Microsoft Office exclusivity no longer a viable excuse to run Windows.

Wired has this article giving their impressions of the new plugin software from CodeWeavers, the developers of WINE for Linux. WINE (A recursive acronym meaning WINE Is Not an Emulator), is a popular application platform package that allows Linux users to run Windows software by intercepting the Windows function calls and redirecting them to X11.

"CrossOver Office is an ideal solution for any corporate or individual Linux user wishing to run Microsoft Office or Lotus Notes," said Jeremy White, founder and president of CodeWeavers. "This product streamlines the entire Microsoft Office/Lotus deployment challenge for Linux shops and for organizations using both Windows and Linux, significantly reducing costs while giving users the productivity tools they need on either platform. The powerful combination of CrossOver Office and Linux represents a viable, commercially-supported alternative for corporations feeling constrained by Windows XP's restrictive and cumbersome licensing scheme but wishing to continue using popular Windows applications."

CodeWeavers seems to have taken the Bleem! approach to publishing WINE now, concentrating on ultimate compatibility and performance on a few specific applications as opposed to across-the-board operability. CodeWeavers and independent developers continue to develop WINE to new strengths, but the introductions of CrossOver Office and CrossOver Plugin, CodeWeavers is ensuring that it'll be around in five years or better to continue churning out alternative OS products.

Wired News reported good success and performance using CrossOver Office with Office 97 and 2000, citing some performance issues while using multiple Office apps, and difficulties configuring/using Outlook. Most Linux enthusiasts will ignore the Outlook issues, of course...

Read the official press release here.

I think this is exactly what the linux community need to help it hit the mainstream. I know several people that wont run linux just because of Office, and this will definately open the "desktop" market for the open-source initiative. This is the best thing for linux since Samba, or maybe since Q3 was ported to the OS.

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Personally, I think they gave the effort in exactly the right place. Furthering Linux in the workplace will build mindshare in the consumer market - Think about it. If you work on a Linux PC at your office, you might be more inclined to buy a Linux-based PC, since you've heard the name before and (hopefully) you like the way it works. And, generally speaking, it'll be cheaper.

And CodeWeavers put the best efforts in Office - Office 97 is still the mainstay of most companies. I have a copy of Office 97, and I still have no reason to upgrade to 2000 or XP. The newest release of Office on the Mac is very good (Office v.X) and a compelling reason to upgrade, but Microsoft just doesn't have a good enough reason for me on the PC. And as a Linux user, I don't even care about Outlook, since that's where all the bugs and security flaws are.

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