The Sims 3 with PlayOnLinux

The Sims 3 runs fairly well with WINE. My test rig (E6550, 8800 GTS, 2 GB RAM) performs good on medium-high settings.

Since the installation process can be quite hard with Vanilla WINE, a PlayOnLinux script has been created by NSLW, that makes the installation very easy. I thought I just create a short guide on how to install The Sims 3 with PlayOnLinux.

First of all, you need the latest PlayOnLinux. Go to PlayOnLinux downloads and download the latest version. Install PlayOnLinux and start it from the start menu or with the command 'playonlinux'. Select 'Install' -> 'Games' -> 'The Sims 3' and follow the installation script.

The script will install some dependencies and the game and you will then be prompted to enter your graphics card Video RAM size.

Since the copy protection doesn't work with WINE, you'll have to download a NO-CD patch and replace the original files with the cracked ones. You will find the fake Windows folder in /home/USERNAME/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/TheSims3/drive_c/. I will of course not provide you with any information on where to get these files.

Here is a gameplay video:

CrossOver Linux 8.0.0 review

CodeWeavers has released the latest version of its CrossOver software for Mac and Linux users. If you want to try working without Windows but can't live without a must-have Windows app, CrossOver just might be the answer.

CodeWeavers CrossOver is a commercial product based on the open-source Wine project. Wine emulates key Windows software libraries, allowing Linux or Mac users to run Windows applications. And unlike virtualization tools like VMware or Parallels, Wine doesn't require users to install a licensed copy of Windows to get started.

(You will, of course, need access to the Windows software you want to run, including, if necessary, a paid-up license or activation code.)

CrossOver 8.0 adds support for several applications, including Quicken 2009, Internet Explorer 7, and Adobe Photoshop CS2. According to Codeweavers, it also offers improved support for Microsoft Office 2003/2007, Outlook 2000, and Adobe FrameMaker, among others titles.
Why pay for CrossOver 8.0 instead of using Wine free of charge? One word: support. The CrossOver Standard and Pro versions (which sell for $39.95 and $69.95) include six and 12 months of paid support, respectively. The Pro version offers some other benefits, including multi-seat deployment tools and physical software media.

Bear in mind that CrossOver, like Wine, allows users to install and run -- or try to run -- almost any Windows software. CodeWeavers maintains a substantial database of Windows applications that lists their current level of functionality under CrossOver. The company limits its formal technical support, however, to a shorter list of about 130 Windows apps, including business productivity tools, graphics software, Web design and development apps, and even Windows system software such as DirectX (a required component for users who run Windows games).

So, is CrossOver an effective business software tool? The answer is yes -- sometimes. And when it does work, it can save users quite a bit or money.

Let me elaborate a bit on that answer. CodeWeavers, and the Wind developer community in general, have tackled an enormous project here. The approach they have chosen to run Windows software is complex and fiendishly difficult. As a result, some software titles -- including those on the CodeWeavers formal support list -- run better than others.

My own experience, for example, suggests that Microsoft Office runs very well on Linux systems. Adobe Photoshop CS2 also runs smoothly for me on Ubuntu Linux, although users running newer versions of Photoshop may be out of luck.

Internet Explorer, in my opinion, is less reliable running under CrossOver. (But then again, how many non-developers will even care about running IE on Linux or Mac systems?)
Other reviewers tend to see the same inconsistencies. And I can't comment on some key applications, such as Quicken, since I don't own a copy and have never tried it on CrossOver Linux.
Besides raising the support bar with each new CrossOver release, CodeWeavers offers another way to work around these issues: A very liberal software trial policy. Anyone can download a fully-functional version of CrossOver 8.0 and use it for 30 days. That's more than enough time to try out the Windows applications you want to run and check for any hidden glitches or performance issues.
As a result, I think CrossOver is a valuable tool for some -- but not all -- business users. Those most likely to benefit from CrossOver have particular requirements:

-- A company wants to move some of its users to Linux or Mac systems, but those users rely heavily on one or two key Windows apps.
-- Users either cannot or will not use alternative software that runs natively on a Mac or Linux system.
-- Performance and/or licensing issues make virtualization tools an unattractive option.
-- A company is prepared to trade off the time required to test CrossOver under real-world conditions in return for the prospect of saving quite a bit more in future Windows licensing fees.
Conversely, companies running Windows apps with a reputation for spotty CrossOver support, or those looking to move a substantial number of users relying on multiple Windows apps, are less likely to get satisfactory results.

CrossOver obviously isn't a silver bullet for companies that want to give up Windows without giving up key Windows apps. It is, however, one option in a range of solutions that include running virtualization tools, moving to a mixture of Windows and Linux desktop systems, adopting dual-boot setups, and seeking out Linux-based alternatives to existing Windows software.

CrossOver Mac 8.0.0 review

Before we go any further, we'd like to make something perfectly clear. We really like the idea behind CodeWeavers CrossOver Mac Professional, which is the ability to run Windows applications on a Mac without having to install Windows itself.

Instead of using a Boot Camp partition or a virtual machine in Fusion or Parallels Desktop, CrossOver utilises the WINE compatibility layer so you can install Windows apps to your Mac's hard drive and run them within OS X as if they were native Mac apps.

Compatibility issues
It's a great idea, in theory at least, but unforutnately it doesn't work particularly well in practice. In fact, we would go as far as saying that CrossOver is one of the most frustrating experiences we've had on a Mac. The main problem with the program is compatibility – or rather the lack thereof.
To be fair, CodeWeavers is up-front about this on the CrossOver website, providing compatibility lists (albeit ones lacking a real 'standard', seemingly relying on user submissions for an application's status), but it's nonetheless disheartening when you boot CrossOver for the first time and see the tiny list of supported applications, most of which are out of date (for example, CrossOver supports Internet Explorer 6, but not 7 or 8).

POT LUCK: Installation is incredibly straightforward for fully supported apps, but hit-and-miss for everything else.

There is some good news, though. For those few applications which are supported, CrossOver isn't half bad. We installed Office 2003, and the process was painless – CrossOver recognised the installer, downloaded some fonts, and once the suite was launched it generally worked fine, even printing to our Mac's printer.

There were bugs here and there, such as Word complaining when we tried to download online templates, but for general use we didn't find any major deal-breakers.
Additionally, instances of Windows apps behaved in Exposé, and the Mac's file system was accessible from dialog boxes. Also, CrossOver didn't tax our test Mac, co-existing nicely with other open applications.

Elsewhere, though, CrossOver is the install equivalent of Russian roulette. During testing, we tried a slew of applications (and a handful of games in CrossOver Games, which is free with CrossOver Mac Professional). Many of these apps refused to install, some toyed with us before locking up halfway, and others seemingly installed fine but then refused to boot, or launched but were largely unusable, such as Paint Shop Pro.

Ultimately, CrossOver Mac Professional is a product with stiff competition, and it really only has two weapons: a low price and its 'Mac only' stance. But even the latter of those things is misleading. Although you're never mired in Windows, CrossOver's install process can still be complex, and when things go wrong, you're left flailing.

More importantly, the app is often less Mac-friendly than its rivals. For example, you can't redefine modifier shortcuts, nor can you drag-and-drop content between Mac and Windows apps.

Putty for Mac

$15.00