What I most appreciate about CodeWeavers (and (Web hosting domains) all
What I most appreciate about CodeWeavers (and all these companies, really) is that they are very upfront about what works really well, what works exceptfor a few features, and what works not so well. All you have to do is checktheir Web site. For those who always seem to want to scream piracy when itcomesto Linux, you actually do have to own the programs you want to run(say, Microsoft Office) and install them through CrossOver Office off of their original CDs or DVDs. However, you don t have to own the version of Microsoft Windows the software would run under. CodeWeavers has built a re-implementation of the necessary Windows functionality under the hoodinstead. Are you an iPod and iTunes junkie? There s no Linux version of iTunes avail- able, but CrossOver Office lets you run iTunes under Linux. A plus to CodeWeavers CrossOver Office is that the applications run in indi- vidual windows just like every other program on your machine. A minus isthat not all Windows software is supported, because hooks have to be builtunder the hood for each new piece of software. CrossOver Office comes with the Xandros Deluxe desktop (available for instal- lation through the Xandros Networks, see Chapter 12) and is available forpurchase from the Xandros Networks store for other Xandros users. Win4LinAnother option is Win4Lin from NeTraverse (www.netraverse.com/). Win4Lin actually offers you a platform within which you install MicrosoftWindows (so have those CDs handy) and then run programs on top of it. Asof this writing, Win4Lin supports Windows 95, 98 (see Figure 19-2), and ME. Soon, it will support newer versions of Windows as well. A plus to Win4Lin is that it supports a more full range of Windows software. Aminus is that it runs in its own separate window, so its applications aren tintegrated into the rest of your desktop. You also have to actually keep yourMicrosoft Windows operating system CDs around because you need to beable to install the operating system into Win4Lin though you can then putthem in storage after you ve done the installation. You also end up having tohave a special kernel (boot session) to run Win4Lin 5.0, so if you hate reboot- ing, this program may not be the solution for you though you could justmake this your default boot option. Win4Lin is available for purchase for Linspire users through their Click And Run Warehouse; from the main menu, choose Programs.Utilities. CNR More.Win4Lin. 361Chapter 19: Windows-Only Media Formats and Programs26_