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Novell Suggests Linux Program Replacements
An anonymous reader writes "As a result of over 14,000 votes since the beginning of January, Adobe Photoshop, Autocad, Dreamweaver, iTunes, and Macromedia Flash are currently the top 5 'most wanted' Windows/MacOS-only applications in Novell's online survey. From comments made by the survey participants, Novell has also listed suggested substitutes for each of the five. What do readers think of these suggestions?"
No doubt that Photoshop has some features that GIMP lacks, and that professionals can't do without (CMYK color, higher color depth, etc.). The next generation of GIMP will be based on GEGL (Generic Graphical Library) which will provide the bulk of these features, but it's development has been a bit slow. Lend a hand and we can help bring GIMP on-par with photoshop.
http://www.gegl.org/
Todd
Besides, the Gimp isn't the only player in town... In eleven days (Feb. 27), we'll release the rc1 of KOffice 1.5, with Krita 1.5 in it. And Krita has already cmyk, 16 bit support, lab, raw import and lots of other fun features.
UGS is also porting software. http://www.ugs.com/about_us/press/press.shtml?id=4 367
Personally, I'd like to see SolidWorks ported. Yes, I ditched Acad for solid modelers 12 years ago and would be very reluctant to go back.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
I'm pretty sure that Bentley Microstation and it's associated products are equal to or even better than AutoCAD products.
Self awareness - try it!
I'm surprised that Rhythmbox didn't make the list of iTunes replacements. It looks like iTunes, it interacts with your iPod in a similar fashion, and it even supports DAAP. Other than the iTMS, it's almost a complete replacement.
-jagWhen all you have is a hammer, everybody looks like a Messiah.
The fifth, iTunes, is a proprietary DRM package that it would be best to stay away from (although it too, is popular in geekdom).
/.) who have never purchased any music from iTMS and have never had to use a DRMed file. Personally I've only ever bought two, out of a total library of close to 20,000. The Music Store is not iTunes' "killer feature." Ease of use, a basically seamless interface, and tight integration with the iPod are. The new automatic features for subscribing to, downloading, and maintaining Podcasts on an iPod are going to be more important as people realize how cool a thing it is.
If you could make a program which replicated everything that iTunes does, without the iTMS or DRM functions, I think you'd do what 90% of people want.
I know a lot of iPod owners (and I'm sure there are quite a few here on
But replicating the DRM functions isn't necessarily important in terms of coming up with a free alternative to iTunes, it's replicating that useability experience and other features that is.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
I suspect most of the Flash-Haters hate it for what it does, and not because it could be replaced by another standards-compliant, but equally annoying technology.
Rather a lot hate it since for some reason people write sites that rely on it, despite the fact that Flash is not free (forget open) for many users, and is not usable by many.
Most businesses I've worked at do not allow flash players to be installed, because the audit terms are very nebulous ("You agree that Macromedia may audit your use of the Software for compliance with these terms at any time, upon reasonable notice.") and open up the possibility of Macromedia getting access to your internal machines.
And use is completely forbidden on "mobile devices, set top boxes (STB), handhelds, phones, web pads, tablets and Tablet PCs that are not running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, game consoles, TVs, DVD players, media centers".
rage, rage against the dying of the light
I am an architect with a five person practice. I have been searching for a decent non-autodesk CAD program that runs on linux for some time. I have finally found one. Check out Bricscad. http://www.bricscad.com/ It is an Autocad clone. Even has the 3-D stuff. Reasonably priced. If you are familiar with Autocad you will be up and running in an hour. It is a Linux port from there windows product and uses wine. We were a Beta test site for them It will read and write all autocad files going back to version 2.2. Worth the price just for that. Kurt.