updateSpecial Review1011/22/2007
Running Fine Dreamweaver MX
on Mandriva Linux 2006 v. 10.2

Photo above shows Dreamweaver MX editing fine a very sophisticated webpage of @Macarlo.Com on Gnome (v.2.10.0) X Server of Mandriva Linux 2006 v.10.2 running with CrossOver v.5.0.3 (click the image to see it ioriginal size - 1024 x 768).

by Macarlo, IWA Member
screenshots by Gnome & Ksnapshot

Hi Windows puppets...This week your old friend Macarlo has decided to run the web editor Macromedia Dreamweaver MX (recently acquired by Adobe) on Mandriva Linux, the best distro for anyone that are migrating from Windows. In order to do this adventure I downloaded the demo of CrossOver Standard 5.0.3 released by CodeWeavers. This fine piece of software installs quickly and easy on Gnome or KDE without only one problem and it is capable to run various Windows' apps like Adobe Photoshop 7.0, Adobe Acrobat 5.0, Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX, the entire Micro$oft Office and much more... just like these apps are running in its native Windows API!! No emulations, no real reboots, nothing like VMWare environement etc etc. After the install the Windows' programs appears in the Gnome's menus, you click it directly and these ones appears seamless into your Linux Desktop exactly a Linux native app. The only difference you will see is the open file query window that is like the ones in Windows environement.

Click here to see @Macarlo's Mandriva-KDE Web IDE

I'm really surprised with CrossOver, because it have not bugs and I verified that Dreamweaver running into it's control runs better than in Windows 2000, XP or 2003. In the past I was Macromedia reseller but personally I consider Dreamweaver inferior when it is compared with Namo, simply because this Macromedia's web editor cannot load a lot of web pages at the same time, it is not intuitive and sucks excessive RAM and CPU. When I was running OS/2 Warp I used Boxer Text Editor for Programmers and Home Page Publisher for web authoring. When I migrated to Linux for the first time I used Emacs and the WYSIWYG feature of the firsts releases of Star Office. Finally, when I migrated to Windows, in order to improve my Web development, I joined Namo Web Editor, the best WYSIWYG one in the planet. With Namo it is possible to load and to edit hundred of web pages at the same time with a lot of options and enhacements that Dreamweaver simply don't know...

I installed on my Mandriva's Web IDE various little Windows executables officially unsupported by CrossOver as scientific calculators, eBooks built by WebCompiler (executables that requires Microsoft Internet Explorer installed) and my portable Whois engine (@MNWhois.exe). These softs runs fantastic, without only one problem and doesn't need an installation: I simply put these apps in my Desktop and that is all. Take a look in the screenshot below, made by Ksnapshot. If you want you can download for free my portable Whois View engine (307K only), at: http://macarlohost.net/domaintools.htm

Photo above shows portable @MacarloWhois running just fine on Mandriva Linux 2006 v.10.2 - KDE 3.40 with CrossOver v.5.0.3 without bootle (click the image to see it ioriginal size - 1024 x 768).

Click here to see an eBook by WebCompiler running on @Macarlo's Mandriva KDE

I also installed on my Mandrake a lot of Windows softs officially unsupported by CrossOver as Universal Explorer, Boxer text editor for programmers (version 10.0) and more, much more, and all of them are running just fine here. Using my Boxer on Linux I updated at the same time over 300 web pages of my principal website in extra-high speed and I have noticed that Boxer, like Dreamweaver MX, runs on Linux with CrossOver API better than in my Windows 2003 Server and I immediately informed my friend David Hamel, developer of this award winning text editor (I'm it registered user since its firsts versions for OS/2 Warp and I wrote hundreds of ebooks on mysticism using Boxer, some of them available online at OS+B Digital Library: http://svmmvmbonvm.org/livrariaos+b/) Boxer can be purchased at the developer's website: http://boxersoftware.com/

Photo above shows Boxer text editor v.10 updating macarlo.com on Mandriva
(Click the image to see Boxer in a hard update with 48 webpages -1024 x 768)

I also tested on Mandriva 2006 10.2 the excellent freeware SSH File Transfer and this one runs simply fantastic on linux (rather than in Windows!) through CrossOver. SSH Secure Shell for Workstations makes it easy and convenient to transfer files between your local computer and the remote host computer (server). You can upload and download files by using an intuitive, graphical user interface similar in functionality to Windows Explorer. Using Linux built in feature SSH the user normally cannot delete unwanted files in its server because the Bash commands have not a simple command as "delete", "remove" etc and also Secure CRT or Putty provides a simple option for this task. Using SSH File Transfer the owner of one server, physical or virtual, can change attributes and realize a lot of operations (including deletion) with a simply click of mouse in a icon inside the root!! I evaluated SSH File Transfer in my KDE .

Photo above showsSSH File Transfer running fine on Mandriva
(Click the image to see another in original size - 1024 x 768)

Photo above shows Namo Web Editor 2006 Suite in install process on Mandriva
(Click the image to see it in original size - 1024 x 768)

I'm disapointed because Namo Web Editor is not supported yet by CrossOver. I tried install it (version 2006 Suite) in my Mandrake and CrossOver launched the install shield normally. But when Namo requested my CD key and serial codes I tried insert various, from anterior versions (it is requested), as 4.0, 4.5, 5.5, 6.0 and ...nothing!! I'm Namo Web Editor registered user since its first version through the most recent and I'm also Namo reseller as Digital River merchant partner, but all of my codes was refused, because Namo in not supported CrossOver environment simply don't recognizes all of them!!. UPDATE: Namo 4.2 runs fine on Mandriva', Gnome: http://macarlo.com/namo42mandrake.htm

After this deception I tried to install in my Mandrake an anterior version of Namo Web Editor, the 5.5, directly from an original CD issued to me by the original Namo developing company. I started CrossOver using a bootable based in Windows 98 and the Namo install shield started normally, like a genuine Windows installation. I selected a complete install, including tons of clipart and all Namo addons and features, as Namo Capture, Gif Animator and more. The install asked me if I'm interested i put shortcuts in my Desktop and I authorized this task. Finished all install processes CrossOver has simulated a Windows reboot; then all shortcuts are displayed in my Gnome menu and I clicked all, one by one. Various tools started normally but the most desired, the Namo Web Editor, fails once again!! The splash screen comes but in few seconds disappears!

Photo above shows Namo Web Editor 5.5 splash screen in Mandriva
(Click the image to see it in original size - 1024 x 768)

Then, I was forced to produce this fine web page using DW MX and in few minutes I did it. Really it is incredible, but running on Linux, into CrossOver Windozed API, this web editor developed by Macromedia is much more stable and much more efficient: no freezes, no slow performance, no excessive CPU or much RAM sucked in. Finally I'm forced to recognize that Dreamweaver is not the great crap I was supposing, but Windows is it... 

After installing any Windows software on Linux CrossOver performs quickly a simulation of Windows reboot and that is all: you are done! I performed my install on my Mandrake the bottle status option of Windows 98 and encountered not any problem with software officialy supporter by CrossOver. This soft I enthusiatically recommend!!

Photo above shows Adobe Photoshop 7.0 in install process on Mandriva
(Click the image to see Photoshop 7.0 running in Gnome - 1024 x 768)

CrossOver Office Standard delivers a complete web browsing experience by making the full range of Windows Web Browser Plugins available on Linux. Plugins are programs that extend the capabilities of a browser or email client -- for example, to play movies or view Word documents.

Photo above shows CrossOver Standard Demo starting in my Mandriva 2006
(Click the image to see CrossOver simulating Windows reboot - 1024 x 768)

CrossOver works by running the actual Windows applications. One reason Crossover Office means that computer users no longer need to buy or to run the MS Windows operating system is that Crossover Office provides a set of APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow MS Windows programs to run directly (natively) on the GNU-Linux desktop. That means that computer users no longer have to purchase or license the MS Windows operating system in order to run many MS Windows applications. And it means that computer users no longer have to put up with MS Windows crashes, viri, security and privacy invasions, and Product Activation horrors! Because no CPU emulation is involved they run at full speed on your system. They also integrate with your mail client and desktop ensvironment, making it possible to view Word, Excel or PowerPoint attachments, or to open these file types from the KDE or Gnome desktop or file managers. CrossOver Office Standard further acts as a bridge between the native browser (e.g. Mozilla) and Windows plugins (e.g. QuickTime) so that you can use them in your favorite browser. I evaluated CrossOver on Gnome 2.10 and on KDE 3.4 and I consider its performance more stable on Gnome.

Click here to see MS Word running on @Macarlo's Mandriva Gnome Desktop.

Click here to see MS Internet Explorer running on @Macarlo's Mandriva Gnome Desktop

Click here to see Flash MX 6.0 running on @Macarlo's Mandriva Gnome Desktop

Click here to see Universal Explorer running on @Macarlo's Mandriva Gnome Desktop

Click here to see Windows Media Player running on @Macarlo's Mandriva Gnome Desktop

System Requiriments

CrossOver Office Standard is easy to install, and requires a small footprint on the system. Its minimum requirements are as follows: 

* An x86 based Linux distribution based on glibc 2.2 or greater  

* X11R6 3.3 or higher. XFree86 4 with XRender and FreeType support is recommended  

* Perl 5 or greater  

* IJG JPEG library (libjpeg)  

* It is also recommended that you have a web browser installed. For the plugin functionality, we recommend: 

o Netscape 4.7x or greater
o Netscape 6.1 or greater oMozilla 1.2 or greater
o Galeon or SkipStone based on Mozilla 1.2 or greater
o Konqueror 2.2.2 or greater
o Opera 5.05 or greater
o 40MB of available disk space (plus space for the Windows applications)
o 64MB of RAM 

Visit CodeWeavers website: http://www.codeweavers.com

CodeWeavers Recent News:

2006/09/28

Hi Folks,

I am happy to announce that we have put up a new version of our public
beta of CrossOver Mac as well as an equivalent public beta of CrossOver Linux.

For Mac users, this release includes fixes to Internet Explorer, fixes for
many cases where programs would crash when run (e.g. Microsoft Office 2000
and similar older applications), fixes for Outlook 2003, and a range of
other improvements.

For Linux users, the big highlights are support for World of Warcraft and
many Steam based games (including Half Life 2 and Counterstrike), as
well as support for Outlook 2003. Version 6 also represents a major improvement
in the core of Wine since version 5 of CrossOver, so you may be pleasantly
surprised as you try running unsupported applications.

A more complete change log is attached.

Please note that this is still beta software, and there are
many issues remaining; we still have a ways to go until we feel comfortable
considering it ready for release. While we greatly appreciate feedback
on this release, if you don't like bleeding edge experimental software,
we'd really rather you waited for a proper production version.

Along those lines, please read the Forums on our beta center; we will
be posting errata and troubleshooting tips there, as well as paying careful
attention to your reports. There will be no support for this release
through our normal ticket system, so please direct all questions and
reports to our beta center.

At any rate, you can download the software from our beta center:
http://www.codeweavers.com/beta/

Please report your experiences with the software to the beta center,
and thanks for your interest in CrossOver and Wine!

Cheers,

Jeremy White
CEO
CodeWeavers
-------------- next part --------------
* CrossOver Mac 6.0.0beta2 - 2006/09/28

CrossOver Mac specific changes:
Dramatic performance improvements -- startup time, bottle
creation and a few install processes should be much faster.
Fixed switching to full-screen mode so the screen does not go
all black.
Fixed bugs on case-sensitive file systems.
Fixed the CPU detection, which makes many installers happier.
Fixed problems that appeared when old PPC tcl libraries were
migrated from an old Mac.
Fixed failure to see the second and subsequent font faces in
a font suitcase file.
Fixed failure to launch Programs menu items and menu helper
applications if CrossOver.app has moved (only fixed for newly
installed Windows programs).
Added an option on the Run Command dialog to create a custom
launch icon.
Made applet launching simpler in the Bottle Control Panel.
Made the Open Shell feature more reliable and useful.
Fixed a bug in the registration process.

Application fixes:
Fixed a freeze in Internet Explorer when accessing Windows
Update.
Much better support for Outlook 2003 and other Office 2003
applications.
Improved OLE embedding support for Office 2003 applications.
Fixed DCOM detection for Office XP. Should dramatically improve
behavior of Office XP applications.
Fixed font detection in Visio 2003.
Many improvements to game support. Should install and run
World of Warcraft and Half-life via Steam.

General CrossOver fixes and improvements:
Fixed the windows version setting in WinXP bottles.
Added a few entries to the Bottle Control Panel.
Added GIF support that was missing for some apps.

* CrossOver Linux 6.0.0beta2 - 2006/09/28

New Application support (since 5.0.3):
World of Warcraft
Many Steam games (e.g. Half Life 2, Counterstrike source)
Outlook 2003
Flash Player 9.
Visio 2003
Project 2003

Other Application improvements:
Improved installation of Quicken. All versions but Quicken 2007
should be usable now (although Quicken has a window
positioning bug on startup we're still working on).
Fix a bug with Remedy.

General CrossOver fixes and improvements:
CrossOver is now much better at creating program icons that
work and have the correct icons.
Add a Windows XP bottle template.
Many, many other bug fixes and improvements; this
should represent a major step forward from 5.0.3