Just so you know, I know NOTHING about linux that a windows user wouldn't know.

I recently purchased Suse linux, 9.1 and I installed it on the second hard drive on my computer. On the first hard drive, I have Windows XP. I want to use windows programs (mostly games), on my computer using linux. I wanted to use a program called WINE but I haven't the slightest idea on how to use it. I downloaded a program called crossover office: DEMO that lasts for 30 days, and then to use it more I would have to buy it. I don't want to buy the crossover office program if I can get something that does the same thing for free.
I have visited the website winehq.com, but nothing there makes any sense to me. I am a to linux. Help with installing and using wine or any advice would be very helpful. Thank you.

First of all, I'm no Wine user, as I don't see usage for Windows apps under Linux... my 'gaming computer' isn't Linux but just Windows XP for the puposes of gaming and PocketPC management.

As for 2D games, it could be easy to set up, but for advanced games (First Person Shooters like Call of Duty? Strategic games like Red Alert and his family?) I don't know if it is possible at all to get that running .. It is depending too much on the underlying architecture to run.

Hope someone else can prove me wrong , but I would say keep them (Linux and Windows) together to be able to switch according to the application you want to use.

As for Office, there's the open office alternative, so that wouldn't make one need Wine.

Cheers!

After installing wine, you should be able to use " Open With..." command chose wine go through the wine config. I believe wine runs as win 98.

This is configurable in the file ~/.wine/config

Wine isn't up to running most modern games. As a rule of thumb, if a game isn't listed as supported on the website, then it won't work.

Wine will be much better in a few years, and bug reports are always good, but that's not much use at the moment. A very few games (like Doom 3) have linux binaries that you can download if you have bought the Windows version. Far fewer games (like the forthcoming Postal 2) have binariy version that you can buy without going near MicroSoft software. There are, of course, many free Linux games out there (www.freshmeat.net) but most of them aren't much more complex than 2D scrollers.

You might look at Cedega (http://www.transgaming.com/) which is like Wine but geared much more towards running games. Cedega costs 5 USD, 5 EUR, or 3 GBP per month.

Ok, but how do I install wine? I Said I already looked at the winehq site, but nothing there makes any sense to me.

Download the rpms for your distro and install using rpm -ivh filename
Or you can compile from source which will not be easy but is sure to work

Go to install software/packages in Yast and search for wine, should be on your install disc.
If you want to play games check out wineX ( http://www.transgaming.com/ ), made for running DirectX games.