOver is $60, Parallels is $70 plus the cost of a Windows. Either or will save over buying a separate computer for Windows. By the way, Apple Computer's own, proprietary, "Virtual environment" producing software, "Bootcamp" is still in its beta-version. I installed Bootcamp, and believe me, it's no walk in the park. Albeit free, Bootcamp segregates the Mac harddrive into two one for the OSX and the other for Windows (that you still have to provide). Plus, with Bootcamp, you can't drop-and-drag pics, articles, forms from the virtual-Windows screen to the OSX and vice-versa.

***CrossOver will be a stellar program that I suspect most Mac and Linux-based pc owners will want to own, it works well and allows you the freedom to have software and downloads installed without the hassle or expense of having to buy another computer for Windows. If you have old window-only software and you've got a Mac, now you'll be able to use that program with the help of CrossOver. The only drawback is that Codeweavers is still trying to develop the software to allow for the most current versions of more visually based software.

I recently started using CrossOver Mac on my new MacBook, and I now can't live without it! If you own a Mac and you want to run PC based applications like Microsoft Office 2003, Steam Games, or Internet Explorer 6, this is the software you need to buy. I bought it to run Outlook so I could get my office e-mail, but I now use it for games and browsing the Internet (not a fan of FireFox).

The software was very easy for me to install and use. It runs in the background so I don't even have to deal with any settings. Best of all, I saved money in getting this functionality without having to buy a Windows license. I know other software applications offer all the features and functionality of CrossOver, but the reason I got my Mac was cause I wanted a better operating system without the flaws, security issues, viruses, and headaches. I get that with my MacBook running Leopard. My only concern was loosing my office software. Now with CrossOver, I get my cake and can eat it too!

I have only one piece of software from the PC world that I want to run -- Quicken 2010. I haven't found a mac equivalent. I initially ran it with VM Fusion -- it never worked well -- I had problems printing and using some CD and online features. I never got much help from the VMF people. So, I kept an old PC laptop whose sole function was to run this program.

I recently downloaded the trial version of Crossover and tried quicken 2010.

Quicken works well and faster than it did on the PC. The only glitch I've found so far is that some online fonts aren't rendered properly. All of the core functions like online banking work without a hitch.

Installation could have been easier -- it took be a while to understand that I had to put the quicken CD into the mac *before* starting the install process. Perhaps some reviewers who stated that they couldn't load anything didn't realize this either.

I love the fact that I don't have to maintain a PC with the constant system and virus updates to run a single windows program.

I don't think this is a substitute for someone who really wants access to a Windows machine but for one or two programs and, given that you can try before you buy for 30 days, this is an easy alternative.

I bought this product hoping it would be a good way to run a few non-video intensive PC games on my Macbook Air. None of the games I tried would work for any prolonged period of time. Since some of the games only require a P3 600Mhz I was sorely disappointed in this product. I did try installing a few programs on the "compatible" list from the developer's website such as Office XP and they worked fine. So, if you are going to only run applications that are listed as compatible from the developer then this is a fine product.

I bought this product because I needed to install a specialized research program - made for Windows - on my MAC. The Cross Over Box listed on the box as "compatible" the particular research software - so it seemed like a secure deal. However, it turned out that Code Weavers did not allow this software to work on my computer. The website then explained that there's a distinction between "supported" programs and "compatible." The "compatible" ones listed on the box don't always work.
The product offers lots of online support but it's not so easy to find what you need. Overall, it was not a good experience for me.

For anyone using software involving Microsoft's ActiveX control, this software does not work at all. :-\

I purchased a new Mac Pro computer, read all the hype about Code Weavers' Crossover and decided to give it a try. I found Crossover practically useless: it did not run any of the popular programs I tried it with and it became a nuisance instead of an aid. This is just my opinion and as always,try it yourself to form your own opinion.

I am a Mac user. I have been a Mac user since the first Mac and an Apple II user prior to that. Recently I had to run a piece of software that is only available on Windows. There is no current Mac alternative. It is Trope Trainer, which is really the best way for Jewish kids and adults to learn how to chant Torah portions. It is terrific software and I really wanted my daughter to be able to use it. I didn't, however, wish to get into big bucks or a complicated setup to run ONE piece of software. I decided to try crossover. Trope Trainer is not officially supported but someone else on their website commented that it works with very few glitches. It took about 5 minutes to install and Trope Trainer worked right away, even with required website registration, required updates to download etc.

I am VERY impressed.

Within 2 days of purchasing this product (via download from Codeweavers' website), I requested a refund for it. I tried to install 7 different windows programs on my mac with CrossOver, but none of the would work. Most of them would not install at all - the installer just froze or Crossover came back saying the install failed. The two that did install would not launch - they quit a few seconds after I tried to launch them, without ever loading up fully. The only program that I was able to get working correctly was IE7, because the installer for it comes bundled with Crossover, along with Microsoft Office and some other basic programs. This product is a major let down; don't waste your time or money.

I have completely given up on Crossover. The only real "killer app" they claim is MS Office, but I've never gotten it to run for more than an hour before crashing. That's with both the 2003 and 2007 versions. As for every single other application I've tried to run? No. Nothing. Doesn't work.

I honestly have no idea why anyone would buy this. It's a toy.

If you want Windows software on your Mac, put in some extra RAM and run Fusion/Parallels/VirtualBox. Then it will run, and run perfectly.