Idea
#54: Make WINE a part of the default install
|
| |
-271
|
|
|
Written by darth_indy the 28 Feb 08 at 15:48.
Category: System.
Related to:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
|
|
|
Description
So many people have Windows programs as the only thing keeping them from making a full transition from Windows to Linux. Perhaps it would be possible to make WINE a part of the Ubuntu install, so newbies could still use many of their Windows programs? Perhaps the first time they click on an EXE a window would pop up, saying that it'll run in WINE and may not work (as WINE is not quite perfect - yet anyways).
Attachments
No attachments.
Duplicates
Comments
|
vintik wrote on the 28 Feb 08 at 16:02
|
I'm going to downvote this, but I'll explain why:
Adding wine creates a bad experience. A lot of times, it will not work. Even when it does, it looks terribly ugly and doesn't integrate in the least. Furthermore, wine applications are separate from Ubuntu's package management, and it is confusing to have different official ways to install applications.
I think wine users should be well aware that what they're doing is absolutely not supported by Ubuntu.
|
|
LindomarOliveira wrote on the 28 Feb 08 at 18:27
|
I Up voted:
Some simple software is able to run in wine, and the list is growing, It's good if the user can put a simple CDROM and execute some simple software that come with a book or something else.
|
|
darth_indy wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 00:27
|
@vintik: You have an excellent point in that WINE is not really for the newbie. But I was thinking along the lines of, say, I installed Ubuntu for my mom, and if she wanted to run this small Windows program on it. Instead of me having to go well out of my way to come to her and download and install WINE, she could just click, no problems. Yes, that was my fault for not installing it when I first installed Ubuntu, but I didn't think she'd need it.
I'm not thinking of this in terms of advanced software like Photoshop or Dreamweaver (though those do work) - More along the lines of a small program like a newbie would often use.
|
|
some_random_noob wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 02:34
| |
Not only is it hard, but we also want to try and stick with native applications instead of emulating everything. It's a good habit.
|
|
bntuuu wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 17:50
|
I wouldn't be too quick to advocate a purist approach in regards to applications.
Virtualization and emulation are here to stay. It makes sense to follow this trend instead of disenfranchising future converts.
Up vote.
|
|
darth_indy wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 05:33
|
@some_random_noob - while this is a great approach for advanced users, familiarity is key for new users. If they can't use their old programs, they'll balk at switching. Soone or later -probably sooner - they'll discover native programs that work as well or better than the old.
I started out myself with a lot of old Windows programs I "absolutely could not live without" and have now replaced with native programs, the only exceptions being Dreamweaver Studio and Photoshop, both of which work in WINE.
|
|
zooounds wrote on the 13 Mar 08 at 19:18
| |
I think that the Hardy approach (install wine when clicked on a exe-file and user approves) is good. -1
|
|
steampoweredlawngnome wrote on the 20 Aug 08 at 21:27
|
The problem with including Wine in the default installation is it can set the wrong expectation, both for users and for developers. A very prominent example of this is OS/2. IBM included full (16-bit) Windows compatibility in OS/2 "blue spine" versions, from 2.0 onwards. Users loved it, but developers realized that there was no point in spending the time and money to make use of OS/2's 32-bit architecture, multithreading and Workplace Shell integration, when their Windows port would work anyway. This led to a void of native 32-bit OS/2 programs, and for many peole OS/2 became just a fancy way to run Windows apps.
It's nice knowing Wine is available if you need it, but I don't think developers should be able to rely on it being installed.
Also, we don't want Linux getting a reputation for being a cheap Windows knockoff. It's not, it's an entirely different entity that just happens to have decent Windows app support should the need arise. The last thing we (the FOSS community) need is a bunch of people installing Ubuntu and being pissed off because MSN Messenger doesn't work and they "shouldn't have to" use Pidgin, AMSN or eMeSeNe.
|
Post your comment
|
|
|
