Mac2Windows
CrossOver Mac Free for Just One Day
- 2008.10.28 - Tip Jar
When Apple migrated to the Intel platform, it opened up a lot of possibilities for Mac users - at least those with Intel-based Macs - to run Windows programs. Best known are the various ways to run Windows directly, whether dual-booting using Apple's Boot Camp or using one of several virtualization programs (all of which I've covered on LEM): Parallels, VMWare Fusion, and the free VirtualBox (http://lowendmac.com).
But there's another way. The WINE project provides Unix-family operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X, with the capability to run at least some Windows applications without having Windows installed. It works - sometimes - but can take a lot of fussing. CodeWeavers offers a commercial version of WINE, CrossOver, which makes it much easier to install and use.
I've written about CrossOver a couple of times on LowEndMac - a general review in 2007 and more recently a review when Codeweavers released a free version of it customized to allow Google's Windows-only Chrome browser to run on Macs or Linux.
Now, for one day only, CrossOver has another freebie: On October 28th, users going to the company's website are being promised a code that can be used to download either a Linux or Mac OS X copy of the $40 CrossOver Pro, complete with a year's support. (Support can be extended for $35/yr.)
The company claims that the freebie is the result of a Lame Duck challenge, offered three months ago by CodeWeavers' CEO Jeremy White to US president Bush. In it, he challenged Bush to achieve any of six goals during the last "lame duck" days of his administration. The goals ranged from capturing Osama Bin Laden to returning the stock market to its 2008 high. For each goal met, White promised to give his company's product away for a day.
One of the challenges was to bring the average price of gasoline sold in CodeWeavers' home base of Minnesota's Twin Cities to US$2.79. Falling petroleum prices have done that - the result: one day of free CrossOver.
Get it while you can. 
Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Alan Zisman is Mac-using teacher and technology writer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Many of his articles are available on his website, www.zisman.ca. If you find Alan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Other articles by Alan Zisman
- LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
- VMware Fusion 4 vs Parallels Desktop 7: The Virtualization Battle Continues, 2012.01.18. Over the years VMware and Parallels have both improved signficantly, but which is better in 2012?
- Tech 2012: Everyone Wants a Piece of Apple or Facebook, 2012.01.10. Just as last year, companies want to steal market share from Apple or create a real competitor for Facebook.
- More in the Mac 2 Windows index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: PowerBook 165c, introduced 1993.02.10. The first color PowerBook had an attractive screen, slow graphics.
- February 10 in LEM history: 93: LC III - Color Classic - PowerBook 165c - Centris 610 and 650 - Quadra 800 - 99: iMac flaws - 00: Plain old email - 03: Xserve, 1.33 GHz - 1993: Apple rolls out 6 new models at once - Cheerleading, misinformation, and moving ahead - Wacom Graphire2 - 05: Ultimate spam email - 06: TopXNotes Classic - PPC emulator adds Classic to Macintel
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple's Support Lead Shipping, Smartphones Outsell PCs, OS X Ported to ARM by Intern, and More, Mac News Review, 2012.02.10. Also the power of Tex-Edit Plus, Google and Twitter are already censoring the Web, Snow Leopard Security Update, and more.
- Mac and iOS Browsers: Options Galore, Freeware Forum, 2012.02.10. Safari is adequate on Mac and great on iOS, but the range of good alternatives is stunning. LEM writers share their favorites.
- LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
- 15 Years Ago Motorola Unveiled the PowerPC G3, Low End Mac Round Table, 2012.02.06. The G3 processor was optimized for real world Mac software and made a big leap forward in efficiency.
- Don't Kill Caps Lock, Learning to Love the iOS Keyboard, and an Adaptive iPad Keyboard, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2012.02.06. The Caps Lock key has a useful function, the iPad's keyboard really is useful, and checking out an adaptive keyboard for the iPad.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best MacBook Air Deals
- Best iBook G4 Deals
- Best iPad Deals
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals
- Best Apple TV Deals
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals
- Best Power Mac G4 Deals
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 Deals
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact
Follow
Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac
on Facebook
Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct
from Strider Software.
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac Museum
DealMac
Deal Brothers
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ
Affiliates
Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay
