Codeweavers say that that their CrossOver product is a way to run MS software on a Linux PC without dual-boot or using a VM.
Any of you here ever tried it ?.. and have comments about it ? Problems ? Issues?
Their site: https://www.codeweavers.com/
Thanks
W
Crossover is the paid version of Wine, you find it already installed (I suppose for a trial period) on Deepin Linux, so my advice is to try this on Virtualbox first.
As for me, I tried it on Virtualbox to see if I could run an application based on Access. This program on Windows also works with Runtime Acces 2007 only, even if I do not have the whole Microsoft Office suite.
Of course with Crossover it did not work, maybe you can get Word or Exel to work , but not Access.
Before even finding this Deepin Linux, I tried to install Crossover by a deb, installed with Gdebi as they advise on their site:
It destroyed my Ubuntu 14.04 (to settle its dependencies)
I took screenshots on the gdebi terminal (recovered later with Ubuntu live),
http://imgur.com/a/caESv <== packages removed
It did not restart anymore … My salvation was the system image made with Systemback.
I sent an email to those of Crossover and they replied that:
"Thanks for the feedback and I’m sorry for all the hassle our package caused. It can be used to install dependencies, if it is a new version of the dependency is available, or if a package version is held / broken, it can cause the package manager to try and update all related packages, causing a cascade of things to be removed and reinstalled. Basically then the OS is in a half-updated state with mixed package versions.
There’s a .bin shell installer of Linux Crossover too https://media.codeweavers.com/pub/crosso...16.2.5.bin that does not pull into any dependencies and is used on unsupported distros. That could be used to install Crossover too."
However, in my opinion, assuming that only happened to me, the best method is always the dual boot or at the limit virtualization, Windows software with Windows and Linux with Linux.
Wow ! Thanks a lot, really. Quite an extensive answer!
And agree with your conclusion.
So it means too complicated and too risky for me.
W
I’ve actually used it for a couple of years and had pretty good luck with it I use it to run Acrobat Pro, Office 2013 and Eudora with no problem.
I just wish they had a free version of it.
They do have a free version - it’s called Wine 
CrossOver is a value-add on top of Wine, and they do send a lot of their code to the Wine project.
I purchased CO back in the day, but I simply don’t need it now. The only thing I use Wine for now is Quicken Basic 99, and it works just fine. MS Office 2007 also works fine under stock Wine as well, but I don’t need it any more, now that I am quasi-retired.
True enough, but when you try to get something like Acrobat Pro to run with vanilla WINE, well… after the 50th or 60th hour of trying to get the ^#$@#@^# thing to run, that “value-add” becomes much more valuable.
Ah well, we all do what we need to do when we must.
That was my point - some things won’t run with vanilla Wine, some things will. If you need the special CrossOver sauce to get a needed (or greatly desired) program to run, go for it. It’s quite reasonably priced, and it seems to be a competent and helpful team behind it.
If you have been able to wean yourself from MS to some degree, and just have an old thing you have been using for years, it may just run on vanilla Wine. And Wine keeps getting better. Due, in part, to contributions back from the CrossOver team.
Those who have definite needs for some Windows program be advised: Code Weavers (company behind CrossOver) has a website where you can look up your program and get a good sense of how well it runs based on actual user feedback.
I think any company that can get windows progs to run on Linux the way Crossover does deserves good review. It is smoother than wine and does all the leg work regarding dependencies. Compared to buying a windows licence it's a no brainer!