Updated: October 30, 2026
I choose my software based on utility, function. The operating system choice is a distant third. For instance, I believe that IrfanView and Notepad++ are among the best tools in their class. Alas, they are natively built only for Windows. So what do you do if you want to use these fantastic and superior programs elsewhere, like Linux or macOS? Not to worry, you have options. There's WINE, there's CrossOver. Phew.
But then, to my great dismay, after a recent update, when I opened CrossOver on my Macbook, I was greeted with a scary message. I had 32-bit bottles - essentially 32-bit programs. And these would no longer be supported in CrossOver 27. Why, you ask? Because Apple decided it wants to have an easy life, so it's deprecating support for "ancient" software, and this will affect the Rosetta compatibility layer, and apparently, CrossOver are following suit. Old programs? They don't count, it seems. Old games? Maybe. Technical details aside, what does this mean in practice? Let me show you my grumpy take on the state of affairs. After me.
I didn't choose 32-bit life, 32-bit life chose me
Anyway, I was angry. But I decided to see if and how I can address this situation. Apparently, three of my bottles were affected: KompoZer, Microsoft Office 2010 (highly important to me), and SketchUp 8.
So what now? And here's where it gets wild and annoying and nerdy:
- CrossOver gives a warning notice, but no mitigation, no FAQ, nothing. If you look under Settings, it simply tells you that 32-bit bottles will stop working. That's it. Not why, not how to work around the issues. Nothing. Deal with it.
- CrossOver has its own templates (recipes). Search for an entry, and it will tell you whether there's an existing script in place, which can simplify the installation and the configuration. For example, if you search for Microsoft Office 2010, it will show you two templates. The SP1 does not work, but the non-SP one does. The thing is, the setup is old and outdated by years. Office 2010 is set to install in a 32-bit Windows XP bottle. I didn't select this! CrossOver selected this! It's the program's default choice. Moreover, it's still the choice even after they added the 32-bit bottles deprecation message to their GUI.
And here's the 2010 template. It says: it needs to be installed in a 32-bit bottle. This is erroneous. And incorrect. And misleading. The template is merely designed that way, but it does not have to be.
- So then, if CrossOver makes choices for you, why not create a migration script that ports old 32-bit bottles into 64-bit bottles? After all, it's doable, especially with recent changes added to WINE, which can now support 32-bit software in 64-bit prefixes. You simply create a new empty bottle (WINE prefix), copy the application data in, and tweak the system and user reg files. That's it. Extremely doable and scriptable. But nope, you need to do all the hard work yourself. And what if you have 100 bottles?
Lots of unnecessary homework for the user
Well, I decided to do the work myself. After all, I have nothing to lose. Either everything is going to work, or I'm going to stop using CrossOver. So I began my manual porting. I chose Windows 10 64-bit bottles for the three affected programs, and then actually reinstalled the programs. I went down this path on purpose, because that's what most people would be able to do, rather than copy bottle data by hand.
However, do note that I was quite apprehensive over the Office 2010 setup. Luckily, I have the offline installer from way back when, but imagine if I didn't have it anymore. I would be stuck. Still, that means another activation. What if it fails? What if something goes wrong?
And the process went ... fine. Successfully. All three programs completed their setups fine, and they work like before, within their respective limitations - SketchUp and OpenGL in particular. I can also use the High Resolution mode, without any performance penalty.
So yes, it worked. I used empty bottles. No templates. Nothing. And apparently, my work provided results equally as good as the defaults, perhaps even better, as I have 64-bit bottles that are supported, and if this has been the case from the beginning, it would also have saved my any unneeded hassle. The only thing left is to delete the remaining 32-bit bottles, and be done with it. Well then, if this is the case, I might as well use WINE on my own, like I do in Linux. Why bother paying if I have to do all the hard work?
Conclusion
I'm highly disappointed with how things turned out. CrossOver was meant to be my savior, my gateway to old software. But if they are beholden to whatever Apple chooses to do, then it's no different than what many Linux distros do. They give you "choice", but you are limited by whatever big enterprises push into the kernel, and arbitrary culling of utilities, plus pretty weak backward compatibility. The ONLY company that seems to be doing this differently is Valve with their Steam Proton layer. Not only is it getting better all the time, there's no destruction of old games. On the contrary, Steam is doing everything they can to make sure that supported games remained supported forever.
The worst part is the deal with it, mi scusi message. I don't need or want warning messages, I don't care about the technical details behind the scenes, or the financial reasonings of a trillion-dollar company like Apple. All I care is that old software - and superior old software at that - works. That's all. If a tool purports to do that, then it should do that. No ifs, no buts. CrossOver's slogan is platform liberation. The byline on their website says: run your Windows app on MacOS and Linux. It doesn't say: terms and conditions apply. It doesn't say: beholden to Apple's whims. I expect that enthusiastic message to live up to its promise. The software equivalent of let's get that boring unruly oldster onto that ice floe over there kind of thing.
Let me add to the sad part a bit. Long time ago, I purchased a number of Office 2010 licenses. And I intend to keep using this program for as long as I can. I have no intention of giving any more money to Microsoft. Besides, what do new versions give you? Oh yes, you need a Microsoft account to register Office licenses, the support windows is only five years, and Microsoft is doing their best to get you onto their subscription wagon. Nope, never, GTFO. Hence, on my Slimbook Titan Linux machine, I have a Windows 10 virtual machine with Office 2010. Its sole purpose is that. It's not even networked anymore. Now, due to the "amazing" stability of the Linux desktop, I did occasionally have trouble starting up the machine, but normally, I'd solve the issues quickly and move on. That virtual machine is now more than three years old and works beautifully. With CrossOver, I was forced to "rebuild" my Office setup within less than a year.
Am I exaggerating? Overreacting? Perhaps. But I have no patience for the dreams of tomorrow. Software has long stopped being something fun or interesting. If we're at the mercy of capitalistic draculas, so be it. Then I know what to do, and I don't need to waste any more time. False hope is the worst ingredient in this equation. Perhaps it's my fault. I believed that CrossOver would be a fire-and-forget solution for my cross-platform needs. It turns out, the eternal optimist that is me, I was disappointed once again. And I also broke my no-swearing record. Ever since I got the Macbook, I've not hurled a single expletive at it. But then, with this testing, I did. The feeling of Linux-like ups and down is all over the place, and I'm not happy with it, nor do I want to relive that nerdy nonsense on another operating system. I don't know what the alternative is. I intend to keep using CrossOver for now, but overall, I feel extremely disillusioned.
Lastly, I'm now waiting with dread for Linux folks to decide to copy Apple as usual, and someone will come up with a silly idea to remove 32-bit libraries or something utterly stupid like that because "no one uses them", and in one fell swoop, propose to destroy Linux gaming and legacy software for good. After all, such horrible proposals have come up before, and will come up again, until all you have left is a browser and a lame Chromebook-like desktop-as-Javascript experience. The terminal window experience of the future. Just wait. Say what you will about Windows, but at least you can run old stuff. So sad.
Cheers.