Idea #999: Windows software compatibility

-48

Written by PrimeFactor the 29 Feb 08 at 05:59. Category: System.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New

Description

I love Ubuntu. I think it's a superior, reliable, efficient operating system.

But the biggest reason I don't run it all that often? Software availability - there are too many packages that I depend upon in winXP that I can't (reasonably easily) run in Ubuntu. Photoshop. Some games. Etc. I know there are analogs of many of these in Linux, but we may need the real thing. I don't see too many photo tutorials for the GIMP vs. Photoshop, for example.

If we want Ubuntu to gain wide acceptance we need better commercial software availability. I see two possible answers; I'm not sure whether either of them are specifically about the *core OS*:

- Work with major SW manufacturers to make Ubuntu/Linux versions. Games, photoshop, etc. Now that Dell sells Ubuntu, we need to get the SW end mobilized to gain OS acceptance.
- A better emulator than WINE. Sorry, it's too hard to use and I should be able to install a Windows SW package in Ubuntu in some virtual layer just like its running XP - but without an XP license.

The OS is pretty damn good as it is. Get the SW availability up and you've got major momentum for its adoption.

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Comments

Remmy wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 06:05

Ubuntu isn't windows though. That's the problem. The truth is that there are incredible alternatives that get looked over because people are too set in their ways to learn something new, yet they say they want to use a Linux distribution. Then use a Linux distribution and stop relying on another system's software.

Windows software was not meant to be run in Linux. It's not Canonical responsibility to support Windows applications. It's not Canonical responsibility to get Software developers to consider Linux. It's ours. We have to convince them by USING Linux, leaving Windows behind and showing them that there sales are suffering because of it.

smenjas wrote on the 29 Feb 08 at 06:25

Remmy is right.

Also, the Wine project is already working hard to provide exactly what you're asking for.

Most importantly, however, public acceptance of Linux needs to happen over time. If Ubuntu could run all Windows apps today, you would see a huge migration, and along with that a bunch of people doing everything they could to exploit the open source community. Right now most Ubuntu users have a basic level of technical know how, and are willing to contribute their time and effort to making Linux worthwhile. If you fill all the technical gaps with closed-source solutions, you remove much of the motivation that makes open source work.

lucas-net-pl wrote on the 1 Mar 08 at 22:56

GIMP is very great app but don't wor in other color spaces ther RGB - and thet is reson to nees PS

peterjs wrote on the 2 Mar 08 at 02:03

And just where do you purpose to find this better than wine emulator? Wine is written by some very clever people that have been working on it for a long time, they're even funded by google. How is starting over going to make things better?

gabtrat wrote on the 7 Mar 08 at 05:42

Technically Wine isn't an emulator. It's a compatibility layer. (WINE = Wine Is Not an Emulator).

I love Wine. It's a great solution to help those of us dependent on Windows apps until Linux development gains ground.

tbrminsanity wrote on the 24 Mar 08 at 19:41

You may want to look into different VM software as well. I know that VM tends to be slow but it does work for programs like Quick Tax where speed is not an issue.

aebmyasz wrote on the 10 Jun 08 at 17:18

"-1"
* English:
I think that people who want Windows, staying on Windows, there are many free alternatives Linux and still makes the effort to create Wine and give support to Windows.

* Spanish:
Considero que las personas que deseen Windows, se queden en Windows, existen muchas alternativas libres en Linux y aún así se hace el esfuerzo por crear Wine y darle soporte a Windows.

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