Windows applications

[Guru]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the application capabilities.

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.

[Zug]

If I may add an additional query: As a newbie to Linux distros, I've read that Crossover Office MAY yet be a killer app. That is, for users who don't want to leave their MS apron strings! Question: Is Crossover acceptable to Freespire?

[Dr.Jones]

The products in the Freespire repository will work with the OS (including Crossover Office).

[Bro.Tiag]

Guru & Zug,

Welcome to linux, Freespire & the Forums.

No one can not run Windows apps nativly in linux. One must do so through some sort of linux application, like Wine, Win4Lin, Crossover, VMware etc. Just so you know. Oh, also some/most of these linux apps cost money to install.

Cheers

[Fry]

If free spire dose not run windows apps you can still use the wine emultor.

[PGTips91]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the application capabilities.

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.
If I may add an additional query: As a newbie to Linux distros, I've read that Crossover Office MAY yet be a killer app. That is, for users who don't want to leave their MS apron strings! Question: Is Crossover acceptable to Freespire?

Well this is a good question, but to many who have been here with Lindows/Linspire this is question was put to rest years ago. Maybe there are still some, like myself, who are not 100% happy with the way it was resolved but have had to accept it as a 'top-down' decision. Perhaps it needs to be aired a little more now at Freespire.

Writing near the beginning of LindowsOS existence, December 31st, 2001, Michael Robertson said (http://www.michaelrobertson.com/archive.php?minute_id=1) :--

Our goal at Lindows.com (http://www.lindows.com/) is to build an affordable, easy-to-use, highly compatible operating system. We're not the first to attempt such an undertaking, but a few features make our approach unique and compelling. The first is our Windows Compatibility Module, which means that software written for Windows® computers will run on LindowsOS™, which is a Linux®-based operating system. To understand the importance of this, it's essential to understand that because of the way most software is written, it will function only on one operating system. For example, Windows® software will not run on a Linux® operating system and vice versa.

Up until the advent of LindowsOS, making the decision to switch operating systems meant abandoning all of your software and repurchasing new software. Not only is this expensive, it's virtually impossible for many people. Sometimes there isn't equivalent software and even if there is, learning a new piece of software takes time and effort which is better spent on productive work. Moreover, there's almost always an issue with the inability to read historic documents or swap files with others who may not have made the switch. These problems vanish with LindowsOS because popular Windows software can be installed and run in the familiar fashion people expect without any speed degradation. LindowsOS owners get the best of both worlds because they can install and run both Linux and Windows software.
However it turned out to be just a bit more difficult to attain that ideal than was first envisioned. Later the line that Michael took was to look for and support development of alternatives to MS Windows Applications that had been or were written natively for Linux.

There was a FAQ, explaining the change in direction, which I can't seem to find. Any one have the link?
Can'f find the relevant FAQ

The new approach was heralded in this Michael's Minute, October 29th, 2003,
Nvu and Other Great Software You've Never Heard About (http://www.michaelrobertson.com/archive.php?minute_id=87)

Few people appreciate the amazing software products being produced for desktop Linux everyday. Here are just a few of the new products that you probably haven't heard of, but work well on LindowsOS. All of these products are available via Click-N-Run so with a single mouse click the software is downloaded, installed, and ready for use!
http://images.lindows.com/applications/3373/9268/Moneydance/myfinances_th.jpg (http://www.lindows.com/moneydance)
Moneydance (http://www.lindows.com/moneydance) - Get the only Linux money management software that helps you manage your budget, stay on schedule and even lets you do electronic banking http://images.lindows.com/applications/3373/11808/armyops/squadleader_th.jpg (http://www.lindows.com/americasarmygame)
http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/gnomemeeting-small.gif (http://lindows.com/lindows_products_details.php?id=11815)
GnomeMeeting (http://lindows.com/lindows_products_details.php?id=11815) - Video conferencing software that lets you talk face-to-face over the Net
http://images.lindows.com/applications/3373/6850/scribus/page_thumb.jpg (http://www.lindows.com/scribus)
Scribus (http://www.lindows.com/scribus) - Make newsletters, brochures and more with this powerful page layout program for LindowsOS, similar to Adobe PageMaker or QuarkXPress
http://images.lindows.com/applications/3373/10033/glabels/lindows_thumb.png (http://www.lindows.com/lindows_products_details.php?id=10048)
Glabel (http://www.lindows.com/lindows_products_details.php?id=10048) - Create your own CD labels, envelope labels, business cards and more with this program that works with most peel-off label and business card sheets that you'll find http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/cinelerra-small.gif (http://www.lindows.com/cinelerra)
Cinelerra (http://www.lindows.com/cinelerra) - Professional video editing, recording and encoding software that lets you create professional-looking video with transitions and special effects
http://images.lindows.com/applications/3373/9153/Digikam/digikam_screen1_thumb.jpeg (http://www.lindows.com/digikam)
DigiKam (http://www.lindows.com/digikam) - Download and manage pictures, then create your own digital albums with this program that works with hundreds of digital cameras

http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/mrproject.gif (http://www.lindows.com/mrproject)
MrProject (http://www.lindows.com/mrproject) - An intuitive project manager similar to Microsoft Project, that will help you get organized and manage your schedule

Click here for a list of the newest and coolest games for LindowsOS (http://www.lindows.com/aisles/gamers)

As I mentioned, all of the above programs are available in the Click-N-Run Warehouse, which gets new software added daily, all of which can be downloaded and installed with just one click of the user's mouse.

-- Michael
However, this new approach, no mater how much sense it makes to the economic success of Linspire.com, leaves one area uncovered, the use of software that the user is already familiar with and usually has already paid for.

The original project on which Lindows based its expectations is the ongoing one of WINE (http://www.winehq.com/) [Wine Is Not an Emulator], which is endeavouring to code, in Linux, the APIs of MS Windows OS so that WINE can act as an interpretive layer between the MS Windows Application and Linux OS. This project has made good progress but has still a long way to go, due to the undocumented nature of MS Windows OS. Crossover Office (http://www.codeweavers.com/) is a commercial version of WINE, now available in the CNR (http://www.codeweavers.com/about/general/press/?id=20060208).

A current FAQ, here, (http://help.linspire.com/cgi-bin/linspire.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1025&p_li=cF91c2VyaWQ9cGF1bGd0YXlsb3I5MUBjbGVhci5uZXQub nomcF9lbWFpbD1wYXVsZ3RheWxvcjkxQGNsZWFyLm5ldC5ueiZ wX2ZpcnN0X25hbWU9UGF1bCZwX2xhc3RfbmFtZT1UYXlsb3ImY 29tcGFueV9pZD02JnBfY2NmXzI9JnBfY2NmXzg9JnBfY2NmXzk 9JnBfY2NmXzM9JnBfY2NmXzQ9JnBfY2NmXzU9JnBfY2NmXzY9J nBfY2NmXzE3PTIy) says: --

Question: Can Linspire run Microsoft® Windows software/programs/applications?
http://help.linspire.com/rnt/rnw/img/trnsp.gif Answer NOTE: Linspire, Inc. does not provide support for third party software (e.g. - Win4Lin, Crossover Office, WINE, WineX, etc.).
In order to run Microsoft® Windows software, in general, you can utilize one of the following applications:

Win4Lin
Win4Lin 9x (http://www.linspire.com/lindows_products_details.php?product_id=9291) and Win4Lin Home (http://www.linspire.com/lindows_products_details.php?product_id=22419) are commercial softwares that allow you to install Microsoft® Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows ME (not Windows 2000 or XP) inside the Linspire environment. They provide compatibility with MS Windows programs from within Linspire for those who have a MS Windows program they feel they just can't do without. The Win4Lin softwares allow the version of Microsoft Windows you install to run within Linspire once they're installed.

Click here (http://www.linspire.com/faq.php?faq=faq624) to learn how to install Win4Lin.

WINE
Wine is a program that allows Linspire users to use some Microsoft® Windows programs without having Microsoft® Windows installed. This program is free to CNR (http://lindows.com/clicknrun) Warehouse Members. Currently, there are only a handful of MS Windows compatible programs that WINE has been successful in running reliably. Over time, it's possible that more programs could eventually be supported using WINE, but for now there are very few MS Windows compatible programs that the average, non-technical user can reliably use for day-to-day productivity.


The following links may be related to your question:
For information on supported file types and extensions in Linspire , click here (http://www.linspire.com/file_types/filetypes.php).
For more information about running Office products for Windows in Linspire , click here (http://www.linspire.com/faq.php?faq=faq83).
For more information about running Windows games in Linspire , click here (http://www.linspire.com/faq.php?faq=faq163).
For more information on migrating from Microsoft® Windows to Linspire , click here (http://info.linspire.com/migration/).FAQ ID: 1025
More recently, there has been considerable progress in Virtualization and there are now free versions of these available. With a free VM (http://www.vmware.com/news/releases/server.html), such as VMware Server or VMware Player, and a MS Windows CD and License, it is possible to run all legacy software, whether off-the-shelf or in-house development, in its native Windows environment over a Linux host OS.

With Freespire there is an opportunity to realise the origninal goal of Lindows, to run all MS Windows applications.

Paul

[hqlinux]

With Freespire there is an opportunity to realise the origninal goal of Lindows, to run all MS Windows applications.

Paul

I sincerely doubt it.... Why should Linspire/Freespire or any other Linux distro for that matter spend time and MONEY on trying to port MS apps over, and then all MS would have to do is change a few API's and or DLL's.... and it was all for nought... and then they would have to go back to the drawing board...

think about it

Linux apps for Linux (that way Microsoft has ABSOLUTELY no control over them), and MS apps for Windows...

Harvey

[PGTips91]

I sincerely doubt it.... Why should Linspire/Freespire or any other Linux distro for that matter spend time and MONEY on trying to port MS apps over, and then all MS would have to do is change a few API's and or DLL's.... and it was all for nought... and then they would have to go back to the drawing board...

think about it

Linux apps for Linux (that way Microsoft has ABSOLUTELY no control over them), and MS apps for Windows...

Harvey In order for Windows Apps to run under Linux no porting is required at all. Once ported they become native Linux Apps. Many Apps are already cross-platform - that is, they have been compiled from one source into binaries that run under Windows, Linux and other OSes. That still leaves a lot of applications, freeware, shareware, commercial and one-off in-house that can be run via tools such as VMware, Win4Lin 9x, Win4Lin Pro and other virtualisers. To make it possible for new users to bring their legacy software over to the Linux world would play a very important role in smoothing the transition and making it possible, sooner, for them to make the transition. This would not involve a lot of cost. It is more just a matter of integrating tools that alreay exist and work well. Paul

[hqlinux]

Those programs that you listed are all emulators... as I stated... to run Windows apps natively in Linux would require them to be ported over... a huge task, indeed. As I also stated... all MS would have to do to break the "ported" apps would be to change an api or two, and perhaps a few dll's... and they would be out of business (the ported apps, that is)... This has been debated in the Linspire forums ad nausem.... if it could have been easily done...Lindows would have done it.

Harvey

[PGTips91]

However, no one said that they wanted Apps that were written for MS Windows OS ported over to run natively in Linux.

For anyone who already has MS Windows with Applications that they want to keep on using, virtualisation is the way to go.

This has all the benefits of both the MS and the Linux worlds.

Paul

[frank754]

Certain apps run well under WINE, others require Crossover (more costly), many games run well under Cedega (transgaming.com) for a $5 monthly subscription (and you can keep the version you get indefintely after that). Some simple business apps run well with cedega.
For dos, you can try both dosemu and dosbox, and there's another as well. For "free" emulators besides "pay" VMWare and Win4Lin, there's Bochs.

[Chris_medico_2001]

Those programs that you listed are all emulators... Harvey

Emulation and virtualization are two completely different things.

[hqlinux]

Emulation and virtualization are two completely different things.

Maybe yes, maybe no;)

em·u·late http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/JPG/pron.jpg (https://secure.reference.com/premium/login.html?rd=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fsearch%3 Fq%3Demulating) ( P ) Pronunciation Key (http://dictionary.reference.com/help/ahd4/pronkey.html) (http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/ebreve.gifmhttp://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/prime.gifyhttp://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/schwa.gif-lhttp://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/amacr.gifthttp://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/lprime.gif)
tr.v. em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing, em·u·lates
To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
Computer Science. To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system. adj. Obsolete (-lhttp://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/ibreve.gift) Ambitious; emulous.
Emulator

This article is about emulation in computer science (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computer_science). See Emulation (disambiguation) (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Emulation_%28disambiguation%29) for other meanings. An emulator, in the most general sense, duplicates (provide an emulation of) the functions of one system (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/System) with a different system, so that the second system appears to behave like the first system. Unlike a simulation (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Simulation), it does not attempt to precisely model the state of the device being emulated; it only attempts to reproduce its behavior.In a technical sense, the Church-Turing thesis (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Church-Turing_thesis) implies that any operating environment can be emulated within any other. In practice, it can be quite difficult, particularly when the exact behaviour of the system to be emulated is not documented and has to be deduced through reverse engineering (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Reverse_engineering). It also says nothing about timing constraints; if the emulator does not perform as quickly as the original hardware, the emulated software may run much more slowly than it would have on the original hardware.
A common form of emulation is that of a software emulator, a piece of computer software (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computer_software) that allows certain computer programs (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computer_program) to run on a platform (computer architecture (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computer_architecture) and/or operating system (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Operating_system)) other than the one they were originally written for. It does this by "emulating", or reproducing, the behavior of one type of computer on another by accepting the same data, executing the same programs, and achieving the same results.
Most emulators just emulate a hardware architecture — if a specific operating system is required for the desired software, it must be provided as well (and may itself be emulated). Both the OS and the software will then be interpreted (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Interpreter_%28computer_software%29) by the emulator, rather than being run by native hardware. Apart from this interpreter for the emulated machine's language (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Machine_language), some other hardware (such as input or output devices) must be provided in virtual form as well: if writing to a specific memory location should influence the screen, for example, this will have to be emulated as well.
Instead of full emulation of the hardware, a compatibility layer (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Compatibility_layer) may suffice. This translates system calls for the emulated system into system calls for the host system.



MUCH MORE here:



http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Emulator





and:

2 entries found for virtualize.

Main Entry: virtualize1 Part of Speech: verb Definition: to convert something into a virtual reality image or computer simulation Usage: virtualization n
Source (http://dictionary.reference.com/wnmde/): Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6)
Copyright © 2003-2005 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC
Main Entry: virtualize2 Part of Speech: verb Definition: to create or activate a computer program in virtual memory; to create a virtual screen
Source (http://dictionary.reference.com/wnmde/): Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6)
Copyright © 2003-2005 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC

Virtualization

In computing (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computing), virtualization involves the process of presenting computing resources in ways that users and applications can easily get value out of them, rather than presenting them in a way dictated by their implementation, geographic location, or physical packaging. In other words, it provides a logical rather than physical view of data, computing power, storage capacity, and other resources.Virtualization can manifest itself in several ways:
Virtual machines (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Virtual_machine) - running one or several operating systems (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Operating_system), known as "guests", over an operating system actually running on the system, known as a "host", and (to varying degrees) emulating hardware by means of software.(see Paravirtualization (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Paravirtualization))
Partitioning (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Partition_%28computing%29) - Splitting a single, usually large, resource (such as a computer system, disk drive (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Disk_drive), or network switch) into a number of smaller, more easily utilized resources of the same type. (Sometimes also called "zoning (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zoning)".)
Aggregation, spanning, or concatenation - Combining multiple resources into a smaller number of apparently large resources. For example, symmetric multiprocessing (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Symmetric_multiprocessing) combines many processors; disk concatenation combines many disks into one large logical disk, and some network equipment uses multiple links combined to work as though they offered a single, higher-bandwidth link. At a meta-level, computer clusters (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Computer_cluster) do all of this.Virtualization software

VMware (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/VMware)
Xen (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Xen_%28virtual_machine_monitor%29)
Virtual PC (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Virtual_PC)
Bochs (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Bochs)See also

Virtualization Technology (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Virtualization_Technology)
Hypervisor (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Hypervisor)
Emulation (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Emulation)
Paravirtualization (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Paravirtualization)
Comparison of virtual machines (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Comparison_of_virtual_machines)
X86 virtualization (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/X86_virtualization) External links

An introduction to Virtualization (http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/virtualization/)
Source (http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights): Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia © 2001-2006 Wikipedia contributors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtualization?action=history) (Disclaimer (http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer))
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (http://www.reference.com/go/http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html).
View this article at Wikipedia.org (http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtualization) - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org (http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Virtualization&action=edit) - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation (http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikimediafoundation.org/fundraising)




Harvey




(http://www.reference.com/go/http://wikimediafoundation.org/fundraising)

[Guru]

Well it does not matter if its emulation or whatever it is.The main thing is, for freespire to be successful, requires the development community to be able to develop applications easily. (similar to visual studio tools) and a good development environment.

I was thinking of something like WINE, but i understand its limitations.

I guess the only other alternative is to move towards JAVA. Ok, can i run any java app?

[PGTips91]

Well it does not matter if its emulation or whatever it is.The main thing is, for freespire to be successful, requires the development community to be able to develop applications easily. (similar to visual studio tools) and a good development environment.

I was thinking of something like WINE, but i understand its limitations.

I guess the only other alternative is to move towards JAVA. Ok, can i run any java app?

WINE can be used to recompile Windows Apps to run under Linux, if you have the source code. It still needs WINE at runtime, but runs more reliably than as an .exe file.

CNR has REALbasic, a cross-platform development environment, similar to Visual Basic that Microsoft recently stopped supporting. Software developed using Visual Basic can, without too much effort be re-written to compile under REALbasic, I believe.

I think more needs to be done, but it is being worked on.

Paul

[Chris_medico_2001]

...Ok, can i run any java app?

Yes. And you can install NetBeans to develop new applications.

[CaptainTux]

I will chime in here. I do not want porting. I consider tols like CrossoverOffice to be decent band aids for people not ready to go native or conveniences for essential tools not available.

What I want to see is software companies to start making thier stuff available for Linuc as well as Windows and Mac. Give me Flash, give me quicktime, give me RealPlayer, give me codecs, give me QuickBooks, gime me SIMS2...give all of this and more...for Linux. Now the Windows version ported..give it to me for Linux.

[WarlockOmega]

I will chime in here. I do not want porting. I consider tols like CrossoverOffice to be decent band aids for people not ready to go native or conveniences for essential tools not available.

What I want to see is software companies to start making thier stuff available for Linuc as well as Windows and Mac. Give me Flash, give me quicktime, give me RealPlayer, give me codecs, give me QuickBooks, gime me SIMS2...give all of this and more...for Linux. Now the Windows version ported..give it to me for Linux.

Now that I will agree with! Its time we as people not sheep put our foot down and talk to ALL computer users to start boycotting companys that wont create versions of their software for all OS's.. point your friends to the free versions!

I will say I blew up my Free spire box.. I put my experiment HD (Linspire 5.0 V2 with Freespire repositories! ) in.. I have a copy of Xandros 4.. I put in the disk containing the Crossover office deb.. installed and ran flawlessly!.. We have hope yet! :)

Warlock :D

[deanlinkous]

I don't use wine, crossover, or cedega. If someone else wants to then I have no problem with that. But I am afraid it sends a bad message - why create for linux when you can create for windows and use it in linux via one of these methods. If I want windows apps then I use windows and when I use linux I want a linux app, period.

[CaptainTux]

I here what you are saying Dean. If I may play devil's advocate for a moment. I use crossover on my system. Mostly for current flash (grrrr), true quicktime, iTunes, and IE (some sites, ya just gotta have it.). Anytime I am using a commercial product through COO, I send the creators of the software the following letter.

Dear ______,

I am very impressed with your software. I particularly enjoy using ____________ for personal and home office use. It is a very robust software that meets my needs. I am currently running my licensed and purchased copy of __________ on my Linspire 5.0 OS. Linspire is a Linux Operating system. To use your software, I use a program called Crossover Office made by Codeweavers. I would love to use your product natively, but you have no Linux offering at this time. Should you produce a Linux version, I will use your product for years to come. However, if an alternative for Linux that meets my needs releases, I will switch to the native option.

I have already replaced MS Office with OpenOffice, Dreamweaver with NVU, QuickBooks, with Mybooks Pro, and Quicken with MoneyDance among others. I hope you will seriously consider offering your software to the growing number of desktop Linux users.

Sincerely,

Patrick

I usually receive more responses than no responses. What does it say?

It says I like what they make.
It says I am willing to pay for software (many companies think Linux users will not pay retail).
It says that if they do not give me a product, someone else will.
It says Linux is growing.

It send a message. Not many people write to say I am using a different product, I am ruunning this on a different platform, etc. We need to,.

[deanlinkous]

Nice! Good points too... I use to drop a line and let a company know that I would like to use their product but since it isn't offered for linux I won't be able to. I usually got an apology and not much else. Since then I have moved to free programs for practically everything and prefer the free programs anymore even if it is a bit more combersome. At least I no longer have to waste my time dropping a line. :) But you make a very good point and I do think it is a very good idea, the only question I have is whether anyone is listening? Of course, you could bring up xara to prove that some are listening. :)

[CaptainTux]

I do not know if they are listening to be honest. It depends on how many people are writing and doing so in a professional and courteous manner.

We are seeing adobe come around slowly, Macromedia seems to have split personalities on the matter, and a few others are working with us or at least dipping toes in the water.

[berfelferd]

Macromedia IS Adobe now, remember? Not sure WHERE this puts the Macromedia software, since Adobe is a murky something in the FOSS crystal ball I just checked.

[rmmoose]

Macromedia IS Adobe now, remember? Not sure WHERE this puts the Macromedia software, since Adobe is a murky something in the FOSS crystal ball I just checked.

:)SHOCKWAVE!!!:) One can only hope! :D

The whole Adobe and Macromedia thing happened quite some time ago. As long as I have Photoshop on a G5 I'm good to go.

-moose

[CaptainTux]

Oops. I done forgot about that.:o

[rmmoose]

I don't use wine, crossover, or cedega. If someone else wants to then I have no problem with that. But I am afraid it sends a bad message - why create for linux when you can create for windows and use it in linux via one of these methods. If I want windows apps then I use windows and when I use linux I want a linux app, period.

Why use MS Office on an Apple? Why use iTunes on Windows? Why use GIMP on Windows and/or Mac? Because we can! :D

-moose

[CaptainTux]

It is iTunes for Windows, MSOffice for Mac. They were created by the software makers to work natively on the other platform. Where is my iTunes for Linux?

[rmmoose]

It is iTunes for Windows, MSOffice for Mac. They were created by the software makers to work natively on the other platform. Where is my iTunes for Linux?
hmm... In a galaxy far, far away? :(

-moose

[chakkaradeep]

Hi all,

It is iTunes for Windows, MSOffice for Mac. They were created by the software makers to work natively on the other platform. Where is my iTunes for Linux?
We do have many apps for Windows atm like what Patrick has mentioned, but we have to think how did it happen. I feel the main reason is that Windows expanded itself in every part of the world,increased the piracy rate, people started using it, so came these applications and Microsoft silently supported these people to write apps native to Windows.

People are using Linux, but we dont have that capacity to pull these BIG people to write apps for Linux also. I hope all Linux companies like Linspire,RedHat,Novell have to speak with these Companies and guide them in developing applications for Linux. Just think how nice it would be to have Adobe Photoshop in Linux running natively ? :)

We have to do lot of work in order to accomplish these and I hope Linspire would guide..........:rolleyes:

[CaptainTux]

I feel that Freespire is a step in the right direction.

[andrewc22]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the application capabilities.

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.

Doubt there are plans to run windows apps on linux, that would be hard to do. But there are many compatable programs.No, you can't really run Windows apps, Freespire is linux based off of Unix (as is mac). However there are equivelants. For example, you can replace microsoft office with "open office" You can read .doc (microsoft word documents) others send you and such, and make them. Freespire comes with open office, so no need to download.
About yahoo messenger, also, use Freespire's AIM, should be on the toolbar by default. If not look under Launch > Internet. It should be in there, it will allow you to use Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and others. Yahoo and MSN dont really provide for linux downloads, i dont think. I know MSN does not for sure being that it's Microsoft.

[xonTAb]

Try Wine HQ. I have tried it on Ubuntu and Worked. It think it also work on freespire.
Download Link and Instructions :
http://www.winehq.org/site/download
Try Debian Binary...

[xonTAb]

I found an easier way how to install wine on Freespire than the one I posted earlier.
Click on Lanch Button, Select Run Program, Utilities, CNR More and Click on Wine. The CNR Program will be openned and from there you can download Wine with CNR for free.
http://wiki.freespire.org/images/5/52/Wine.jpg

[PGTips91]

And did WINE require any configuration once installed?

How do you start an exe in WINE?

Is this information posted somewhere on the Linspire/Freespire sites?

Paul

[thibeaz]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the application capabilities.

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.
well for one thing you can install wine (which is free). go to http://www.winehq.com. You can also get a thirdparty commercial wine apllication called Crossover Office.

[seakryan]

And did WINE require any configuration once installed?

How do you start an exe in WINE?

Is this information posted somewhere on the Linspire/Freespire sites?

Paul
I'm not sure if it is configurable or not. I do know that when I have WINE install - All I need to do is stick a MS office suite install disk and it autommatically starts up.

[Ray2047]

People are using Linux, but we don't have that capacity to pull these BIG people to write apps for Linux also. I hope all Linux companies like Linspire,RedHat,Novell have to speak with these Companies and guide them in developing applications for Linux. Just think how nice it would be to have Adobe Photoshop in Linux running natively ? :)

We have to do lot of work in order to accomplish these and I hope Linspire would guide..........:rolleyes: You know if a Linux company like Linspire was willing to underwrite the development of Linux versions of killer Windows programs it just might happen. I wonder if that could be the big news on the Wiki page?

[Sotek]

Personally, the big program I would love to see running natively in Linux is AutoCAD. This program is deployed massively throughout Architect/Engineering offices throughout the world, and from what I have seen is stopping alot of companies from switching to Linux. They NEED AutoCAD for their business and it will not run through WINE, CEDEGA, COO or any similar app, at least none of the versions for the last 5-6 years or so.

[powerbits]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the application capabilities.

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.

There is the amsn you can install

[Elbato]

There is the amsn you can install

I would suggest Mercury messenger is much more stable and is in the CNR warehouse

[peterwilli]

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.

how easy it is to install messengers like yahoo etc.. and make full use of the

I tried the linspire, but was unable to install yahoo or any other messenger. I had to use the inbuilt messenger in linspire.
hi
yes its possible:) you can use wine (www.winehq.com)

[Dr.Jones]

yes its possible:) you can use wine (www.winehq.com (http://www.winehq.com))Note: While wine is a worthwhile project the success in Windows applications is spotty at best (better success at using an actual Windows environment application)...

[XDark_FenixX]

might wanna add parallels to the emulation list, it appears to be the fastest for me

[zaweds]

Personally I would love to switch over to some form of Linux, don't care which one. But there is 1 thing holding me back. I expect to be able to do all that I want to do with my computer. Office app, OpenOffice already use it, on XP. Image editor, GIMP already use it, on XP. Internet browser, well I think more and more people are figuring out that FireFox is better than IE. The one area that this "play nice" vibe falls apart at is games. I know that there ARE games for Linux, and that some Windows games WILL run in Linux, but quite honestly these games suck, or are just old. I like playing the newest free2play MMO or the latest FPS. Untill these are the type of games that I can play on my computer I WILL NOT switch to Linux! Yes I know that there are programs out there like Cedega and what it's based on WINE, but Cedega's out of the box compatiblity is sad. Although WINE may be the better way to go, I'm not a programmer and I have no intention of fiddleing with whatever to get my game to play in Linux.

The way I see it there are 2 solutions:
1) Make a program that makes any software written for Windows work in Linux, no tinkering no fuss, at the most an update within the 1st month of it being released. But since I keep reading that this may be an impossible thing to do then here's #2

2) Get companies to code things, apps, games, drivers, etc. as OS independant. Then at the final stage compile them for the different OSs but if there going to be proprietary then it would have to be for ALL the OSs and if it's OpenSource then compile it for the MAJOR OSs, Mac, Windows, and since I'm brand new fresh to linux and don't really know how the different distros work, just leave it in it's OpenSource code for specific distros to compile. Which again not being a programmer seems like the more likely way it will happen from what I've read.

#2 would definaly be my choice that way we would truely have the freedom to choose.

Personally I feel trapped, I want Linux, but I want my games, and lets face it dual booting is a pain in the rear. Honestly why switch back and forth between OSs when 1 OS WILL do everything I want it to do, it's just unfortunate that it happens to be XP.

[PGTips91]

Personally I feel trapped, I want Linux, but I want my games, and lets face it dual booting is a pain in the rear. Honestly why switch back and forth between OSs when 1 OS WILL do everything I want it to do, it's just unfortunate that it happens to be XP.
Hi zaweds,

I sympathise with your frustration. The unfortunate situation is that the 'elephant in the living room' in this scenario does not want to play fair. They want to keep their monopoly on the desktop, and the money that goes with that, all to themselves. ActiveX, with all the security vulnerabilities that go with it, is part of their strategy. As far as I know, Linux does not have anything that can replace ActiveX and most open-source projects would not want to introduce that kind of vulnerability either.

One open source project that aims to do a re-implementation of the Windows API is ReactOS and when that is functional it will allow anyone to run applications that were originally written for MS Windows without having to have that OS, or a licence, to do so.

Whether that will allow some ActiveX-like code to be written which will allow the running of games I do not know. However I do know that without something like this, gamers will be locked into MS Windows for the foreseeable future.

Paul

PS See this article on the Microsoft vs Linux competition model. (http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/4834.html)
Q: From your modelling, what can Microsoft do strategically to remain competitive against a product that is argued to be of better quality, is updated more frequently, and is free?
A: A few actions that the model suggests Microsoft could do to remain competitive are:
Increase its own demand-side learning.
Listen to the demands of the user community to better exploit the benefits of demand-side learning. Microsoft must facilitate communication between the user base and the company to have prompt feedback on the performance of its products.
Make an effort to incorporate improvements in the code (fix bugs and introduce new features) as soon as possible.
Reward those who propose improvements for the code. At the very least, Microsoft could publicly acknowledge those who proposed new features or discovered bugs.
Feed its direct and indirect network effects.
Support as much as possible the independent software vendor community so that the quantity and quality of complements is substantially above that of Linux.
Encourage competition between the different ISVs. The lower the prices of applications, the more appealing the Microsoft system will be.
Price discriminate. Give Windows and applications away to schools and universities so that users build their file libraries on Microsoft, not Linux.
Minimize the number of strategic buyers.
Let governments access the source code and give guarantees that sensitive data is treated confidentially.
Price discriminate. Give binary away to organizations and individuals who are not willing to spend money on Windows but who would be willing to use Linux because it is free.
Reduce costs to be able to sustain long periods of time with low prices.
Decrease Linux's demand-side learning.
Because the way to do this involves some questionable (from a legal point of view) actions, we will refrain from suggesting specifics.
Lessen Linux's direct and indirect network effects.
Make it as hard as possible for Windows applications to work on Linux.
Same for MS Office documents.
"Promote" Linux's code forking.
Infuse fear, uncertainty, and doubt into the Linux user community. For this to work, the statements must be perceived as credible. Credibility requires some past FUD announcements to be realized.

[seeker5528]

The way I see it there are 2 solutions:
1) Make a program that makes any software written for Windows work in Linux, no tinkering no fuss, at the most an update within the 1st month of it being released. But since I keep reading that this may be an impossible thing to do then here's #2

Windows doesn't even do this, in particular with games. Short term Cedega will probably be the better solution for gaming. Long term I expect Wine to be better since it has a more general approach and also because some parts of Wine are used in ReactOS so there is some shared development and testing there.


2) Get companies to code things, apps, games, drivers, etc. as OS independant. Then at the final stage compile them for the different OSs but if there going to be proprietary then it would have to be for ALL the OSs and if it's OpenSource then compile it for the MAJOR OSs, Mac, Windows, and since I'm brand new fresh to linux and don't really know how the different distros work, just leave it in it's OpenSource code for specific distros to compile. Which again not being a programmer seems like the more likely way it will happen from what I've read.


I don't see this happening with drivers, too much that is specific to the OS.

The thing you describe would be the Holy Grail of development.

1. There are standardization efforts attempting to make Linux easier for developers to target, that's what the LSB is about.

2. There needs to be more ports of open source applications that run on Linux, Mac, and Windows. And efforts in getting developers that only use Mac or only use Windows to contribute and help maintain the ports, not only of the applications but also the libraries and development tools needed to build the applications.

3. There needs to be some effort to make Linux the development platform of choice so developers develop on Linux then test on Windows and Mac.

You would think games would be something that would benefit from open source by having open source engines and selling the content (maps, skins, music, etc...) which make up the large part of the interest in the games. I think the cut throat nature of the gaming industry will make it hard to break the cycle where you have the gaming companies that create the engines and don't have a vested interest in cutting off the revenue they get from licensing the engines to other companies and the companies that license those engines don't want to take a chance on open source alternatives. You have Garage Games and some others working on the situation, but I don't really see a big break through on the Linux gaming front in the foreseeable future. As Linux desktop usage grows and open source in general becomes more popular the gaming situation will get better, but I expect it will be a gradual thing.

Later, Seeker

[DrHu]

Why are people such dupes!
People use windows or MACs because advertising works in some ineffable manner. People respond to..
Emotions ...why advertising works
Cliches ...logical fallacies, eg Better get it before its gone
Blackmail ..Sale! Sale Sale, New New New, Better Better best
Spin ..If Linux was any good why arn't more people using it


And a long list of FUD, overwhelming payola (locking down oems, vendor support, secret deals, secret discounts).

If people, in general did not operate out of mindlessness, but instead considered evidence for or against something, then maybe phenonema like Intelligent design, conspiracy theories about the moon landing, poltiical media bites (which have been reduced from maybe the 2-5mins previously to 10second snapshots, and mid-sentance cut-outs, to show some point however nebulous)
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/16/mindlessness.html

Get over being a duffus!, Dude ?
"Dude, Where's my car !"

If only...people would ask real questions?
What's so special about the next office suite that I have to fork over the cash money to buy it
What does a MAC do that a PC can't. What does a PC do that a MAC can't
Why do I need a new computer every year
Why do I need a new car, every 2 years
Why does a movie dvd cost so much , why isn't it cheaper than a VCR tape (the manufacturing plants already have the technology for cd music production. What changed that made dvd so expensive
Why do transnational companies (eg usa companies) think it is ok to pay exorbitant compensation (mostly untaxed) to executives while deploying their factories to the cheap-labour parts of the world (3rd world countries). Why unless it is inbuilt do they think they can get away with that


The list of questions can go on and on and on, and not just in technology matters. But where are the answers, and we could stick with technology only
--why is the American programmer an extinct species (or almost extinct). Is it because of non-national (ie, trans-national companies), which scour the planet looking for the cheapest deals?

Am I missing some explanation as to why
--someone is bound to cliche me! with "Why not!"

Does anyone think anyone is really independent on this earth or are we all in it together in some manner? Can I just try and take care of my turf and "No worry" about anyone or anything else

Is it possible to run applications developed for windows 98 / nt / xp? If not is this something which is scheduled for future?

Im very new to freespire, but quite excited. Im fed up with MS policies. I feel the success of freespire depends a lot on these factors.
Wha!! aboot windows, Ma!
Now, Aboot that question "Why can't I use my windows application on Linux"
--let's be clear, if you need windows: stick with windows
There is some accomodations being made, but complete capitulation to the desire to just use windows apps is not desirable in any way or even possible

[Dr.Jones]

Personally I feel trapped, I want Linux, but I want my games, and lets face it dual booting is a pain in the rear. Honestly why switch back and forth between OSs when 1 OS WILL do everything I want it to do, it's just unfortunate that it happens to be XP.But will you move to Vista (then Vienna (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vienna) or whatever) when the next update to your favorite game will only work on that configuration??? Contact vendors and tell them you use Linux and desire to play their games on that platform; if enough request support it will come...

[wizardks]

But will you move to Vista (then Vienna (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vienna) or whatever) when the next update to your favorite game will only work on that configuration??? Contact vendors and tell them you use Linux and desire to play their games on that platform; if enough request support it will come...
If they built cars as efficently as they do computers - they would cost $25.00
If cars ran as efficently as computers - they would get 1000mpg
But would they crash often required a total reboot?

Just being sarcastic this morning - I run Linux of one flavor or another on most of my machines. Windows on one for the things I can only do in XP. Gaming was never my thing, have PS2 for that. But I have noticed that gaming has slowly been moving online. So maybe games will soon be a non-issue.

I just migrated to FreeSP from FEdora, got tired of tryin to get Fedora box to see networked computers/shares. ANd the buggy upgrades are a real pain. Everything worked right off the bat. Except Firefox seems to have developed a bug. Tabs lockin up, that's a real pain as I am trying to get Apache and php to work and I'm constantly having to deal with fox lockups. However, being a free OS I can't really complain about bugs, or having to really work at getting things to run.

What can Linux do that Winblows can't?
I have a presario 715us laptop 384m ram cd-r/rw dvd-rom combo drive. From day one that thing never did write cd's well (about 70% of the time it would exit with an error). Playing dvd's was less than ok. Spent days and $$$ trying to get it to work well.

A week ago I installed Ubuntu on it. And what do you know almost everything works. Except for the 4-way scroll buttons below the touchpad that is. Haven't tried the modem yet, never worked all the time in windows, Ubuntu recognized it though. I am impressed, to think all these years and now it simply works.

I do have to add - I am impressed with FreeSP, if I can get the bug with Fox fixed I may stay. If not I may have to go to Ubuntu since I use this computer to develop/maintain web sites. Ubuntu installer never boots into the liveCD on this machine! Thanks for that, as I now have the chance to really check out FreeSP. I have a thread going relating to the Fox lockup, as well as one concerning a real time log monitoring program.

Sorry if I got off topic - I just had to rant a bit

Best of the holidays to all

[zaweds]

the quick answer is NO I will not be "upgrading" to Vista. I am a beta tester of Vista and I personally do not see any reason to "upgrade" honestly Vista is THE most annoying OS ever, the only way they could make it secure is to have an OS pop-up everytime you want to do something to make sure that you actually want to do something instead of it being spyware/malware that can't reply to these pop-ups (YET)

Infact even though I have Vista RC1 I don't use it and when it comes down to it if there is ever an absolute need to switch from XP it WILL be to Linux