Re: debian

[Colin Watson <cjwatson@debian.org>]

On Tue, Dec 30, 2003 at 09:11:25AM -0500, Ruthie Gaskins wrote:
> I just want to know if my son installs Debian on his computer (it
> currnetly has no operating system ) is it windows compatible

Not as such, no. You can't run Windows programs on Debian directly, and
you can't run Debian programs on Windows directly. There's a program
called WINE in Debian which allows you to run some Windows programs, but
this is a very difficult job and it's not 100% reliable.

For general-purpose software (word processing, graphics, programming,
and the like), your son would probably be best off finding
native-to-Debian programs that he likes for those tasks; there are
certainly plenty around. One-of-a-kind programs (notoriously games) may
be a different matter, although some game developers are beginning to
release Linux versions.

> and if he doesn't like it can he install windows over it?

Yes, he can. It's also possible to "dual-boot" - install both operating
systems in different regions of the hard disk and choose between them at
boot time.

> There is no operating system on his computer at all right now and has
> never had one..it is new mother board and hard drive..

Sounds like an ideal opportunity to try out Debian, then! :-)

Cheers,

-- 
Colin Watson                                  [cjwatson@flatline.org.uk]