Re: Running Windows Apps on Linux
"Ian Perry" <iperry@inertia.com.au> wrote:
> Is it possible to run Microsoft Windows Apps (such as Excel etc) in XWindows
> or is there a utility which allows this ?
1) Wine (http://packages.debian.org/stable/otherosfs/wine.html) is an
open-source project, to implement the Windows API's in Linux. It is
still in alpha/beta stage, and not all Windows software packages run
under Wine yet. Probably popular software like microsoft Office
will run under wine. Advantages: a) Open source, free, b) Windows
itself is not needed c) Economical on resources. Disadvantage:
Still in pre-release stadium. Not all Windows applications can run
under Wine. I tried Wine, but it cannot yet run the
software that is important for me (ACT, NeuroModel).
2) VMware (www.VMware.com) implements virtual Intel computers within a
computer running Linux or Windows. The virtual computers can run
Windows or other operating systems. Advantages: Seems to work very
well. Very flexible (capable to run many OS'es at the same time in a
single computer). Disadvantages: a) Not open-source, b) very
resource-hungry, c) costs money, d) Microsoft Windows Installation kit
is necessary and must be installed in the virtual machine. I tried
VMWare and found that it worked well, but that it was too
resource-hungy for me.
3) Win4Lin (www.win4lin.com) enables to run Windows 95 or 98 within
Linux. Advantages: a) Seems to work very well, b) Much more
economical on resources than VMware is. Disadvantages:
a) Not open-source, costs money, b) Does not explicitly support
Debian (but the help-desk is very helpful in solving Debian related
problems), c) There is a need to patch and recompile the kernel,
d) Microsoft Windows Installation kit is necessary and must be installed.
I tried win4lin, found that it worked well, and decided to buy
it. An important consideration for buying was, that their E-mail
helpdesk provided prompt and adequate answers on questions.
Regards,
Paul Huygen
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