Linux/Redhat - your input if I should switch to them

[Engel-07]

I would like to start using Linux/Redhat. What's your experience? What kind of software do they have that is equivalent to Microsoft Office and browser?

[OldFatGuy]

I use Fedora Core 3, which is basically Red Hat without the support (but it's free). It comes with Open Office, which is a pretty decent Office suite that's Microsoft Office compatible and Firefox, which is way better than Internet Exploder anyway.

If you've never used Linux/Unix before, the learning curve is pretty steep. But installing programs and keeping your system updated is much, much easier than it used to be. You should probably try it out first on a different partition/hard drive/machine to see if you like it before you dump Windows completely. You can easily set up a dual-boot system with Windows if you want.

[Engel-07]

thanks for the info....I have been using Unix for awhile, but just wondering more on the application that is supported for Linux.

Originally posted by OldFatGuy
I use Fedora Core 3, which is basically Red Hat without the support (but it's free). It comes with Open Office, which is a pretty decent Office suite that's Microsoft Office compatible and Firefox, which is way better than Internet Exploder anyway.

If you've never used Linux/Unix before, the learning curve is pretty steep. But installing programs and keeping your system updated is much, much easier than it used to be. You should probably try it out first on a different partition/hard drive/machine to see if you like it before you dump Windows completely. You can easily set up a dual-boot system with Windows if you want.

[OldFatGuy]

Cool. I think you'll be happy then. If you don't already have the install CD's, you can download them here. (http://linuxiso.org)

[assnelbo]

As stated, it comes with OpenOffice. I use it for basic word processing, and it seems to work well with Word files. I haven't done much with the other apps, but there is a decent looking spreadsheet application there that I've played around with a little bit.

For a web browser, I recommend firefox for both XP and Linux based systems. I think RH9 and FC2 and 3 come with Mozilla.

If you want to use Microsoft Office under linux, there is a commercial release of WINE which allegedly runs them perfectly. I don't remember the name of it, but you can likely find a link by searhcing for WINE + Microsoft Office. You can download WINE for free, and get a lot of WIndows Apps to work, but I haven't tried Microsoft Office, and from what I hear, it will take some work to get it to run without buying the special version...

[OldFatGuy]

FC3 comes with Firefox. :thumbup

[gabemg]

Fedora Core is a decent desktop package. If you have experience keeping your system updated then there really should be no problem. The commerical program that runs Office via WINE is Crossover Office by Codeweavers. www.codeweavers.com/site/products
Crossover Office also has support for running other apps such as Dreamweaver in Linux as well.

[weak_link]

lycoris is pretty user friendly and come bundled w/ o.o. and firefox as well, i believe. and it's pur-ty like xp. :teeth

[girish]

Originally posted by gabemg
The commerical program that runs Office via WINE is Crossover Office by Codeweavers. www.codeweavers.com/site/products
Crossover Office also has support for running other apps such as Dreamweaver in Linux as well.

Not to well however, there are so many UI clicks and creeks, atleast in the version I have. The latest version might be a bit better.

[zefflyn]

The WINE website also has a lot of tips and tricks for getting Windows apps to run on Linux.

RedHat rocks! I'm bummed I can't get it running properly on my cutting-edge Dell laptop, though :(

[assnelbo]

Originally posted by zefflyn
The WINE website also has a lot of tips and tricks for getting Windows apps to run on Linux.

RedHat rocks! I'm bummed I can't get it running properly on my cutting-edge Dell laptop, though :(

What is the problem? Maybe someone here can help...