Today in Open Source: Run Windows apps with CrossOver 12.5 or Wine? Plus: System Shock 2 for Linux, and Chromium replaces Firefox in Ubuntu...but not right away CrossOver 12.5 or Wine to Run Windows Apps in Linux? SJVN covers CrossOver 12.5 and Linux over at ZDNet. CrossOver is an interesting piece of software, it lets you run Windows applications in Linux (or OS X if you are a Mac user). Crossover is based on Wine, but adds additional features. CrossOver has a full list of changes and new features in version 12.5 on its site. In particular, this latest version offers better support for Microsoft Outlook, Quicken, Internet Explorer 7, and improved compatibility with the Microsoft Office suite. The company has also fixed several crashes and made numerous usability improvements. On Linux, CrossOver boasts a new user interface. This makes it much easier to launch your installed Windows applications. I also found it easier in general to install Windows apps on Linux with CrossOver 12.5. More at ZDNet I know that some folks will view CrossOver with a dubious eye. Why pay $59 if you can just run Wine itself instead? Well, for some people that is certainly true. But I suspect that there are a fair number of Linux users who might want to opt for CrossOver’s greater ease of use than generic Wine. Frankly, if I were going to run Windows applications in Linux, I’d probably just use CrossOver. Yeah, it would cost me a few bucks but it would probably save me time and effort in getting Windows apps to run properly in Linux, and to manage them after they were installed and running. Fortunately for me, I have no use for any Windows applications. I left that platform years and years ago, and there’s nothing there that I need to use in terms of applications. If you don’t mind doing a bit more work, Wine is also a great option. It’s free and you can get support from the Wine community. You can even become a developer for Wine if you want to contribute to the project. What’s your take on CrossOver 12.5? Is it your cup of tea or would you opt for Wine instead? Or are you like me and simply don’t need any Windows applications? Tell me in the comments. System Shock 2 for Linux It looks like the game System Shock 2 is going to appear on Steam for Linux, according to GamingOnLinux.com. More good news for Linux gamers. You awake from the cold chill of your cryo-tube to discover cybernetic implants grafted to your flesh and the crew of the starship Von Braun slaughtered. The infected roam the halls, their screams and moans beckoning you to join them as the rogue artificial intelligence known as SHODAN taunts and ridicules your feeble attempt to unravel the horrifying mystery of the derelict starship Von Braun. More at GamingOnLinux Here’s a System Shock 2 trailer, so you can get a look at what it might offer Linux games when it is finally released. Chromium or Firefox for Ubuntu’s Default Browser? There’s some interesting dish about the future of Firefox as Ubuntu’s default browser. It appears that it will remain in Ubuntu 13.10, but it will be dumped in favor of Chromium in Ubuntu 14.04. This debate will most likely go on for a while and the decision to ditch Firefox for Chromium will probably be taken for Ubuntu 14.04, which coincidently will be an LTS release. “Lastly, I do want to consider Chromium by default for 14.04 once the above is no longer an issue. I sincerely believe Chromium is the better experience for general users and should be strongly considered for our next LTS,” Jason Warner ended. More at Softpedia I stopped using Firefox a while back, but have recently been using it again. I find the latest version to be pretty good actually. Chromium is also a fine browser, and I suspect that most Ubuntu users will enjoy it when it finally replaces Firefox. Really, you can’t go wrong with either browser. Even if some folks dislike Chromium, it’s very easy to just install Firefox and be on your way in Ubuntu. So I doubt that this news will really cause much in the way of shockwaves among Ubuntu users. My preference is to have both browsers available on all of my computers. What’s your preference in Ubuntu browsers? Chromium or Firefox? Tell me in the comments. Open Source