CivicActions

I've been checking out Codeweaver's Crossover for Mac, an application that runs on Intel macs using the X11 system to simulate Windows operating systems. This has proven particularly useful for running IE6 on an emulated Win98 system.

Crossover uses the metaphor of "bottles" which are essentially contained operating systems with all the right files and functions to run and install windows applications on a mac. You can have a windows 98 bottle, a XP bottle, etc.. And it rules.

We use Quickbooks online for entering our time, and currently Intuit hates Macs. Which is odd, 'cause weren't they once a Mac-based business? I digress, except for the Intuit hates Macs part. Maybe that's too strong. Their Quickbooks Online group chose to completely ignore mac users as part of their development specification, instead relying on proprietary windows functionality to make their site work. Talk about Defective By Design...

What this means for the rest of us it that in order to use quickbooks online to enter hours (as mac users), we need to have a separate windows box (for web developer geeks, not such a stretch, i know) or, we have to run Parallels or other VM software, and inside of THAT launch Windows. Parallel's coherence mode is pretty cool, seemlessly integrating into the MacOS.

But the biggest and most significant difference I've noticed is that Parallel's cranks my CPU, and HARD. I run an Intel Duo 2Ghz macbook, and Activity Monitor shows between 30% and 70% CPU useage when I run Parallels. Just to use IE6.

On the other hand, Crossover barely blips at 1-4% doing the same thing. The usability of my machine is quite noticeably degraded when using Parallels. Windows slowly draw, mouse and keyboard movements are buffered and sloggy. No such impact running Crossover.

So I think I'm sold. Crossover offers a generous 30 day, fully functional demo, and is only $60.

The best, imo, is being able to run win98 IE6 inside of the MacOS. Not just so I can enter my hours, but so I can see sites rendered across browsers. It's a boon to QA as well as Quickbooks, eh?

Granted, Parallels offers the same functionality, but it comes at a huge cost to both CPU cycles and overall productivity. I HATE (and have always hated) waiting for my computer to open windows, render my typing, etc..

I'd rather it were waiting for ME to do something productive, kinda like what it's doing right now. Back to working the way I work...