Hello all,

I've installed Ubuntu 5.04 as of tonight and am quite pleased with the OS. I've never owned my own Linux machine so naturally I have a few questions. I'm not entirely unfamiliar with UNIX, however, as I've been in some programming classes that are mediated on UNIX machines.

I only have a couple of "problems"; none of them being major.

When I click on an .exe file, I get a:
Couldn't display "/media/cdrom0/setup.exe"
error. Well, of course, .exe is an MS extension file type, so I can see why Linux may not like it. Is there a simple way to use install disks that I would have previously been able to use on Windows systems? (I want to install HL2, among other things .)

Look at Cedega for running WIndows Games on Linux: http://www.transgaming.com/products_linux.php

For running WIdnows applications on Windows natively (e.g. MS Word, ...) use: http://codeweavers.com/

For a "Virtual Enviroment": VMware or Win4Lin

Please note that all services are non-free.

I always recommend trying out and migrating to the alternatives that are natively available on Linux. If you are a light user of MS Office, OpenOffice should serve you well. If you used Outlook Express on Windows, Mozilla Thunderbird has more features while still being just as easy to use. If you used Outlook, give Novell Evolution (now the default mail client in Gnome) a shot, it can connect to MS Exchange servers.

Media Players are easy to replace. Install Kaffeine or VLC with libdvdcss and the win32codecs and you have an almost drop-in replacement for Windows Media Player. For Internet Explorer try Firefox or Opera. Native programs just work, without fighting with them

Thanks. I went ahead and subscribed to Cedega; I figured the $5/month is worth it. I've installed a game, but I'm still struggling with the Radeon rivers.

I do, however, use OpenOffice.org's applications. They work just as well and they're free, so why not? No need to pay for updates, anymore.

Anyway, I appreciate the input.

I'm impressed with the variety and applicability of all the native programs that come with the Ubuntu 5.04 install disk. The only real reason I want to run Windows applications is to use install disks for some of the video games I love to play when I have free time. Considering all of the learning I have to do in order to get a handle on Linux, however, I probably won't have much free time anyway :P. I don't mind, though. I love learning new things. Especially when it's worthwhile.

Take a look at the Unofficial Ubuntu Guide. It'll get you running in no time. It tells you in there how to enable Universe and Multiverse repositories to get more programs through apt. Anyways, ask if u have any more questions.