What about compatibility options on Linux, can one use windows related software?

I have been pondering that as well. I am not into programming and such. The exe files will not run on linux.
However all applications and programs written for linux will work. Basicly the way linux runs programs is different from the windows model therefor it needs to be constructed differently.

I have heard of emulators that can run windows applications on a linux system. I wonder if there is some kind of converter to convert for instance a game into the format that linux needs to run the program.

Will be nice to find out what the real experts have to say on this one.

How to run windows apps in linux

Another link for window apps in linux

Another link


I searched the internet after my last post.Well seems linux is not as bad as I previously thought. I will not be running Linux any time soon. Too complicated for non tech people like me. I point and click with mouse.

Some interesting articles on how to run windows apps in linux.

Hi, I use Linux. As heinrich1858 showed with his links. There's some programs for Linux, like Wine that provide a Windows like environment. The only thing is since it isn't Windows not everything will work and you'll have to get help either from the community maybe grab some files from a friends windows system, etc. I'm curious as to what stuff in particular you're trying to run because there are many native open source programs that are equal to or better than Windows ones so you could use them instead. Let me know though and I'll try and help as much as I can.

have you Heard of Ubuntu?

why ya thinking of changing to that?

I did for a bit, but everything outside of my home enviroment was Windows Dependent, so I had to stick with it as a main system.

Linux is good, but it's still too independent. Once Linux & Windows get cross compatibility, I might switch.

that will never happen, open source rules, there is a version of linux that is very windows like and can run most windows apps its called lindows beleive it or not.

I currently use Linux over Windows. I switched mainly because my computer had crashed multiple times, and Linux is free.

Some of the great stuff about Linux is that it's completely customizable. I love this, because not only can I get a new desktop picture, I can make my own images for the icons, the "start" button, the "start" bar. I can customize where the panels are, what applets there are, and just about anything else you can think of. And I know most of this stuff can be done with WindowsBlinds, but you can do it all for free on Linux.

Another great thing is that there are no viruses. So you don't have to spend money on virus blocker, just no worries there.


However, the compatibility with Windows fails horribly. The networking works quite well. I can share files through all of the computers on my network, which include 2 other Linux boxes, and 2 windows machines. But you can't run hardly ANY Windows programs.

In theory, you could use the linux program "Wine" to run any windows program, but it doesn't work half the time.

There are several programs that let you run windows inside of linux, which would be GREAT, but they cost $300+, and that just doesn't do for the people who want free stuff.

And plus, you can't play hardly any games..which is why i'm switching back to windows when i get my new PC.



P.S. If you have a really old computer that isn't holding up windows very well, linux will run like nothin' on it.


hope i helped.

http://appdb.winehq.org/ is the best place to find out if a windows program can run on linux (through wine)

A lot of programs also have linux native versions, Firefox, Opera, Nero, Open Office etc

http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html is a list of equivilent programs for linux.



VirtualBox, qemu are free and do this very well, dual-booting is another option.



If the files on your linux machine will at some point come into contact with windows machines (esp those you have no security control over) you should still run an anti-virus program (if only on-demand before moving them over).



Agreed if your computer is getting too old to run newer versions of Windows and you dont want to buy a new one or upgrade, you should consider using linux on it if only for security reasons. (2000 and XP support won't last forever).

Why are you considering switching? Despite the cries on the likes of digg some situations just aren't worth it yet.

I've always said (and this is not to insult anyone so if it happens sorry) that if your windows goes down it's just cause you don't know how to use it, I know enough about it and I haven't had a virus, malware, spyware, worm, trojan in my system for years, the only reason why people use linux is because it's somehow Safe, safe in the way that Hackers and Crackers are not interested in hacking single remote Linux machines as it only makes 10 percent of the computer users while the other 90 is windows, but if people started using linux a lot then hackers would also Aim for linux..

I don't like linux that much, like previous posters said you need a lot of programs to run them within linux and what not, while windows pretty much gives it all to you lol, heck all the great games are for windows and I'm a gamer

linux is better for servers and if you dont want to spend any money on your new OS. Windows is better for everything else.

Or its a pre-service pack OS like say Vista.



Neither have I but then I admit its because my AV software updates faster than I can find a new "malware'. Being careful helps but if your accessing outside networks the former is more important.



I started using linux because on my old machine it was faster than windows, and for the learning experience.



Yet they choose not to aim for the 20-40% of servers out there? Those servers used by government, military, financial and academic institutions as well as numerous retail giants? Are you telling me they don't even do it for bragging rights after all Crackers are extremely boastful if they are just the first to crack a semi-popular game?

The underlying structure of an OS, its security policies and default set-up do make a difference to how "secure" it is.



Install wine, click .exe file. Thats one program needed, it doesn't always work but theres plenty of equivalents for those programs that don't. Some of those equivalents are better or even superior to their windows counterparts.



Linux gives it all to you it just has different strengths and weaknesses to windows. Your a gamer who likes the latest and greatest so Vista is your best option, for the other 90% of PC users out there Linux can be a drop in replacement for them, extending the life of their hardware and saving them money.

The few games I play work on Linux, but I'm pretty much on Vista now seeing as I'm promised Amarok and Kate running on windows native and a got a cheap licence.



Gaming and office does not equal "everything else".

I would suspect more people are going to use Linux...namely ubuntu, due to the failures of vista and how easy it is to convert a vista machine to a Linux machine running ubuntu.

A good alternative for those who don't want to pay to "downgrade" to XP pro.

With limitations, the more adequate question is: Why would one?

In my office I run two systems, the file server that runs on Linux and the graphics workstation that runs on XP pro (which is what I am using right now). I hardly ever have problems with either the Linux system nor software that runs under Linux, and most is unbeatable cheap (except for some maintenance it is free). The only reason I have the Win station is that much of the software used for graphic layout does not work on Linux, else I would use only Linux.

If you don't want to play games on your PC and you don't need Photoshop, Linux is surely the wiser choice.

I use Linux pretty much exclusively, and have no problem running the games I play for free with wine. I know I can run all the HL2 based games (cs:s, tf2, ect.), starcraft, victoria, and EVE. Ubuntu hasn't been hard to learn either.

One of the most eye catching things about Linux is the fact that it's open source. That basically means that you can modify it.