Ubuntu

Can you install MS or MAC programs with this OS?

Asked by Arachia

I am a private computer repair and assembler, and I am looking for a linix system to install on computers that I wipe or put together for ppl. I would like to know if this system can have regular Windows or Macintosh programs and games installed on them. I see this as a much easier system for ppl to use in general, but I need to know if they will be able to use their programs down the road.

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Wyatt Smith (wyatt-smith) said : 		#1

Windows and Macinstosh programs with not run natively under linux. There is something called Wine, which is a compatibility layer for running windows applications. Your mileage with wine with vary from application to application- some work perfect, some with minor flaws, and other will not run at all.

You can find out more about Wine here.
http://www.winehq.org/

Typically any non-gaming program can run perfectly in a virtual machine like Virtualbox or VMWare.
http://www.virtualbox.org/

Its my experience that people typically start out dual booting linux and then slowly find linux replacements for all the programs that they use.

Hope this helps

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Arachia (mktoth) said : 		#2

So the answer looks like with a linux system and wine a program will have a 50% usability. however may main reason for considering this OS was I have seen some linux systems that work any MS program and a few mac based ones, but I did not get the specifics from the guy that made them.

so let me ask this can a game like RF Online, Second Life, Savage, Halo, or MechWarrior (these are some of the games I have seen on my clients and a couple I use myself) be able to run on Ubuntu or another linux OS with wine and virtualbox. Most of the work related programs that people use I have looked at and they either can be replaced with open office of simular suite, or says that they can run on linux, so now I am just looking at the game runners.

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Andreas Troschka (signupbox) said : 		#3

Get a look here:
http://appdb.winehq.org/

and here:
http://www.wine-reviews.net/

These are only two of many different sources where to pick from information about supported M$ and Mac applications supported by Wine under Linux kernel based o.s..

Hope this helps.

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Arachia (mktoth) said : 		#4

It looks like most games work so I don't see what all the fuss is about, thanks for the help I guess since it is a free program I will give it as an option for ppl that are looking at having to buy a new OS.