Hold on, man: OS X has secret Windows-compatible features hidden away, could run Windows apps fairly soon?
- November 30th, 2007
- 5 Comments
One of the last remaining reasons why some people don’t make the switch to the Mac from a Windows machine is that the have certain apps that aren’t available on the Mac. It’s a hard argument to win from the Mac perspective. Though there are usually alternative programs available, often better ones, some users are really into certain apps. It happens.
That being said, the argument may soon be moot. A use on a WINE mailing list has found tantalizing find in the latest version of OS X: hints towards the ability of the OS to handle Windows executables without running Windows. Oh, this is nifty.
Full implementation isn’t even close to being there, but the pieces needed are. If Apple so chose, it could put these pieces together into a Windows compatibility layer that could run .exe files.
Boot Camp’s days might be numbered, and we don’t see anything from Apple happening until at least the middle of next year, though we might get a hint at MacWorld in January, and you know that we’ll be there.
Fred (Who am I?)
10 months ago
I still wouldn’t switch, unless there are also super-secret “make Macs affordable” features hidden in the code.
David Mackey (Who am I?)
10 months ago
Wine has come a long way and it would be exciting to see OS X integrate support for Wine.
Partners in Grime (Who am I?)
10 months ago
Talk about a game over scenario for Windows.
Darin
10 months ago
There are super-secret “affordable” features. Included are free Virus protection, a non-hacked web browser, and a 2-yr longer lifespan than generic PC hardware.
And your time, or course. No fidgeting with wireless settings every hour while traveling, or having simple applications freeze/crash.
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whiskey (Who am I?)
10 months ago
Well you can run Office, some macromedia apps and photoshop…
Unless it’s gaming or using it to make Windows programmed business software work (like the one that those guys came here to make for accounting or that one you made on college) then i wouldn’t understand it.