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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
Figured I’d start a list of programs that might be able to replace Windows programs.
Publisher – Scribus
Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) – OpenOffice/LibreOffice
Outlook – Evolution
Visio – DIA
Project – ProjectLibre
PhotoShop – GIMP
Media Center – Kodi
I’ve been looking for a Linux version of Publisher. I use Publisher regularly, so I’m going to check out Scribus.
I haven’t found Libre Office to be 100% compatible with Microsoft Office. Generally Word documents do better than Excel spreadsheets in Libre Office. What I’d really like is WordPerfect for Linux, but Corel stopped development on that a very long time ago. Bummer, because WordPerfect was my favorite word processor of all time.
In Linux, I use Thunderbird for my email. But I would prefer to use Outlook. I’ll have to check out Evolution.
Still trying to figure out how to use Gimp. There are probably some good YouTube videos for it.
As far as antivirus, I use Sophos for Linux. I saw a review on Linux A/V programs, and Sophos rated very highly. I had to use “command prompt” (Terminal) to install it, but as far as I know, it automatically updates and runs in the background all the time. On occasion I see a message that it caught some malware.
Thank you for publishing this information.
Jim
(it looks like I lost my post while editing to clean up the code blocks, here it is again)
@Capella, I’ve been using linux for five years. I used Kubuntu for about four years, currently running Manjaro, both with the KDE DE. When I was on Windows I used Faststone image viewer.
In linux I use Gwenview, the KDE image viewer. It does everything I need and I haven’t missed Faststone. If your DE isn’t KDE it looks like Gwenview will drag in some KDE dependencies.
rick@manjaro1:~$ pacman -Si gwenview
Repository : extra
Name : gwenview
Version : 16.12.1-1
Description : A fast and easy to use image viewer for KDE
Architecture : x86_64
URL : http://kde.org/applications/graphics/gwenview/
Licenses : GPL LGPL FDL
Groups : kde-applications kdegraphics
Provides : None
Depends On : kactivities baloo kdelibs4support libkipi libkdcraw
Optional Deps : qt5-imageformats: support for tiff, webp, and more image formats
kimageformats: support for dds, xcf, exr, psd, and more image formats
kipi-plugins: export to various online services
Conflicts With : kdegraphics-gwenview
Replaces : kdegraphics-gwenview
Download Size : 2.77 MiB
Installed Size : 4.43 MiB
Packager : Antonio Rojas <arojas@archlinux.org>
Build Date : Wed 11 Jan 2017 07:06:45 PM CST
Another one to check out is XnView/XnViewMP. If you’re using one of the ‘buntus XnView is available from a PPA. I used XnView when I was on Kubuntu, it wasn’t available from a PPA at the time so I installed it from a deb file. I didn’t use it enough to justify the hassle of keeping it up to date.
I also use GIMP but I’ve only scratched the surface of its capabilities.
I also don’t use an use anti-virus program in linux.
@Rick_m A first post by any new user always requires moderation, so won’t be published until it has been reviewed by a human 
I received an email from the company called CROSSOVER which is similar to Wine…… in being able to use windows programmes (well some of them) in Linux. Thought to share this as they are
having a sale/rebate 40% off. I did try it out orginally (free) but found it difficult and gave up……. perhaps if someone else had a try and tell us if it’s any good or not. LT
I received an email from the company called CROSSOVER which is similar to Wine…… in being able to use windows programmes (well some of them) in Linux. Thought to share this as they are
having a sale/rebate 40% off. I did try it out orginally (free) but found it difficult and gave up……. perhaps if someone else had a try and tell us if it’s any good or not. LT
The Codeweavers Crossover is a commercially packaged and supported version of Wine.
You mention that you tested the free trial. I have not, but I spent some time trying to configure Wine with the free resoureces and came away scratching my head.
What exactly is the Wine project?
https://www.codeweavers.com/about/support-wine
Will it run?
https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/search#advanced
In my opinion there are still a lot of gaps, making it a hit or miss that your particular app is supported.
Bottom line, it’s probably going to be less frustrating to leave Windows apps behind, if you can. There are some great free applications written by the open source community, that can replace many, but not all Windows apps. I love Libre Office and Thunderbird. GIMP is a useful alternative to commercial photo editors. But I have invested in some software that only runs on Windows.
Otherwise you can dual boot, run 2 computers, or install a VM host such as Virtualbox or VMWare. In my recent experience with modern PC’s using hardware virtualization, using VM’s is a lot easier and more practical than dual booting. Performance is great, if you have plenty of RAM.
I have VM’s set up on my Windows PC to run Linux, and on my Linux PC to run Windows. The coolest thing is that once you have it working you can open up a seamless application window from your guest VM right onto your host desktop. Let’s say you were on your Linux host desktop, and wanted to run Microsoft Word. Just launch the Windows VM, open Word, and switch to seamless view. Now you have your Linux desktop showing with a window of the Word app right there. You can use both systems at the same time!
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
On a similar note, check out Qubes OS https://www.qubes-os.org/ –
It runs all apps in virtual containers including Windows apps.
Interesting concept … this is a type 1 “bare metal” hypervisor, compared to the type 2 VirtualBox or VMWare that run on an OS.
“Installing and using Windows-based AppVMs
Qubes provides special support for running Windows-based AppVMs. This requires the user to install Windows 7 x64 in a Qubes VM and subsequently install Qubes Windows Tools inside the VM (support for Windows 8+ is in development).
NOTE: Currently only 64-bit versions of Windows 7 are supported by Qubes Windows Tools.”
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
I installed Qubes on a separate hard drive on my computer. Once I have made progress with installing Windows 7 and other VMs in Qube, and see how it goes, I plan on posting a separate topic for it.
Just an initial comment: According to what I have read, Qubes allows you to install various OSs, each in their own “sandbox” or VM. Also, you can open up a “disposable” browser window, which means that not only is the browser session in a sandbox, but it all disappears when you close the browser window. Firefox comes with Qubes, so you can surf the web immediately after installing Qubes.
Update: I have tried to set up Qubes, but I just can’t figure it out. I’m sure it works well, but I don’t have the time or the patience to figure it out. So I wiped the drive and installed Xubuntu Linux. I really like Xubuntu. Not only is it light and fast, but it comes with a lot of software already installed or very easy to install. And the interface looks a lot like Windows (although it isn’t exactly the same).
Surfing the web with Opera, in a Xubuntu environment, is fast.
Now that you have a Linux host you like, try playing around with VirtualBox (my favorite), or VMWare Player.
You can easily create a VM with any ISO disk installer, Windows, Linux, etc.
There are even some pre-rolled VM appliances that you can download and run, allowing you to skip the OS install part.
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/
Test Microsoft Edge and versions of IE8 through IE11 using free virtual machines you download and manage locally.
Please note that these virtual machines expire after 90 days. We recommend setting a snapshot when you first install the virtual machine which you can roll back to later.
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
Right now they are offering free VM copies of Windows 7, 8.1, & 10. Time limited to 90 days, but you can set a snapshot to roll back after 90 days
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
I assume yes to the first question.
I dunno to the second. I think every OS needs a time of day clock to function. Periodically resetting it is no big deal.
With virtualization, I’m not sure how the clock is presented to a guest VM. I also have never noticed any options regarding that in the configuration panels in VirtualBox or VMWare.
The VirtualBox community is a good place to post technical questions:
https://forums.virtualbox.org/
Documentation and tutorials here:
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
I use VirtualBox, and find that the shared folders feature works well between a host OS and the guest.
For example, on my Windows 10 PC, I have a Windows XP VM running some old graphics software that will not install or run in Win 10. If I need to work in the old software, I just copy the file I want to work with into a shared folder from Win 10 (just an ordinary folder that has been defined as shared in the Virtualbox setup), and open the VM. Then windows XP sees the shared folders as virtual network drives (external networking via a network adapter not required). Good to go!
If you want to enable networking in the guest, another cool thing about Virtualbox is the way that the network adapter can be configured in the guest. By using “Bridged Adapter” mode instead of NAT, the physical host network adapter is accessed directly, so the guest VM appears as another unique network device on your LAN, rather than appearing as another subnet via NAT behind your host address.
Geek stuff: https://blogs.oracle.com/fatbloke/entry/networking_in_virtualbox1
The RTFM stuff
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
From the latest Its F.O.S.S. Linux newsletter.
20+ Free eBooks To Learn Linux For Free
https://itsfoss.com/learn-linux-for-free/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20_free_ebooks_to_learn_linux&utm_term=2017-02-18
See also post #90354 It’s FOSS-All we ‘Need to Know’ about Linux
If you like and need Microsoft applications, then I think you will be much happier running Windows 7 as a VM in your Linux system.
There are some really good open source apps in Linux, but they are not going to be exact 1 for 1 replacements for commercial software. Some are even a little bit buggy, or perpetual betas, because the developers are mostly volunteers working for free in their spare time.
But some open source apps are remarkably good. I even use LibreOffice on my Windows PC’s, and do not own a current copy of MS Office. Gimp is great for photo editing, but it will never replace Photoshop, but it can still do much of it. If you are working independently it may not matter, but if you are part of a team and need to exchange files, you probably need to be running the same apps as your team for file format compatibility.
Like with the Chrome OS, the Linux apps are perfect if you live most of your life online, and can leverage your browser, or use cloud apps only. If you are a developer, I think you will find that there are many free programming tools (IDE’s) available in Linux, well as some cool educational apps.
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
Thanks, John.
I plan on installing a Windows 7 VM in my Linux system soon. I’ll then take my time and get everything working well in the Windows VM.
For now, I dual boot to Windows 7 when I need to go there. Since all my documents are on a separate hard drive, I can get to them whether I’m in Windows or in Linux.
At some point, I’ll be able to abandon my dual-boot Windows altogether, staying only with the VM Windows.
Gimp will be fine for me. The only graphics program I ever use is Paint; and I’m sure that Gimp can do everything that Paint does, and more.
Linux is a much more peaceful experience than Windows these days. I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering what Microsoft will do next.
Jim
Dual booting is a pain, been there, done that!!!
I like using a VM because I have both systems, apps, and files accessible at the same time, from the same desktop.
The shared folders, bi-directional drag and drop (clipboard), and seamless windows make it a whole new experience. https://www.howtogeek.com/171145/use-virtualboxs-seamless-mode-or-vmwares-unity-mode-to-seamlessly-run-programs-from-a-virtual-machine/
Using shared folders is like having a separate hard drive. You designate normal folder(s) for this use on the host OS VM app, then the guest VM sees them as networked drives. Read and write both ways as you wish, or read only.
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
Just starting to experiment with VirtualBox, so thanks for the practical (and reassuring) info!
Dual booting is a pain, been there, done that!!!
However, quintuple booting is a BLAST – for playtime on a “goofing with distros” spare machine. (Lubuntu, SparkyLinux w/ LXQT, MX-16, BoBuntu, & the box’s original Vista installation.)
@MrJimPhelps, I’m exploring making the switch from Windows to Linux (Kubuntu) and was looking into using Sophos as the AV solution. However, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw in the Sophos EULA that I would be agreeing, upon their request, to “self-audit” for the number of computers “benefiting from the Products.” And if they don’t like what I tell them, then I’m also agreeing to permit them to send an accountant into my home (the “Licensee’s premises”) to inspect my compliance with the license terms, “at any time during normal business hours.” I looked everywhere in the EULA and there is NO exception made for software provided free of charge.
IMO, this is one database error away from my having to let them in and poke around my equipment and files. Unacceptable!!!
Cybertooth (have posted in AskWoody before but haven’t yet registered for the new forum)
I’ve never used FastStone but from the screenshots it looks like DigiKam.
Cybertooth:
Thanks for your reply.
I’m not worried about Sophos visiting my house. I’m just a little guy, and it won’t even be worth their while to try to get anything out of me.
If I was a medium to large organization, then I might be worried.
Yeah, they could, but I doubt they will.
Jim
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