I want to change to a Linux OS laptop because it is more stable and I now have a website and want to make my operating computer less prone to threats. But I was wondering how I can still use windows based apps on Linux?

Also which is the best version of Linux to get? I have heard of ubuntu or something like that?

Advice would be most helpful

Peace

Shoryuken

Best version of linux is a frequently asked question akin to best car to buy. Search the forum and you'll find countless answers. Many people recommend ubuntu for Windows convertors.

To run Windows apps you can run Windows XP in a virtual machine (VM) which is basically the same as Windows 7's XP compatibility window. OR you can run them without Windows, in many cases with a program called Wine; search for Wine and linux under google to read all about it; there's a database of programs that run.

Best yet is to use native Linux programs that accomplish the same goals as your Windows one's or are the same. For example, your word processing and web surfing will need no windows programs....

Another good strategy would be ... to use Windows as the very-secure operating system that it is capable of being!

It really comes down to this:

• Don't use your system either as an "Administrator" or as a "Power User."
• Do use meaningful passwords.
• If you aren't running a version of Windows that has these tools, "go buy a real version of Windows" that does. Do not rely upon the pre-installed OEM version of Windows that probably came with your machine.
• Learn about Microsoft Backup and use it. Set it up to run automatically.
• Remove every scrap of "anti virus" software from your box. Turn off the "Security Center." (Not only does it do no good whatsoever for you, but it's a gigantic hole.)

If you have applications that you need, that need Windows, then you need Windows (on that box...) in order to run those applications. It is a huge waste of time to "try to get it to work," even if you "succeed" in doing so. Hardware is dirt-cheap. You can afford to have more than one box, each one devoted to whatever is its particular purpose and configured accordingly.

I myself use Mint although I'm not going to say it is the best distribution. You could try using wine a program that allows you to run basic windows applications although it is not perfect and takes some time to set up. Sorry Realized that this was already suggested.

In addition to WINE, also look at CrossOver (the commercial version of WINE)

WINE or CrossOver will run **MANY** Windows apps, but not all. The first thing to try is the native Linux equivalent.

Which distro?: Anything in the top 10 on the "hit list" at http://distrowatch.com

Cheers guys, from what I see above I am going to convert to a linux laptop and use native linux programs and keep my old windows machine specifically for when I might wish to use a program like Microsoft Powerpoint. I want to try something different to windows and more flexible. Apple OS don't really appeal to me but I like the possibilities and levels of functionality possible with Linux.

Peace

Shoryuken