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OT: WineBottler and CrossOver Mac: package Windows apps over to Mac bundles
I just read about these apps on Macintouch yesterday.
https://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
https://www.codeweavers.com/products/Here’s what was written at Macintouch:
“WineBottler is free (donations welcome) software from Mike Kronenberg that packages Windows applications into Mac bundles (through the use of the open-source WINE Windows compatibility subsystem). Scripts simplify the conversion of popular Windows apps (e.g. Internet Explorer), turning them into Mac bundles (apps). You can turn a .exe program into a bundle/app or simply run it directly. WineBottler 1.6 is the current development version with Mountain Lion support added.
WineBottler 1.4.1.6 Stable runs on Mac OS X 10.6 to OS X 10.8. WineBottler 1.2.5 Stable runs on Mac OS X 10.4 – 10.6. [CrossOver Mac is a commercial alternative that also uses WINE, while providing support services to customers.]”
Anyone have any experience with either or both? I have a rusty old Windows XP laptop I need to bring out once a year or so to run a single Windows-only program for my websites. It would be great to dispense with Windows and this laptop once and for all. I don’t have any interest in messing with emulation programs for this one chore (i.e Parallels or Fusion), but this “packaging” option would be cool if it works.
Thanks,
Dave -
9 Replies
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[Dave Gage] “Anyone have any experience with either or both? I have a rusty old Windows XP laptop I need to bring out once a year or so to run a single Windows-only program for my websites. It would be great to dispense with Windows and this laptop once and for all. I don’t have any interest in messing with emulation programs for this one chore (i.e Parallels or Fusion), but this “packaging” option would be cool if it works.”
It depends on what you’re trying to run exactly. I would imagine certain software would be more successful than others.
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I’ve used Wine for various purposes over the years with mixed success. The best advice I can give is to check their database of compatible applications. If there are just one or two apps that you need then try to bottle them and see how they work. I’ve found that the applications that work best are ones that don’t make heavy usage of Microsoft’s proprietary APIs. The exceptions to this are MS’ most popular applications like IE and Office, but that’s because a great deal of effort has gone into making them function properly.
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FCP X Certified Pro, Level Two
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I’ve used Crossover for years. Pretty good for simple programs.
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comREEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html
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Gary and Nicholas,
Thanks for the responses, I got busy yesterday and couldn’t get back here.
[Gary Huff] “It depends on what you’re trying to run exactly. I would imagine certain software would be more successful than others.”
The only app I am forced to use Windows for is called,”Zoom Website Search Engine”-
https://www.wrensoft.com/zoom/I’m glad there’s some positive response for this. I will contact the CrossOver Mac company and Wrensoft and see what they have to say before installing. I’m always a bit hesitant to install apps that are not completely self-contained and can cause problems with the OS. I don’t know if this would be the case, but I’ll look into it.
Thanks,
Dave -
[Warren Eig] “I’ve used Crossover for years. Pretty good for simple programs.”
Okay, good to hear. The program in question is “Zoom Website Search Engine” from Wrensoft. Now that I’ve got a thumbs up, I’ll delve deeper and give it a try.
—By the way in your signature, you have what appears to be a classic Santa Monica phone number. I grew up there and still drive over once a week and teach in a local music store. Is this where you’re located these days?
Thanks,
Dave -
Close, Westwood. Just down the street.
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comREEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html
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[Warren Eig] ” Close, Westwood.”
Very cool. In the 80’s, I lived in a room in the back of a house on Wellworth Ave.
Except for the traffic, it’s nice there.Dave
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Just around the corner from Wellworth Ave!
Warren Eig
O 310-470-0905email: warren@babyboompictures.com
website: https://www.babyboompictures.comREEL: https://www.babyboompictures.com/BabyBoomPictures/Reels.html
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[Warren Eig] “Just around the corner from Wellworth Ave!”
As Steven Wright once said, “It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to paint it”.
He also said, “yeah, but not in a row!” Unfortunately, that joke takes too long to set up and not nearly as relevant.
Dave
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