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Linux: What You Want To Know

Will it run Windows software?

Behind this question are two other questions. The first is, "Will I be able to do on Linux what I have been doing on Windows?" The second is, "Will I have to purchase all new software?" We will answer these questions here.

WINE

WINE (WINdows Emulator) is a Linux software package that replaces some Microsoft Windows dynamic link libraries (DLL) with libraries that do the same task in the Linux environment. Other Microsoft DLLs have been rewritten (but maintained as DLLs) to work with Linux. Many, but not all, Microsoft Windows programs may be run on Linux with the aid of WINE. The writers of WINE are constantly trying to make it able to run more Windows programs, but doing so is like trying to hit a moving target. Lindows.com is using WINE to bring most Windows programs to the Linux desktop.

Linux Applications

Free...

Some publications deplore the "dearth" of Linux applications. One site that Mr. Lake uses to get software, www.rpmfind.net, lists over 50,000 free software packages that may be downloaded and installed on a Linux system.

And not so free...

Some Linux software is "closed source" and not free, but these are often much less expensive than their Microsoft Windows counterparts. One example is LinuxCAD, which costs $89.00 U.S. Compare this with AutoCAD with prices from $725 to $3,295 and up.

Another such package is MoneyDance at $39.99. Compare it with Quicken at $59.95 and up. (MoneyDance, a Java program, will run on computers with Windows versions prior to XP. Microsoft didn't include Java with XP, but it may be downloaded at no cost.)