Windown Linux program equivalencies [WAS Help, I know nothing about LInux!]

[xaccessxdeniedx]

Hello, noob here. I am looking into trying Linux out for the first time and have a couple questions. First, is Linux considered PC? and by that I mean if I buy a piece of software like Photoshop or something can I install it using the PC version or do I have to have a special Linux version like Mac users do? I have many programs that I use on a daily basis and really can't do without. I just don't want to have to buy all new progs just because Linux is unsupported. Second, I am coming from a Windows XP environment (I am fluent in 3.X on up and DOS, I am Microsoft Certified so you can all heckle me if you like lol) and want to know how easy Linux is to use for your everyday operations like internet, gaming, word processing. I know Linux can be flexable and you can fine tune it but I don't care to sit at a command prompt all day either to type a letter. I'm just looking for a comparison of Linux to Windows on a general scale. I am fairly sure my hardware is compatable with most Linux versions also. What would you suggest as the best overall "my-first-Linux" distribution? Any help or nudges in the right direction are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[je_fro]

Welcome aboard...please use a descriptive Subject line in the future. We already know you're a clueless n00b, no need to put it in the Subject :D
</ruthless_ribbing>

Anyway, give up the MS way of thinking. There are all new programs to use, many of which work better that their counterparts. Have a look here:
http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

[GliderMike]

Welcome x,

You are bound to receive many replies to this but I'll kick it off:

By "PC" programs you are meaning Windows programs. Windows programs will not natively run on Linux as they are, well, written for Windows not Linux. There are two options here: 1) most Windows programs have one or more equivalent programs in Linux. 2) Many windows applications can be run under Linux using an emulator such as wine of crossover officer (a commercial wine implementation).

You mentioned not wanting to spend all day at the command line. You don't have too. Linux has very power and flexible window managers (KDE and Gnome are the top 2) that run under X - the windowing server. If you spend some time learning Linux you will see that you have much more power and flexibility with the GUI that in Windows. Also, you will find that you can do many very powerful things with the command line if you wish, so don't count that out completely.

Linux is very easy to use for everyday operations like email, web browsing, music, etc. Gaming is hit or miss. There aren't a ton of mainstream games for Linux like there are for windows. Some Windows games can also be run under Linux using an emulator such as the aforementioned wine or Cedega.

Ask 100 people which distibution is best to start on and you'll get 80 different answers. I would recommend Ubuntu personally. Mepis, Linspire or Xandros may also not be a bad way to go for a first timer.

You also asked for a comparison....there isn't any. Linux is cheaper, faster, more secure, more flexible, and once you put a little time into learning it well enough to get it setup properly...it's also easier to use.

[EnigmaOne]

'PC' refers to the hardware, which is--in general terms--an ix86/AMD-based system.

When you buy something like Photoshop, you are buying 'windows-based software' which does run on PCs. Versions of Photoshop (5.5 for example) can be made to run in a windows-emulated environment on a Linux-based PC. Not all windows programs can be run this way, so YMMV.

Most Linux programs are free (cost-wise) BTW.

There are lots of Linux replacement programs for windows equivalents. I'll leave it for somebody else to point you to a web site that lists windows proggies and their Linux counterparts. (Don't have the link at hand right now.)

I'm also ashamed to admit that I'm an MCSE; but I use the certification as a tool to migrate people away from microsoft. I'm going to heaven, eventually.

Linux can be as easy to uise as windows--easier, actually, because you don't have to put up with the insecurity, crashes and lost data.

Try one of the Live-CD versions on your hardware to check out how your components are supported. If you have a lot of windows-specific hardware, you will run into some problems. Scanners, modems, wireless and printers fall into this category; although we're seeing some garbage sound cards on the market that qualify in this respect.

Since you're coming-in from a windows environment, you need to get used to something you don't have right now: Freedom of Choice.

[xaccessxdeniedx]

Thank you for the swift reply. Looks like I am going to have to do a duel-boot sutep because many of the programs I have are needed for work and play (I am a WoW player and I can't ditch that!). I mainly need some experience with Linux for work and figured using it on one of my PC's would allow me to work with it often enough to be able to use it in a business situation. I can't just give up MS because, well, it's my job. I like doing those things like eating and having a home a such. lol Sounds to me like Linux would be nice if you didn't have to chuck all your current software out the window a learn new ones. I saw the emulators on there but do they work well? Most I have tried for other programs are horrible. Thanks for the links also. Very helpful. Thanks for all your help!

P.S. I didn't notice the other replies that had come in before posting this. I do have a basic knodledge of the whole free software deal with Linux and it is an attractive offer. I will be watching the boards and try Linux out to see how it plays with my setup. Thanks again! Oh, and yeah I would put a MS firewall in front of Linux boxes. ISA Server 2004 with another OS (Linux for instance) on a secondary box behind that. You could use a DMZ in between or just a double protection on one end.

[je_fro]

I'd stay away from the emulators if I were you. You definitely take a performance hit when using them. The one windows program I have to have (for work) is sigmaplot, and I run that from vmware.
It's not that hard to learn the program replacements...Nautilus or Konqueror instead of Explorer, Gimp instead of photoshop, Gaim instead of all your IM programs...blah blah blah
Just learn the new program names and ditch emulation...if that sounds like a PITA, then "Oh Well....".
That's my $.02

[Parcival]

I can't just give up MS because, well, it's my job.

I have made good experiences with running Windows on a seperate harddrive. (you can also run it on a seperate partition on the same harddrive, but this way it somehow feels "cleaner") Everything you have to pay attention to is to install Windows first and Linux second; Windows likes to be first. In other words, install Windows on the first partition of the Master drive on your primary IDE and Linux after that. (of course, since you already have Windows installed, all you need to do is to shrink your current NTFS partition or install a new HD in your case)

Oh, and yeah I would put a MS firewall in front of Linux boxes.

Umm, why don't you want to use a Linux firewall for that purpose? :confused: I think you're going to be happier with the Linux firewall because you can tailor it exactly to your needs. ;)

[je_fro]

yeah, "MS firewall" sounds like an oxymoron to me :D

[Parcival]

yeah, "MS firewall" sounds like an oxymoron to me :D

Maybe he wants the thrill. :D

[Calipso]

Maybe he wants the thrill.

Keeps things from getting dull and boring :D ;) :p

[ArgPirate]

Well, do keep in mind that WINE is not an emulator. More of a api comapadiblity layer, a program well supported in wine will run much better than one ran in say, vm ware.

Speaking of WOW, it runs very well under Cedega(wine for games), for me at least.

About having to learn new software it really shouldnt be to hard. If you know ie then firefox is going to be similar. Office is going to be similiar to open office. No more hard than buying a new car and having to re-learn how to drive it.

This of course is less true of the internals but for the apps its prety true.

[EnigmaOne]

yeah, "MS firewall" sounds like an oxymoron to me :D

Hmmmmmm....prolly a euphamism for a 'Honeypot'.

{I'm running away, at full speed, now.}

[ehawk]

I think SimplyMepis or PCLinuxOS would be good first distros. I haven't tried Linspire, Ubuntu, or Suse, but I think they would be fine as well.

[xaccessxdeniedx]

I got Ubuntu downloaded and tried the live CD version out. It seems much improved from the last time I tried it many years ago. I got the "Linux In A Nutshell" book and have found most of it simular to Windows although Linux is configurable on a greater scale. So far so good! I am going to set up a dual-boot with 2000 until I know if all my programs and hardware works well with it. Now, If I set up my hard drive (yeah I only have one at the moment) can I set it up like this: /dev/hda1 = 4 Gig, /dev/hda2 = 4 Gig, /dev/hda3 = 172 Gig can I access the files on /dev/hda3 from both 2000 and Linux? Thanks for all the help so far and not treating me like a complete idiot. lol Cheers!

[je_fro]

If you make hda3 FAT you can. you'll also need a swap partiton (probably around 256 MB or so)

[Parcival]

If you make hda3 FAT you can.

Umm, I'd make that FAT32. :)

[je_fro]

Cool....I don't know squat about windows...