For a while now it has been quite frustrating to be a PC user with any version of Windows installed.
Not only novice users but experts feel they never really know if they have some virus or other kind of malware. (Malware would be any bad program that steals passwords and private information, might also replicate itself to spread to other users.)

We as users and also the manufacturers of software to stop and prevent malware are usually always one step behind.
Countless hours are being wasted on non constructive fixing of the Windows operating systems on computers everywhere.
Many users are contemplating switching to alternatives to the Microsoft flavors of Windows.

For quite some time there has been no real choice. However in the last couple of years with the advent of Linux and the revival of Apple with their MacosX, choice might have been restored to the user community when it comes to a viable alternative to an operating system.

Being part of the information stream for a while I noticed that for most people that wanted to change the reason for not changing was because there were always some key program or key functionality in which the alternative (Linux/Mac) was lacking.

There is a very good project called “Wine”, this project is actually an implementation of the Windows API (Application Programming Interface.) What this does is actually work the same way as windows does, it is a program on which you can run alot of Windows software.

I can using Wine for example install and run Internet Explorer 6.0 inside my MacosX or Linux.

This is a great thing for people when they create webpages, because creating webpages you really need to create code that looks well in Internet Explorer. For a web developer this is added incentive to move to MacosX or Linux.

Of course the page you create must look well in Firefox and the Opera browser as well, but Internet Explorer has its own way of interpret code that needs to be addressed and monitored when you create code.

“Wine” (www.winehq.org) is a free product, however some companies has taken it upon themselves to improve it. There are 2 major players in this field, and they do not directly compete, but complement eachother quite well.

“Transgaming technologies” (www.transgaming.com) has taken the part of the gamers out there, they have taken the free Wine program and improved it in order for MacosX and Linux users to be able to play their favorite Windows games on their computers.

“Codeweavers”(www.crossover.com) originally set their sights on the Microsoft office product line, making you able to run Word, Excel, Outlook etc on your Linux desktop. They have also now expanded themselves to deliver choice to your MacosX by adding the “Crossover Mac” application. I even used this program 3 years ago to run

Dreamweaver MX and other Windows software on that days version of Crossover office and made it run under Linux, and used it for production work.

Before making a choice to run and buy any of these products you should consult their respective websites, here you can see if there is product support for the specific windows application which you need in order to run away from the world of the “untrustworthy” Windows desktop.

You might want to try the free version of Wine as well, or go for the trial version of “Crossover office” from “Codeweavers”.

Basically i dont really believe in the end of malware or a malware free world on any computer system, that would be as likely as if people stopped doing criminal activities!