While
most of the products in this market focus on creating a second “virtual
machine” that runs concurrently with your operating system of choice, CrossOver XI Mac
allows you to run individual Windows programs in your native Mac environment. This
method of emulation is one familiar to users of Linux operating system, as it’s
based primarily on the open-source Windows emulator called WINE. CodeWeavers’
CrossOver works by adapting individual Windows applications to work on your Mac
computer, rather than creating an instance of a Windows operating system on
your Macintosh desktop. The advantage of this method is it requires a lot less
space, processing power and configuration; however, the downside is that
because it works on an application-to-application basis, its compatibility is
extremely limited.
Features
& Emulation:
Unless
you’re working on the bleeding edge of current technology, CrossOver XI Mac will
deliver all of the emulation features you need on an individual application
basis. It functions on most current operating systems, including Mac OSX Lion
and Windows 7. Unfortunately, it doesn’t break into the new operating systems
as often, and it does not offer support for OSX Mountain Lion or Windows 8. As
mentioned above, the key drawback to an emulator like CrossOver XI is its
reliance on individual adaptation. If you need to run an obscure Windows-only
application and CrossOver isn’t compatible with it, you’re out of luck. If
you’re going to be running a variety of Windows-specific applications, you’ll
be better off choosing a catch-all emulator.
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| CrossOver XI Mac |
Since
CrossOver XI works on individual applications rather than creating an instance
of an entire operating system, it takes much less of a toll on your computer.
It still has some of the same basic hardware requirements as some of the bigger
Windows emulators – like 2GB of system RAM – though it makes more efficient use
of the resources allotted to it. We were impressed by CrossOver’s low impact on
our system during our testing.
Ease
of Use:
Running
Windows applications on your Mac with CrossOver is as easy as downloading a
patch and clicking “Run.” CrossOver XI is truly the easiest Windows emulator to
use, as it integrates seamlessly with your Macintosh environment. There’s no
additional window, no required reboot, and no separate installation; everything
you need will run within your existing Mac environment.
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