Re: recommendations sought for some MS-OS applications
DG wrote:
I'm investigating a switch from MS-OS to *NIX. I've made a list
of my MS-OS applications and I've found *NIX equivalents for most
of them. Unfortunately, there are a few for which I have not been able to
find replacements.
Besides using google, which you may be doing already, try searching the
debian packages:
http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_packages
Below is the list of MS-OS applications for which I'm still looking for
*NIX equivalents. If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate your input.
* Ad-aware/Spybot/Pest Patrol (removes spyware cookies and software)
I've not needed such things on Linux (or windows for that matter). I
have had to help people who use windows remove this type of software.
Cookies, block them if you don't like them. Delete them occasionally if
you don't want to be tracked. Use Mozilla or whatever to prompt you for
permission to accept or block the cookie.
Software - don't download "free" but not open software (like file
sharing or music software). In Linux I identify sources that I trust and
download software from them. If I download software from someone else it
is source code that I can browse before deciding to trust it or not. I
know this is a paradigm shift from the windows thought of "try anything
on cnet/download.com/tucows" but I shun such haphazard installing of
software. Too many things want to install Gator or AOL. I will balk out
of a web page that requires special plug-ins that say "By installing
this software you agree to the following license; You are installing
<adware name> bla bla bla..."
* Medved Quote tracker (stock quotes)
* Schwab Velocity (real time stock quotes)
* Fidelity Active Trader Pro (real time stock quotes)
I've read over projects for doing stock quotes. I don't have the list in
front of me, google for linux stock quotes. Some real time quotes are
done via java applets (which may be an issue in the future) which will
run in Linux.
Tell Schwab, Fidelity and Medved that you would like a Linux compatable
version, even if that just means it runs well under wine.
* Panasonic USB camera viewer (View Panasonic Digital Camera Pictures)
* Intel Create&Share USB Camera software (Download and view Intel Camera
Pictures)
* VistaScan copy machine utility (uses scanner and printer to create copies)
There is a package called sane for talking to scanners. It or some other
programs (gphoto?) can talk to some serial and usb cameras. The cameras
probably even appear as USB storage devices to the kernel (I've not
tried). Unless the Intel camera is doing it's own protocol, it should
work ok. Use gphoto, kamera or others (apt-cache search gphoto lists a
few packages).
While there may not be software already written with a 'photocopy'
button that scans and prints, a workable solution should be available.
* AM-Deadlink (finds dead links in Web Browser, IE/Netscape)
Never used it, and if it just changes the color of the link on a web
page to say it's dead, I'm not sure I see the value in it. I don't find
following a dead link to be that much of a loss of time. If it was from
google, I hit back and click "cached". If AM-Deadlink crawls a web site
and reports a list of broken links, there are many scripts written to do
that.
* eMedia Guitar Method (guitar instruction software)
Not sure about guitar learning, but there are music programs for Linux.
I think I have replacements for the following, but I'm open to your
suggestions:
* MS-Outlook Appointment Calendar (probably available in OpenOffice)i
I'm not an evolution fan, but some like it as a drop-in replacement of
Outlook
* AOL/ATTBI Remote access (dialup ISP for travel, needed on laptop ...
Earthlink?)
Unless you have to do some propriatary connection (old AOL), any dial up
that uses PPP with standard username/passwords will configure and work
just fine under Linux, even if they say "We don't support linux". If it
works for Windows and Mac, it probably works for Linux (unless they
invested in writing special connection software for both Windows and
Mac). I heard AOL is releasing a netscape branded dialup that is 'bare
bones'. That type of system (or any local ISP system) should be just fine.
Not to discourage your questions, but if you'd like to get to the meat
of the answers to your questions, google around for "linux <the thing
you want to do>" (or www.google.com/linux) and read a page or two of
links on each topic.
--
Jacob
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