Thinking About Upgrading to Crossover Office 5

If you have wondered about upgrading from an earlier version of Codeweavers Crossover Office, I wouldn't bother. Version 5 seems clumsy and doesn't support enough Windows applications to make it worth even it's modest price. If you have to hack your desktop to get Crossover Office to work, you might as well use WINE.

Recently, I tried the demo of Crossover Office 5.01 from Codeweavers. I have used their products since version 1.2, upgrading with each new release. I currently use version 4.2. With limited requirements, I didn't upgrade when Jeremy announced the release of Crossover 5.

Recently, I attempted to install Apple's iTunes in my current version and it failed. After researching ways to play iTunes on Linux, using Crossover Office appeared the best solution I could fine. Codeweavers promoted their iTunes feature heavily even before they had completed support for it.

iTunes didn't work in version 4.2. So, I tried the upgrade. The upgrade disappointed me. I consider the new version pre-alpha, difficult to use and varying dramatically from the concept of free software. iTunes didn't work in version 5.01 either.

I have modest needs with regard to using any Win32 products. I have a rare requirement for Word 2000, Internet Explorer and WinSCP when gFTP fails to connect to some web sites.

Adding iTunes came at the bequest of a family member. We felt that Apple should make its m4p format available to Linux since they apparently want to continue to make huge amounts of money with their entertainment download service.

iTunes didn't work in either version of Crossover Office. Additionally, I couldn't delete it. iTunes became an awful mess on an otherwise clean Linux desktop. To restore my system to it's previous state, I had to do a lot of level 2 support myself. Like most things Windows, I spend a lot of time installing, uninstalling and reinstalling.

I also have a problem with Crossover Office generally. For example, my version of Word 2000 SR1 fails on installation and I have to do my own workarounds. This occurred in 4.2 and 5.01.

I also have a problem with Codeweavers failure to create an entry in my start menu for Windows applications. I got it to work on another user account but could not get it to function in my user account. Hunting and picking around in the other user account eventually revealed a configuration file in a sub-directory of .config .

I copied the small file from one user account to the other. I changed ownership and verified the permissions on that file in my home directory. Next I started Office Setup and went to the menu tab. I selected the option called Recreate the CrossOver menu. When I checked the Windows Application menu appeared.

Support and Documentation

First, I consider Codeweavers user documentation lacking in several aspects. It's difficult to navigate and in my case it didn't cover the item I needed. The topic existed but it gave an example of the Professional version rather than the Standard version. The function did not exist in the Standard version. So, the problem wasn't fixable.

I went to their support area where they suggest submitting a ticket. I attempted that and found a prompt saying my ability to submit tickets expired. I could browse the other ticket submissions but it appeared that the support people were not responding quickly to the ticket requests.

My idea of a successful Free Software business involves support services. If you put out an inferior product needing quality control in the field, then you should provide superior support. I didn't see that at Codeweavers. But Codeweavers web site addresses support. Here's what they assert:

We also use our expertise in Wine to provide professional services to our customers. We use Wine to port their applications directly to Linux or Mac OS X, or to create custom versions of Linux that support mission critical applications.

Final Assessment

If Codeweavers has the resources to provide a quality product, documentation and support, then they lack something else. Perhaps Codeweavers people have so much business they can't respond quickly enough. Or perhaps they don't have the resources they need to deliver the product they claim to have.

Right now, they have lost me as a customer. I don't want to buy a product I have to fix myself. I don't mind downloading and hacking project code. I just don't think any one should have to pay for free software they have to fix.

Most companies have special services for the press. Codeweavers does not. That leaves me with the belief that they may not have the necessary resources they need to live up to their claims.

If Codeweavers wants to become a significant player in terms of this market, I recommend that they give away their standard version for free. I would open the code base and encourage a robust community of developers, documentation contributors, a knowledge base and participants dedicated to helping others solve problems.

Somehow, I doubt that this management team has the vision to make such moves. I believe that management has never broken the ingrained mentality of a proprietary model. That's my believe based on my observation of their behavior.

As one of our technology savvy writers here at LXer has often said to me: Give away the software and become global. Then sell your services. Otherwise, you'll remain a niche player at best.

I agree. You can charge for support and give away the product or you can provide support and sell the product. I still see something missing. A robust community of interest provides capital for which no one could ever pay.

Personally, I believe Codeweavers in its present state cannot provide the innovation that they could gather from the Free Software community.