A very odd political dare has resulted in some interesting Mac and Linux commercial software packages being available for free, but only today (October 28, 2008). Tomorrow, software vendor CodeWeavers will be offering three of its software packages (Crossover Mac, Crossover Linux, and Crossover Games) available at no charge. Each software package is normally sold at $40 each.
The Crossover software family is notable because it allows Mac and Linux machines to run certain Microsoft Windows applications without any emulation, or having to install and boot into Windows.
And apparently, we have George W. Bush to thank for this?!
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (October 27, 2008) – The catastrophic cratering of the global economy, falling gas prices and President George W. Bush’s recent executive activities have indirectly prompted Saint Paul gadfly software developers CodeWeavers, Inc., to provide free software for every American on Oct. 28, company officials reluctantly announced today.
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In July, CodeWeavers – whose software lets Mac OS X and Linux users run Windows programs without having to Microsoft for a Windows OS license – launched the Great American Lame Duck Presidential Challenge (lameduck.codeweavers.com) to encourage President Bush to make the most of his remaining days in office by accomplishing a major economic or political goal by January 20, 2009.
The goals focused on President Bush making specific positive accomplishments in areas such as the economy, home values, the stock market, the war on terror and other key issues. Specifically, one goal called for President Bush to help down bring average gasoline prices in the Twin Cities to $2.79 a gallon.
Sure enough, oil and gas prices have fallen… though not because Dubyah has done anything good with the country or economy. Even so, a gas price implosion due to economic collapse still qualifies as “meeting” the challenge, so CodeWeavers is stuck handing out freebies. Sucks to be them!