Fish out of water

[langtry]

For a number of years I have used windows,98,ME,and XP Pro fed up with monopoly by Microsoft so have purchased DVD copy of SUSE Linux(yet to recieve) so am really green on this.I feel I may not be able to use any of my existing progams by switching to Linux. I am heavily into genealogy and fear none of my programs will be of use????Also I have been using Incredimail for E-Mail and wonder about this also.in short,looking for help from other Linux users who will have come across the same concerns.

Regards,


langtry (New Boy)

[techieMoe]

Welcome. As a primer into the world of Linux, I recommend reading. Lots of it. Here's a good starting point:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

In short, you are correct in assuming none of your Microsoft Windows software is likely to run in Linux. They're completely different operating systems (as described in the link above) that operate completely differently.

The upsides are many, but one you might be interested in investigating (via the "Table of Windows/Linux Equivalents" link in the thread above) is that there are a lot of native Linux programs that do the same job as your existing MS Windows apps, and most are free of charge.

As for genealogy programs; I've never actually done that myself so I'll let someone who has give you recommendations.

[langtry]

Thank you for your reply,once I am up and running I will take further note of your comments,in the meanwhile another question if I may???

I currently have a broadband connection with livebox etc should I expect problems when I come to installing my software on Linux??


Regards,

langtry

[techieMoe]

I currently have a broadband connection with livebox etc should I expect problems when I come to installing my software on Linux??

That depends on how you connect. Is your broadband just an ethernet cord that plugs your computer into a broadband modem? If so, you're golden and shouldn't have any trouble at all getting Linux to recognize your connection.

If not, how do you connect?

[k0rrupt10n]

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but you should be able to run your Windows-based apps through WINE. I was reading an article in Linux Format on how to install a complete Windows system through WINE!!

[Dark_Stang]

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but you should be able to run your Windows-based apps through WINE. I was reading an article in Linux Format on how to install a complete Windows system through WINE!!

No... you must have either misunderstood the article or just had a pack of lies shotgunned at you. Some things can be run under wine (in fact, there are websites dedicated to it). Many things can't run under wine without the user having a PhD in Computer Science.

[valemon]

Regarding Wine, I have only managed to run old windows applications, I am a newb but I find it really hard to do all the configuration is needed. On the other hand I think that linux has enough applications in order not to need to go through wine.

[k0rrupt10n]

Admittedly, it was an old issue of LXF. Personally I try to find a Linux version of the Windows software, and use that instead. I'll re-read the article and check exactly what it says! Having never used WINE, I take it that it is not very user-friendly?

[Cabhan]

WINE is not a Windows system, but rather an attempt to reimplement the Windows API under Linux. What this means is that, since the entire thing is reverse-engineered, it is rather subject to its quirks and incompatibilities. Older Windows apps tend to work better, since older technologies are better reverse-engineered than newer ones.

Also, graphical technologies are probably the worst-supported Windows technologies, so modern games or graphics-intensive programs tend to run very poorly.

And of course, even if an app does manage to run, it is a Windows app under Linux. With very few exceptions, you're better off finding a Linux equivalent.

WINE can be used if you absolutely need a specific app and want to use Linux exclusively, but it is in no way a catch-all solution.

[langtry]

Thanks to everyone,I am learning all the time with your help,however,being NEW, what on earth is WINE ? do I need to know anything about this or just be content to drink it?
Yes my computer is connected to an Ethernet cable to my Livebox,so hopefullI should be OK ? I thought that my set up disk would be of no use in making my internet connectionmbut from what you say I wont need the disk as Linux will recognise my connection?
Another question? I have yet to recieve my Linux DVD program but when I do would it be a simple task to install it on my second hard drive? I have two internal hard drives of 80gb each???Sorry about all the questions but I have so many buzzing around in my head at the moment,another is how easy is it to sort out the duel boot situation?and does this mean that one has the best of both worlds? ie to be able to use eirher Win XP or Linux? with the same internet connection?

Regards,

langtry