Windows on Mac Q&A - Revised August 15, 2008
Jan 23, 2020 Hey y’all, we continue to fook up, sorry. Another video we had recorded but did not get a chance to put out. For the Hip Hop purists out there, the late great Mac Miller dropped an album.
To be notified of new Q&As, sign up for EveryMac.com's bimonthly email list.
If you find this page useful, please Bookmark & Share it. Thank you.
What is CrossOver Mac? How does CrossOver Mac compare to Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMWare Fusion?
First released in beta form on August 31, 2006, CodeWeavers CrossOver Mac makes it possible to run some Windows applications within MacOS X without installing Windows.
CodeWeavers explains that:
CrossOver Mac allows you to install many popular Windows applications and games on Mac OS X. CrossOver includes an easy to use, single click interface, which makes installing Windows software simple and fast. Once installed, your application integrates seamlessly in OS X.
Just click and run your application directly from the OS X Finder. Clicking a Windows file or document -- including email attachments -- will launch the appropriate Windows program, allowing you to work on the files. Best of all, you do it all easily and affordably, without needing a Microsoft operating system license.
By comparison, Apple's Boot Camp makes it possible to install Windows on a separate partition and boot back and forth between MacOS X and Windows. Parallels Desktop for Mac, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox make it possible to run Windows -- or another operating system -- 'inside' or 'alongside' MacOS X.
The advantage of Boot Camp, with a copy of Windows installed, is that it supports effectively all Windows applications. Parallels Desktop for Mac, VMWare Fusion and VirtualBox, again with a copy of Windows installed, support the vast majority of applications.
With CrossOver Mac, however, particular applications may or may not work.
CodeWeavers is honest regarding the advantages and limitations of CrossOver Mac, and has posted an extremely reasonable 'Truth in Advertising' guarantee you may wish to read regarding the company's real world experiences testing the program.
Ultimately, those interested in running a Windows application or two on an Intel-based Mac should be pleased to have a less expensive and potentially more convenient option.
Permalink | E-mail a Friend | Bookmark & Share | Report an Error/Typo
Suggest a New Q&A | Sign Up for Bimonthly Site Update Notices
<< Windows on Mac Q&A (Main)
EveryMac.com is provided 'as is' without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the author thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Use of any content or images without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.
Why try CrossOver Mac
before you buy?
Unlike an emulator that requires a full copy of the Window OS, CrossOver translates the commands your Windows application wants to use to the macOS and back. This translation system means you don't need to spend hours setting up Windows OS first, you can just install your Windows application directly into CrossOver and run it.
But it's a big process to try and recreate all the Windows OS commands, and CrossOver isn't complete yet. Many Windows applications work great, but some might have reduced functionality, or possibly not run at all. That's why we encourage everyone to try their favorite Windows applications first in our 14-day, completely functional trial of CrossOver and see for before purchasing.
We also maintain a large Compatibility Center database of user reports, documenting how various Windows applications run in CrossOver. If your program runs under CrossOver you're good to go with the easiest, least expensive, and friendliest Windows compatibility software out there. And even if it doesn't, you've only spent a few minutes to potentially save yourself several hundred dollars and all the hassles that come with Windows.
Nis Crossover Good Macbook Pro
So before you go plunking down your hard-earned money for an emulator AND a copy of Windows AND spend an entire afternoon setting it all up, give us a try!