Run Microsoft Office Without Windows

CodeWeavers' new software allows Linux users to run office suite without an emulator or a Windows license.

Hoping to break down one the biggest barriers to acceptance of Linux on the desktop, CodeWeavers unveiled software that allows corporate users to run Microsoft Office and Lotus Notes without a Windows operating system.

The product, called CrossOver Office, eliminates the need for a Windows operating systems license as well as a Windows emulator which, traditionally, have tended to weigh down the speed and performance of desktop applications.

Typically, Linux users who want to run popular Windows-based applications needed to install a Windows emulator as well as licensing copies of Windows and the application they want to run. CrossOver Office allows users to go directly into Office applications or Notes, which helps speed deployment and eliminates the cost of an emulator, according to company officials.

"Making it simple to use Windows software on Linux helps knock down a big barrier to growth of the Linux desktop. This will help a lot of organizations choose the power, flexibility, and value of their Linux desktop," says Rick Lehrbaum, executive editor of DesktopLinux.com.

Company officials says they plan to market the product direct to corporate users thinking of migrating to Linux, IT consultants who focus on desktop management, value-added resellers, and Internet appliance and thin-client users.

News source: PCWorld.com