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Linux vs. Windows: The Rematch

Can a frustrated Windows user dump Microsoft? Even with lots of improvements, Linux is still no cakewalk.

Scott Spanbauer

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Mixing Linux With Windows

If you're not sure Linux is for you, you can install it along with Windows. If you decide you need Windows applications for which there are no Linux substitutes, you can simply switch from Linux to Windows with a reboot.

Dual booting may not be necessary in some cases. Most distributions come with software called Wine, which claims to run nearly 1100 Windows applications (with some tweaking of configuration files) under Linux. The downside: Thousands more Windows apps are still incompatible with Wine, and getting the compatible ones running presents a challenge even to tech-savvy users.

The version of Linux I tested, SuSE Linux 8.0 Professional, includes seven CDs loaded with every app you could ever need, all free: office suites, photo editors, Web browsers, and even CD-burning utilities. The abundance of free software on disc, which saves a lot of download time, is a unique feature of SuSE's boxed set.

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