[Techtalk] Using Windows apps in Linux

[Marian Routh]

Hi, all.  Since some of us have been discussing the merits of CrossOver 
Office, there have been a number of posts basically saying, "Why not 
use Linux apps?  Why not use $linuxapp?

Since I know that LinuxChix is the one place I can make some comments 
without being flamed, I'd like to post this as to my _personal_ reasons 
- others will have different reasons for needing to run MS apps in 
Linux.

I have used all the MS OS's from DOS through XP, various Linux distros, 
and yes (shudder) OS/2.  I even have a few ancient Apple IIe's, and if 
I could afford a new Apple computer with OSX, I would buy one just for 
fun.  I understand that a lot of people are purists - "use only Linux" 
- and that's fine.  Linux is _about_ personal choice and freedom.  For 
me, I like to use whatever does the job I want to do.  I'd like to go 
on record as saying:  I've tried OpenOffice, StarOffice 5.2, KWord, 
Abiword, Emacs, Evolution, Koffice, etc.  If I'm using Word, it's 
because it does something the others don't - for me, basically font 
handling onscreen and in print.  I use if for my business.  Evolution 
isn't quite ready for prime time _for me_.  It isn't that Outlook is so 
great - it's that Evo isn't _yet_ and if I'm going to run Word, then I 
might as well run Excel and Outlook since all my business stuff over 
the years has been created in those apps.  I don't want to reinvent the 
wheel when it comes to my business; I have other things to do.

Those are my _personal_ reasons for using CXOffice.  There are more 
generalized reasons, such as if Linux is going to penetrate the 
lucrative desktop market for businesses - and we all hope it will - 
realistically, it will do it more easily by allowing businesses to let 
their employees run familiar apps like Office where necessary.  Most of 
those employees are not going to be computer-savvy _at all_.  Why do 
you think AOL is so successful?

All that said, purists can use only the excellent Linux apps.  I'm happy 
to support all the hard work of CodeWeavers with my money and I'm glad 
they created CXOffice.

Thanks for listening,

Malke
-- 
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"