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If your Linux machine has an x86 (Intel, AMD, VIA, etc) processor, Kiplinger TaxCut should work in Wine.

> You can't run Office XP on RedHat.

Bzzzt. You may not be able to run it completely right now, but the fine folks over at CodeWeavers
have XP on their radar for this year.

But really, why would you want to when OO/SO work so well?

Crossover Server from Codeweavers. It's a fine product.

The guys at Codeweavers are really nice, they'll give you a trial copy if you ask nicely.

I ended up using wget, which resumed the transfer whenever it peered out.

Not that it made any difference in being able to watch the thing; mplayer doesn't support its stream type yet. Thankfully, I have Crossover.

Fair enough, although under Linux the 'tax' is payable if you want to run Win32 browser plugins or apps using Crossover Plugin/Office; as I posted before Palm synchronisation is free (though less integrated).

Heck, the latest version of MPlayer can even play back Quicktime and Windows Media Player videos on x86, using native Windows DLLs, and there is even a plug-in for Mozilla.

By the way, MPlayer is available with an OSX front-end too - I have not tried out the various video encoding solutions under OS X but certainly worth looking over (once my PB arrives).

This might get modded off topic so turning off my karma bonus :P Slashcode should allow private messaging...

Notes sucks, crossover office from http://www.codeweavers.com/ runs it very well. You do have to pay but its worth it if you have to run notes. Getting wine to work with notes is like pulling teeth. Crossover plugin rules,quicktime on linux.

Unless you're using Hurd or Windows 3.1, there's almost definately both Quickime and Windows Media for your platform. Stop whining.

You make some great points, but fortunately there are some answers coming to your questions.

Where are the good GUIs for the video players (yes, GUIs, not skins) ?

Nice that you made the distinction. :)

For a totally sweet Xine GUI, check out Totem! It's a really slick, super-easy to use GNOME 2 app for video and DVD. Good stuff, very nice attention to usability.

Where is high quality Real Media playback ?

Real Player 8 works fine on my box! Plus, with Helix going all OSS/Hippy on us, we'll have a (mostly) OSS and completely legal Real Player for Linux this year.

Where is high quality Quicktime playback ?

Shoved up Apple's ass... stupid, politicking bastards.... *mutter*

But really... Totem can do Quicktime, if you get the proper codecs installed for Xine.

Where is .ASF/.WMV/QT streaming support ?

Still not the greatest solution, but Crossover Office and Crossover Plugin do a great job of running WMP and QT right on your desktop.

Yeah, these aren't perfect, but there's obviously some serious progress being made in these directions.

It would be nice to have the option to run WMP in Linux

Crossover does just exactly that. It only runs WMP 6.4, but at least that plays proprietary WMP files. It can also play as well Quicktime files and Shockwave. Well worth the $25 to register. I know I've been extremelly happy with it.

You might want to try running it with wine - check out the app database. I haven't tried eudora on wine myself but according to some of the comments it's running quite well and that's with an older version of wine in my experience the newest one is significantly better than the previous ones.

You can see how well it works (and tips to get it working) here.

If you really want to run the original KaZaA, see here.

You can see how well it works (and tips to get it working) here.

If you really want to run the original KaZaA, see here.

as this has been noted before...

CODEWEAVERS has been doing this for some time now. and it works.

My only dependency to Windows is a GPL liscensed app. VirtualDub. There isn't a free (as in beer and speech) comparable app on any operating system.

VirtualDub sort of works in Wine.

and by EULA, can't run office XP on anything but windows OS.

Wrong.

As quoted somewhere above, from Codeweaver's licensing FAQ:

"Q. Can Microsoft prevent CodeWeaver's customers from running Microsoft applications on Linux?

A. No. Microsoft's end-user licenses do not preclude operating their applications under other operating systems. Were Microsoft to attempt to prohibit such usage, by requiring that Microsoft products be run only on the Windows OS, they would be in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Sherman Act precludes making the usage of a non-monopoly product dependent on the purchase of a monopoly product. Microsoft has been convicted of monopolist practices under the Sherman Act regarding their operating systems. As a result, they cannot legally make Microsoft Office dependent on having a Windows OS license."

First off, do they allow this sort of distribution? If so, what sort of a license does one buy?

Of course, the cynic in me would enquire as to how long people think it will be before they explicitly forbid this sort of thing.

look here to get at least some answers to questions like this.

Let me quote some of it:

Q: Can Microsoft prevent CodeWeaver's customers from running Microsoft applications on Linux?

A: No. Microsoft's end-user licenses do not preclude operating their applications under other operating systems. Were Microsoft to attempt to prohibit such usage, by requiring that Microsoft products be run only on the Windows OS, they would be in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Sherman Act precludes making the usage of a non-monopoly product dependent on the purchase of a monopoly product. Microsoft has been convicted of monopolist practices under the Sherman Act regarding their operating systems. As a result, they cannot legally make Microsoft Office dependent on having a Windows OS license.

Q: Can Microsoft sue CodeWeaver's customers for using Wine?

A: Not if you license Wine from CodeWeavers. One of the protections you receive as a customer of CodeWeavers is that you are licensing Wine from us. We warrant that the product you are buying from us is legal. If it isn't, the term of your license agreement with us says that we are responsible for its legality, not you.

So, they have found a very nice way to circumvent this problem - if Microsoft might find a way to make this illegal afterall (companies could be scared this might happen), they specifically tell you in their agreement that THEY will take the blame, not you.

Ofcourse, this means Crossover would go out of business, but that would happen anyway if MS finds a way to outlaw their software. At least it takes away the reason 'I can't buy this because I fear it might give me legal trouble'.

I am one of those linux geeks, and, because of the company I work for, I have to use office. I've found that Crossover Office does a great job of giving me the MS office tools my job requires, while allowing me to stay in my Linux environment.

well, that's not *quite* true, since shockwave DOES run on linux (and it runs well, although they're only up to version 5) and if you use the crossover plugin, quicktime 6 runs just fine too.

Of course, I'm waiting for the day that hell freezes over so you can find Microsoft Office for Linux....

Pack a sweater...

Oh, and no windows OS license required.

Over the last year, I've bought Codeweavers Crossover (both Plugin and Office) and a subscription to Transgaming's effort. Take a look at the programs listed in the main Wine tree and at Transgaming's site.

If you want to roll your own, most of the code is available in some form from both branches, though the commercial distributions are more polished. If I were to deploy Wine over a large number of machines, I would probably go back to building my own just to cut costs.

(So does MS Office and Quicken.)

FWIW, you could run IE in Linux if that was really the only issue you had. If you want it to be really, really easy and support Wine development, purchase Crossover Office from Codeweavers for a measly $55. (Try getting a Windows license for that!)

I'm simply a happy customer of theirs, no affiliation.

Context: Porting to "just recompile your carbon or cocoa app as 386 in project builder an it will run."

Then cwebster wrote: photoshop is available on i386/win32 nativly

True, recent versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements are available on Intel(tm) i386 architecture, win32 platform. However, recent versions of Photoshop rely on Windows features that remain poorly understood by independent implementors of Win32 API services on, say, FreeBSD/i386. (Darwin, the Mac OS X kernel, is FreeBSD on top of Mach.)

Thus, Mac OS XI users on hypothetical Mac hardware based on i786, Hammer, or Itanic processors would still run into hurdles for Mac apps that 1. aren't recompiled for i386 and 2. don't have an equivalent that runs in WINE.

its not like they lack i386 assembler to match thier ppc stuff...

But you still have to deal with the fact that the publisher reserves the right to refuse to make or to publish the port, in which case access to source code + patches distributed under 17 USC 117(a)(1) is the only way to get a port done.

Try the crossover demo, and just hit pause when you get that nagscreen :)

Smooth like a shaven peach.

Try the crossover demo, and just hit pause when you get that nagscreen :)

Smooth like a shaven peach.

A single guide for each and every program would be impossible to keep updated. Like most people, I have never heard of most Windows programs including the one that you mentioned above.

The next best thing is the Wine Application Database. The appdb lists specific programs and you can add yours to it so others know how well or poorly the programs you are interested in work.

Tip: If you search for the message that appears when the program fails to run, you might get directions on how to install another program that is similar and does work with Wine. (Then again, you might not...can't say!)

The Wine FAQ has been updated reciently, and the Wine Knowledgebase is still helpful.

Note: The Wine-FAQ link listed above may move.

To make this clear, here are links for running MS Word, MS Excel, and MS IE under Wine without paying any money to Codeweavers or any other company. You do pay with your time, though.

To make this clear, here are links for running MS Word, MS Excel, and MS IE under Wine without paying any money to Codeweavers or any other company. You do pay with your time, though.

To make this clear, here are links for running MS Word, MS Excel, and MS IE under Wine without paying any money to Codeweavers or any other company. You do pay with your time, though.

But I still cannot run MS Office or Internet Explorer

What are you talking about? Of course you can

The latest Crossover Office from Codeweavers supports IE 5.5. I've been running it for a while with fairly good results, and it doesn't seem to have broken anything in the "fake Windows" folder at all.

On the sever side the market is much more mature, you can get Oracle on Linux and DB2 for Linux if you want a database. For mail and workflow Lotus Domino is available amongst many others.

IMHO these are either recognised mature products or fulfill a new and/or unique function. A new IM tool does niether of these.

The Windows Media Player has a EULA which requires you to "have a license to a qualifying microsoft operating system". This issue has come up with the codeweavers crossover product:

1. http://crossover.codeweavers.com/pipermail/plugin- support/2002-April/002896.html

Nothing prevents Microsoft from doing the same thing with the Office 11 EULA.

From The Codeweavers supported apps list:

Known Limitations ...
* The Office Assistant does not work well yet and usually causes malfunctions. Thus it is disabled by default.

Is this a bug or a feature?

I think so. The point is, that SuSE is developing a new version of their distribution aimed at the corporate desktop. Crossover Office is just one special component, that'll differ from their normal distribution. There will be other stuff to make the transition from windows easier and probably no more server installations.

Second thing you miss is this. "Now for only $54.95"... CrossOver Office is not free. You can't just "download it seperately" for your normal SuSE distribution.

The Crossover Plugin will download and install Trillian for you. I don't use it in Linux, personally, but the Crossover stuff seems to work pretty solidly so I'd be surprised if it didn't run acceptably.

Actually, all the M$ viewers work in CrossOver, but you have to pay for that too... BUT IT'S CHEAP!

See also the Crossover Office EULA:

CROSSOVER OFFICE SINGLE END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

YOU REALLY WANT TO READ THIS, ESPECIALLY THE PART ABOUT
THE MANDATORY CAR WASH FOR CODEWEAVERS EMPLOYEES...

...snip the rest of the EULA...

OKAY, WE WERE JUST KIDDING. THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE ABOUT
CARWASHES. BUT YOU REALLY SHOULD READ THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW.
(It's the Beige Honda minivan, if you really insist).

It's the infernal Sorenson 3 (IIRC xine can play the other sorenson codecs, yes?). So here is the:

Obligatory link to the crossover plugin. Very good etc

But QT6 does support mpeg 4 (as was said). We just need some way to make people use it.

Waiting for a DVD to rip.

So:

Go buy any old digital camera and try to download the pics on a RedHat system.

Go buy a DVD-R and try to burn a disc.

Go to any old website showing media (RealPlayer, QuickTime, Windows Media) and see how successful you are at viewing content.

Buy a Firewire DV Video Camera and see how successful you are in getting the video off and editing it.

Try to visit a site that's made for IE.
Go to the store and buy a game. (I'll give you these -- VmWare and other solutions are a serious bitch to setup, and don't work well except in certain Distros)

Buy a PDA and get it to synch up.

Your network card doesn't work, find somebody you know willing to come over and fix it. (Huh? If the card is broken, even your God(s) ain't/aren't gonna fix it.)

>The steps to do any of the above in Windows are very easy

Uhhh, sure... I mean, I mean, if you want to have every two or three DVDs come out as coasters (happens with Prassi Primo DVD for me) sure. Or if you want to use crappy outdated camera software that just lets you easily download one picture at a time through a slow ass serial connection, great (Fuji MX-1200). I've never done DV, but Kino doesn't look too hard. Or you can try Cinerella, which seems more full featured and easier.

>When a DVD-Burner manufacturer is swamped with "Uhh where's the Linux Drivers?"

DVD-R in linux doesn't use "drivers", unless you count the built in generic SCSI support built in linux (since well before DVD was available for most PCs) as a "driver". Try saying that about windows. Especially windows 9x...

HTH. And take it from me, there's NO software in windows that lets you use a Celeron 300 to burn DVD-R at 2x and surf the 'net at the same time.

Linux's motto should be "Spend some time now -- Then do more, quicker".

For portable devices, it almost makes sense - except, of course, for the lack of linux support.

There's plenty of (unofficial) Linux support for WMA. Both MPlayer and avifile support most WMA formats. Plus, Crossover provides a plugin for WMA8 that works just fine (granted it costs $25, but it's the best quality/buck ratio in the business).

DZM

Codeweavers has been doing much more business-oriented WINE stuff, such as Crossover Office

Why bother? Just try Crossover

"We do not anticipate offering software on Linux. Nobody pays for software on Linux."

\end{quote}

Wait a minute. You mean the money I spent on Crossover as well as the money I shelled out on the Linux version (actually the student Linux/windows version) of Matlab was not for Linux software? While I suppose the Crossover was actually in the end for MS software, I wasn't paying for MSOffice, I was paying for the ease of compatibility (without much technical knowledge on my behalf).

In fact, Crossover may be an example that at least some of us are willing to pay for something we would scoff at on a windows system. Yes, in most cases there are free alternatives to software available on Linux today, but some of use are willing to pay for a better quality product if it is just that... better.

As for Microsoft trying to make their product more valuable so that people will choose to pay for it, as opposed to electing to partake in a free operating system with more free software... well that is exactly what they are supposed to do. However, they have relied on being the "only" (read to mean the "primary") operating system in use, and therefore could charge a price that may not necessarily reflect the quality of product they put out.

And finally, this deserves the "I'll believe it when I see it" clause, because we have all heard songs like this come from Microsoft in the past.

I'm assuming when you say you are a Microsoft user you mean that you have only ever used Microsoft products. At this stage, any Unix-based operating system, be it a Linux distribution, Lindows (I do not personally count Lindows as a true Linux distribution), FreeBSD, or whatever, will be like jumping into a cold swimming pool. That is to say, it will be a shock at first, but if you are reasonably intelligent and you have picked a newbie distribution (Mandrake, Lycoris, Lindows, ELX), you should be able to adjust.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. You will not have perfect compatibility with Windows apps like MSOffice. You can use OpenOffice and most of your docs will look fine, but some will have visible display glitches (although I have never seen one that was unreadable). You can also download browser plugins for Mozilla (the best Linux web browser) which give it virtually all the worthwhile functionality of IE. Ximian Evolution is an excellent replacement for Outlook. OpenOffice, Mozilla, and Evolution all come with most new Linux distributions today. Another solution is Codeweavers Crossover Office and Crossover Plugin, which let you use Windows office apps and browser plugins. However, this option requires a subscription fee.

2. Many/most Windows games will not work at all, or without a good deal of tinkering. If you are a hardcore gamer, check out Transgaming WineX which can let you play some of the most popular Windows games with a minimum of glitches. This option also requires a subscription fee.

3. A Linux installation needs either its own hard drive, a free partition of space on a Windows drive (at least a few gigabytes) or its own machine. If you have only one machine with one partition on one hard drive, and that is for Windows, then you *might* damage your Windows installation installing Linux. Your best bet if you don't know what I am talking about is to ask a friend who knows more for some help in the installation.

4. While most hardware I have ever purchased is supported, some things just don't have support yet. One example is the "winmodem". Most modems sold today are sneakily designed to work only with Microsoft Windows. Yes, this is a conspiracy between Microsoft and the manufacturers of those modems. If your modem doesnt work, you will probably have to buy a new modem which specifically says it is a "hardware modem". As someone in [your local computer/electronics store] for help.

**Aside from all that, a tonne of things are different in the actual underlying operating system, but if you aren't a developer, you proably won't be intersted in those details. (Feel free to continue this thread if you are, I will be happy to answer more questions.)

With all this, I was trying to provide full disclosure of pitfalls to migrating, not to discourage you. I definately think the switch to Linux is worthwhile in the long term.

If as you implied you have only ever used Microsoft products, the best path you could take is to switch to OpenOffice and Mozilla running on Windows, then if you are comfortable with them, try to dual-boot with a newbie distribution like the ones mentioned above.

CrossOver Office is capable of running a range of Windows software, but CodeWeavers will support the following applications:

* Microsoft Office 97 and 2000
o Microsoft Word
o Microsoft Excel
o Microsoft Powerpoint
o Microsoft Outlook
o Microsoft Internet Explorer
* Microsoft Visio
* Lotus Notes
* Quicken

CrossOver Office is capable of running a range of Windows software, but CodeWeavers will support the following applications:

* Microsoft Office 97 and 2000
o Microsoft Word
o Microsoft Excel
o Microsoft Powerpoint
o Microsoft Outlook
o Microsoft Internet Explorer
* Microsoft Visio
* Lotus Notes
* Quicken

Apple doesn't want to make a player for Linux/BSD because Apple doesn't NEED to, and it would probably hurt them in the long run. With Windows, Apple ported the player in an effort to get the QuickTime format to become a standard among Windows users. More users = more content providers.

What does Apple get by porting their player to Linux or BSD? They don't get much in terms of additional users (since many of those using Linux also use Windows), and they give people that much less reason to switch to a Mac. What does open-sourcing the player do for Apple? It means now any platform can potentially run QuickTime players. The only reason Apple ported the player to Windows was to increase the installed userbase to a point where many content providers would see QuickTime as a viable format to publish in.

Apple won't be releasing players for other platforms other than Windows and Mac, and frankly, it's in their best interest that they don't. If you really have to play QuickTime content under Linux, you could always look into the Crossover Plugin.

An easier way to configure printers, complete M$ Office interoperability

You mean aside from CUPS and Crossover Office?

CUPS has a number of front-ends to it that are *very* easy to use, and provides an easy, GUI-oriented way to deal with printers - as its freshmeat writeup says, "it has been developed to promote a standard printing solution for all UNIX vendors and users."

Crossover Office isn't Free (and I don't run it for precisely that reason), but if the only thing tieing you or your company to Windows is the need for complete Office support, it's the most promising option out there. General word processing is better served by AbiWord, in my opinion, but this is not a sticking point of any note anymore.

Codeweavers has their own page which contains ~200 games and lots of apps.

I found the following games work very well:

o Half-Life (Single Player)
o Warcraft II BNE
o Fallout / Fallout2
o Unreal Gold (some hacking required)
o SimEarth
o Hexen II

Installing is often a problem. Sometimes you need to boot to windows, intstall, then copy the whole tree over to linux. Often it is useful to start X in 640x480 mode as well.

My experiences are with vanilla CVS Wine. TransGaming won't accept my debit card, so I haven't subscribed (would like to though).

If only Serious Sam I and II would get supported, my life would be complete! Or maybe
icculus will finish his port someday.

Also, you can now play Hexen II using Anvil of Thyrion which is a native linux client.