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Will any program designed for Microsoft work with Ubuntu?

I was raised on a Mac OS, and then had to switch to MS OS at my workplace. At home I would like to wipe our MS and switch to Ubuntu 9.04,
but I am afraid I will not be able to use many of my familiar programs with Ubuntu, like Picasa, Quicken, Spybot Search & Destroy, Google Earth, Google Talk, PDF-XChange, Comodo Firewall, Avira AntiVir Personal.
As you can see, all of these programs, except for Quicken, are free, so I am wondering if any "free" or open source program will work with Ubuntu?
So, basically, I want to know if any program designed to run on MS XP or Vista or MS7 will run on Ubuntu?
I do realize that Ubuntu comes preloaded with many programs and apps that will allow me to do just about anything I would like to do on a computer (which for me is basically email, internet search, and photo management), but I would be more comfortable switching to Ubuntu if I knew I could also use some programs that I am used to using.
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Please try to use layman terms in your reply.
Peace, John

In general, no program compiled for Windows will run natively on a Linux system. It's a different OS. But there are certain programs, like wine that allow some Windows programs run under Linux. Also, you can install virtualization software and install Windows in it.

Basically, no, you can't use something compiled for Windows (or Mac) on a Linux system. (Consider trying to play a 45rmp record on a MP3 player. Seldom works, eh?)

For most of the applications you mention, equivalents will be found in the Ubuntu repositories. Sometimes, more than one:

Code:

Picasa      <--> Long list of editors: gedit, OpenOfficeWriter, . . .

Quicken    <--> GNUCash (although GNUCash is a full-featured accounting package)

SpybotS&D  <--> Unneeded - Bots won't run on Linux. Can use rkhunter to detect Linux-specific infections

Google...  <--> Web application are run on the source site, not your system. All you need is a browser.

PDF-XChange <--> Not familiar with this, but pdf tool are available.

Firewall    <--> Firestarter is one, others exist.

AntiViri    <--> ClamAV is, again, one choice (which is available as a Windows app as well.)

Also, there is Wine that attempts, and sometimes even succeeds, to run Windows exe files in a window on a Linux OS. I'd prefer not to use it unless I was forced to do so, but some people find it useful.

Also Codeweavers may offer better support for running MS applications than wine. See their site maybe.

Also you may wish to use a virtual machine for those few times you may need xp. You can run xp within a normal "windows type" application or full screen at the same time as your run ubuntu.
+

You won't need Spybot on Linux, spyware is really a non-issue.

The Google programs you listed have Linux versions.

There are anti-virus programs, but not really totally critical to run.

I'm not sure about the PDF program- but there are several for Linux which are far superior to anything I used on Windows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dinga (Post 3599129)

Please try to use layman terms in your reply.

OK...

Can Chevrolet parts be used on a Ford? No.
Can some Chevrolet parts adapted to work on a Ford? Yes---some.

seriously, I think the question is well answered already. I'll only add that the Open Source movement is now so mature that most everyday applications have good native Linux versions**. Most of the rest can be made to work in WINE/Crossover.

** I have a hunch that there is now more SW for Linux than for Windows. But there are a few things that you really might need Windows for---eg:
Some games
MSProject
Certain business apps, including some of the more sophisticated Excel stuff
Database upgrades--eg on a GPS

Two of the items on your list are available for linux. Picasa and Google Earth.

The Linux firewall is inside the kernel. It is called NetFilter. Some distro's have GUI interfaces to configure it. A program such as the aforementioned Firestarter can be used as well.
For security, I'd also recommend the noscript extension for the FireFox web browser.

Look through your package manager for security related packages. You can use one of the anti-virus packages if you are running Samba and don't want to store an infected file which could infect Windows machines on your LAN. One example is called clamav.

There are two packages that detect potential root kits. rkhunter & chkrootkit.

There are other programs that can scan your system periodically and monitor changes in files, loose permissions, and the like. A local email is sent after the scan is finished. One example is Aide.

I don't know is there is anything close enough to Quicken in Linux. You may need to run this one using Wine or Codeweavers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTrenholme (Post 3599178)

Code:

Picasa      <--> Long list of editors: gedit, OpenOfficeWriter, . . .

Google...  <--> Web application are run on the source site, not your system. All you need is a browser.

Picasa is not an editor, it's a photo management tool for the online album page @ picasa, now owned by Google.
Google Earth is more than maps.google.com and available as downloadable software.

Avira also has a Linux version according to
http://www.free-av.de/en/download/download_servers.php

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dinga (Post 3599129)

...but I am afraid I will not be able to use many of my familiar programs with Ubuntu, like Picasa, Quicken, Spybot Search & Destroy, Google Earth, Google Talk, PDF-XChange, Comodo Firewall, Avira AntiVir Personal.
As you can see, all of these programs, except for Quicken, are free, so I am wondering if any "free" or open source program will work with Ubuntu?

There are many free or open source programs that run under Ubuntu. Given that Ubuntu is itself a collection of free or open source programs (variously defined), this is pretty much what you would expect, no?

Hint: use the package manager.

Assuming that you have a function that you want fulfilled, look for a program that fulfills that in the list of avable programs in the package manager. This will not (usually) be the same program that you are used to, but another program, or more usually, choice of programs, that does a very similar thing. If you don't mind learning a new program that performs the function, then the job is done.

Occasionally, there isn't a program that quite does what you want (often vendors of proprietary equipment only put out versions of their support programs for Windows or maybe Mac). There is a chance of running a windows program under, eg Wine, or of using virtualisation, but I'm not sure what the point of using Linux is if you are only going to use it to run Windows programs. If you need that as a support during an initial phase, that seems fair enough, but, you should probably think of converting to native linux programs as far as is possible.

Just to be a bit more explicit about firewalls; iptables (aka, roughly, netfilter) is the Linux firewall, there are quite a number of 'easy' graphical front ends to help you configure it.

Will any program designed for Microsoft work with Ubuntu?

Dear Linus Users,
I would like to thank all the people who replied so quickly to my thread, and for giving me such specific answers.
I wish I could thank each one of your personally. It is very reassuring to know that so many Linux users are dedicated to helping others make Linux a way of life for other computer users, so that we don't have to rely on Microsoft or Apple.
Now, if we could only convince the major non-Mac PC makers to allow consumers the option of purchasing a desktop or laptop with Linux pre-installed, rather than Microsoft, I think we would see a major shift to Linux, and a huge increase in the design of software that can run on Linux.
Here in Thailand, Acer does offer that option on some of its machines.
Does any PC company in America offer this option?
Someday, I hope that I can also help somebody switch to Linux, or help them use it correctly.
Peace, John

DELL did/does(?) although apparently you have to hunt around a bit on their site.
Here's a useful link to Linux equivs of MS apps http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ndows_software