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New potential Linux user converting from Windows. Some questions...

Hi everyone,

I've been using computers for quite a while and have used Linux in the past. I'm a computer programmer with quite a bit of web development experience, but I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a Linux expert by any means, even though I host and use SSH on Linux host servers.

I'm looking to move past Windows and finally make the switch to Linux. My main candidate at this point is Redhat or Fedora. However, I had a few questions on compatibility. I'm a bit nervous about making sure I can open some of the same files in Linux and use some of the same kinds of programs. Any help would be extremely appreciated. I do realize Wine and other methods of running Windows programs exist, and I'll include questions about that below as well.

1) I'm working on building a new computer with mostly new parts. Are there any issues with hardware components not being compatible with Linux?

2) Are Linux drivers a problem? For example, I have a Canon S750 printer and ATI Radeon 9600 XT video card. Would I have problems finding the appropriate drivers?

3) I use Microsoft Access currently for keeping track of hours and managing invoices for my business. I also use it for a few other tasks and smaller databases. Is there any way to export an MDB file to another database format for use with Linux? What kind of database equivalents exist in Linux? I know MySQL exists, but it doesn't have a quick and easy GUI like Access does.

4) Are there any recommended HTML editors? I currently use FrontPage (just for layout reasons), but have tried NVU and am impressed.

5) What about PHP/Perl editors? I currently use HTML-Kit and absolutely love it, but sadly it is not available in Linux. Any suggestions? I don't necessarily need to be able to run scripts, just edit them easily with color highlighting.

6) I'm used to using WS_FTP Pro for file transfer. Any recommendations under Linux?

7) A huge issue is Microsoft Money. Is there a similar program in Linux, and can Money files be converted properly? Or would I have to use Wine or something like that?

8) I currently use Irfanview for simple image manipulation. Yes, I do use Gimp and will continue to use it under Linux. But Irfanview is nice because it is small and works great for those simple tasks such as resizing images and viewing them. I did just notice "www xnview com" was available in Linux, so that is nice as it is similar to Irfanview.

9) For PDF's, I'm assuming xpdf would be the best option? While I mainly view PDF files, I wouldn't mind creating them as well.

10) I currently use Nero for CD burning. Is there a nice equivalent in Linux? Hopefully a free one? :-)

11) Is there even a need for virus protection in Linux?

12) How good is Wine and can it run most Windows applications? Does it have an easy to use interface that would mostly be seamless? Basically, if I do somehow need to access a Windows application, I wouldn't want to go through an overly complicated process first. :-) Also, does Wine require that you have a Windows partition as well and already installed? I won't want Windows installed anywhere on my new PC.

Thanks again for any help that can be offered. I realize these are a lot of questions, but I'm really serious about giving Linux a try as my only operating system. I care about what I'm trying to learn about it and could sure use some helpful advice.

- Matt.

1) http://www.linuxcompatible.org/

2) http://www.linuxprinting.org/

4/5) Editors - most used:
http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/
http://quanta.sourceforge.net

I personally use Vim for everything:
http://www.vim.org/

Where to find more:
http://freshmeat.net/

6) ncftp for simple ftp

7) GNUCash

8) gThumb

10) k3b

11) No.

12) wine does not require a windows installation/partition. Try it and see whether it works for you. You may need Crossover Office for some apps. Wine is beer-free; for a Crossover License, you need to pay.

This will be useful to you for finding linux replacements for windows programs:
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-l...en/table.shtml

HTH,

Samsara

Thanks for the quick reply, Samara. You really offered me some good starting points to my questions. I did find a post with a mention that converting Money files to GNUCash worked for someone else, so it looks like Money files can be imported into GNUCash somehow.

I'll look at that equivalent list and see if there is anything else I have questions on.

- Matt.

You're asking alot! ;)

1) I'm working on building a new computer with mostly new parts. Are there any issues with hardware components not being compatible with Linux?

There are always issues. You deal with them when you find them.
Usually they are related to hardware.

2) Are Linux drivers a problem? For example, I have a Canon S750 printer and ATI Radeon 9600 XT video card. Would I have problems finding the appropriate drivers?

Prolly not.

3) I use Microsoft Access currently for keeping track of hours and managing invoices for my business. I also use it for a few other tasks and smaller databases. Is there any way to export an MDB file to another database format for use with Linux? What kind of database equivalents exist in Linux? I know MySQL exists, but it doesn't have a quick and easy GUI like Access does.

Access? Heard of it. What is MDB? <ha ha> Yes there is MySQL GUI.
Please see: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/mysqladmin.html

4) Are there any recommended HTML editors? I currently use FrontPage (just for layout reasons), but have tried NVU and am impressed.

Don't know FrontPage. I use Bluefish. It is text based. You Windows guys might not like it (?)

5) What about PHP/Perl editors? I currently use HTML-Kit and absolutely love it, but sadly it is not available in Linux. Any suggestions? I don't necessarily need to be able to run scripts, just edit them easily with color highlighting.

Uh Have you heard of VIM? (Extended vi?) Again Bluefish...

6) I'm used to using WS_FTP Pro for file transfer. Any recommendations under Linux?

What about ftp?

7) A huge issue is Microsoft Money. Is there a similar program in Linux, and can Money files be converted properly? Or would I have to use Wine or something like that?

????

8) I currently use Irfanview for simple image manipulation. Yes, I do use Gimp and will continue to use it under Linux. But Irfanview is nice because it is small and works great for those simple tasks such as resizing images and viewing them. I did just notice "www xnview com" was available in Linux, so that is nice as it is similar to Irfanview.

Yes there are viewers...

9) For PDF's, I'm assuming xpdf would be the best option? While I mainly view PDF files, I wouldn't mind creating them as well.

pdflib. Gotta pay

10) I currently use Nero for CD burning. Is there a nice equivalent in Linux? Hopefully a free one? :-)

Nice. No. Nero rocks! Yes there are solutions, IMHO better in KDE than Gnome :(

11) Is there even a need for virus protection in Linux?

Not usually. Got hit once when my gnuetella password was password.
<hangs head>
Use commen sense.

12) How good is Wine and can it run most Windows applications? Does it have an easy to use interface that would mostly be seamless? Basically, if I do somehow need to access a Windows application, I wouldn't want to go through this complicated process first. :-) Also, does Wine require that you have a Windows partition as well and already installed? I won't want Windows installed anywhere on my new PC.

I have friends that use Wine; I don't.

Welcome to Linux :)

Re: New potential Linux user converting from Windows. Some questions...

Quote:

Originally posted by Mateo1041
Hi everyone,

I've been using computers for quite a while and have used Linux in the past. I'm a computer programmer with quite a bit of web development experience, but I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a Linux expert by any means, even though I host and use SSH on Linux host servers.

I'm looking to move past Windows and finally make the switch to Linux. My main candidate at this point is Redhat or Fedora. However, I had a few questions on compatibility. I'm a bit nervous about making sure I can open some of the same files in Linux and use some of the same kinds of programs. Any help would be extremely appreciated. I do realize Wine and other methods of running Windows programs exist, and I'll include questions about that below as well.

1) I'm working on building a new computer with mostly new parts. Are there any issues with hardware components not being compatible with Linux?

http://www.google.com/linux

2) Are Linux drivers a problem? For example, I have a Canon S750 printer and ATI Radeon 9600 XT video card. Would I have problems finding the appropriate drivers?

Probably not, Samsara's already given you that link to look into the printer, for the graphics card you may want to check the Radeon site, but you can probably get the driver for it - whether you'll have any snags installing it is a different matter

3) I use Microsoft Access currently for keeping track of hours and managing invoices for my business. I also use it for a few other tasks and smaller databases. Is there any way to export an MDB file to another database format for use with Linux? What kind of database equivalents exist in Linux? I know MySQL exists, but it doesn't have a quick and easy GUI like Access does.

One of the few things that open office doesn't do is an easy, straightforward Access clone - but yes, I understand it's doable, but you'd probably have look into that to find the method of making open office link to mysql. Or as mentioned in other replies, the Codeweavers "Crossover Office" plugin is very good - that's what I've got installed, and I've then installed MS office 2K pro - the app's work very well. Plus, in your next question you ask about HTML editors, if you used KDE as your desk top environment/gui, then quanta is very good, though if you have the Xover office I've mentioned about, if you wanted too, you could just as easily install Dreamweaver.

4) Are there any recommended HTML editors? I currently use FrontPage (just for layout reasons), but have tried NVU and am impressed.

As above plus additional to quanta, bluefish, screem, mozilla composer, open office, vim, emacs, etc etc etc

5) What about PHP/Perl editors? I currently use HTML-Kit and absolutely love it, but sadly it is not available in Linux. Any suggestions? I don't necessarily need to be able to run scripts, just edit them easily with color highlighting.

Probably vi/vim or emacs would do the job, there's probably others, but I can't recall them off the top of my head.

6) I'm used to using WS_FTP Pro for file transfer. Any recommendations under Linux?

Plenty of FTP clients available, you'd have to search and try them.

7) A huge issue is Microsoft Money. Is there a similar program in Linux, and can Money files be converted properly? Or would I have to use Wine or something like that?

Either the answers in previous replies, or again for hassle free use of your existing app, Xover office

8) I currently use Irfanview for simple image manipulation. Yes, I do use Gimp and will continue to use it under Linux. But Irfanview is nice because it is small and works great for those simple tasks such as resizing images and viewing them. I did just notice "www xnview com" was available in Linux, so that is nice as it is similar to Irfanview.

Yet another plug for Xover office, then if you want, you can install Fireworks, otherwise you already mention experience using the Gimp.

9) For PDF's, I'm assuming xpdf would be the best option? While I mainly view PDF files, I wouldn't mind creating them as well.

You already mention xpdf, but theres Ghostview and a few others - I've usually found that it depends on which distro you settle on as to which ones favoured.

10) I currently use Nero for CD burning. Is there a nice equivalent in Linux? Hopefully a free one? :-)

Yeah, plenty of those, k3b already mentioned, but xcdroast, cdbakeoven come to mind as well.

11) Is there even a need for virus protection in Linux?

Not really necessary, as the virii that can affect Linux are currently, mainly "proof of concept" and not in the wild - but yes there is some available - check out ClamAV

12) How good is Wine and can it run most Windows applications? Does it have an easy to use interface that would mostly be seamless? Basically, if I do somehow need to access a Windows application, I wouldn't want to go through an overly complicated process first. :-) Also, does Wine require that you have a Windows partition as well and already installed? I won't want Windows installed anywhere on my new PC.

You can go for either Wine or WineX (ones free, ones not), but you'd probably have to search for a list of supported windows apps Codeweavers' Crossover office is only 40$ (and yes I do favour it, for ease of use more than anything else - especially if you're "tight for time" and don't want to spend a while learning how to config Wine) which I feel is cheap by any standards.

Thanks again for any help that can be offered. I realize these are a lot of questions, but I'm really serious about giving Linux a try as my only operating system. I care about what I'm trying to learn about it and could sure use some helpful advice.

- Matt.

If some of your needs could affect your financial/business status, then you're better placed to dual boot either on the one hard drive if it's large enough (yes, that's how I run my system with a 120 gig western digital HDD) or you can get a second hard drive and put the linux distro on that.

Again for ease of use, I'd suggest mandrake - if you go for a boxed set (I used, always to go for DVD powerpacks @ about 50$, though 2 weeks ago, I decided that I needed to learn more, hence the move to the gentoo that I now use - which is a bugger to install, but quite easy to manage) you get some of the commercial app's that can be a bit of a swine to config, graphics drivers, some modem/broadband stuff, plus other bits and bobs - realplayer ready to go etc etc. All preconfigured and ready to use after install. Mandrakes installation is a breeze, I've only ever had to use the defaults. Plus the drivers for your printer and graphics card are probably already configured as well - one less thing to worry/learn about!

HTH

regards

John

Thanks for the excellent reply, John. It is a huge help. I'm just trying to make sure I know what I'm getting in to. :-)

Dual booting is not an option for me. I've never been a fan of it. I'd like to take the plunge completely. I have been exposed to Linux in various ways before, so it should not be a problem as long as I have all the functionality I need.

You mention you'd favor Mandrake over Redhat for a newb like me. Any particular reason? I know my brother said he liked both. Is there an official list of major differences between the various distributions?

I probably wouldn't do virus protection then. I usually use common sense, so even in Windows, it has never been an issue for me. Does Linux come with a built-in firewall that is easy to use?

I'm a little confused as to how Crossover Office is different from Wine or WineX. Does it interface with Wine to access office applications? Does it just make configuration easier? I don't mind spending the money, but may want to try configuring Wine or WineX first to maybe save myself some cash.

Thanks again!

- Matt.

Open Office will export to PDF. You can also use everyone's favorite pdf viewer adobe acrobat in linux :) If you are a student you can get Star Office for free also at the Sun site and that will export to PDF also.

Re: New potential Linux user converting from Windows. Some questions...

Quote:

Originally posted by Mateo1041
9) For PDF's, I'm assuming xpdf would be the best option? While I mainly view PDF files, I wouldn't mind creating them as well.

To give a bit more on that question, I've read that KWord (in the KDE Office suite, or KOffice) can edit pdfs. OpenOffice.org Writer allows you to create them either from the ground up, or from a MS Word Document and a variety of other formats. You could do worse than learning TeX - it is the way to create pdfs, a lot less hassle than word processors, but it has a learning curve. If you're happy with, e.g. html, learning LaTeX will not be a problem for you. The logic is the same, although the philosophy* and syntax differ. The package you'd need to install is called tetex. You'll find plenty of free tutorials on the web to help you along.
I should also mention Scribus, a very decent and fast-improving Free DTP software (i.e. Wysiwyg again).

HTH,

Samsara

* (since it is print output oriented rather than screen/browser oriented)

Edit: Try gpdf for a viewer - I find it better than xpdf if I want to print something.

To make things easier for future patrons of this thread:

popular HTML editors:
http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.html
http://www.screem.org/
http://quanta.sourceforge.net/ (will soon be at http://kdewebdev.org/ )
http://www.nvu.com/