Feedback

1. Is Linux compatible with Windows programs?
   
   
2. I heard you can download Linux free. Why can't I find it on your site?
   
   
3. I live outside the U.S. Where can I find Linux locally and in languages other than English?
   
   
4. How can I tell if my hardware is supported by Linux?
   
   
5. Can I run Linux on the same computer as Windows?
   
   
6. Will I be able to use Microsoft Office files in Linux?
   
   
7. I want to buy stock in Linux! What's your ticker symbol?

1. Is Linux compatible with Windows programs?
   First of all, a better solution is usually to get a Linux-native counterpart for the application you'd like to use. Visit http://www.linuxberg.com/ to see a wide selection of Linux software, most of which is free.
   
   Linux can run Windows software using the following packages:
   
   VMWare at http://www.vmware.com/
   Win4Lin at http://www.trelos.com/
   Wine at http://www.winehq.com/
   
   The differences in the approaches are that the VMWare type emulator runs windows itself in a virtual PC environment under Linux. It can also run other x86 operating systems this way (even Linux itself. ;)
   
   Win4Lin takes a similar approach of running Windows itself, but instead of providing a virtual x86 machine that can run any operating system, Win4Lin is based on DOS emulation technology and supports the DOS-based Windows variants such as 95 and 98, but not NT.
   
   The approach Wine takes is to re-implement the Windows API's as free software. As such, there are many more obstacles to overcome (undocumented API calls, Microsoft API changes between versions, etc) In any case, one of the more interesting things to come out of the Wine project is Winelib.
   
   Winelib allows programs written for Windows to be compiled under Linux, so they are natively runnable in Linux. This is how Corel is porting their office suite to Linux. Corel has also been contributing substantially to the Wine project for about a year.
   
   
   
2. I heard you can download Linux free. Why can't I find it on your site?
   Linux.com exists to provide information to the Linux community and to promote Linux in general. Visit our Get Linux! page at http://linux.com/getlinux/ for information about the individual distributions. Their sites will direct you to download and installation instructions.
   
   You can also get Linux on CD-ROM at very low cost (from $2US) from vendors such as:
   
   Cheapbytes: http://www.cheapbytes.com/
   Linux Central: http://www.linuxcentral.com/
   Linux Mall: http://www.linuxmall.com/
   
   Also, what you may not have heard is that the most important "free" about Linux refers to freedom, not cost. Specifically, the freedom given to developers to add to, refine and fix the Linux kernel and its base programs. This freedom extends to users, also, who are free to share the free software.
   
   In other words, you're not getting ripped off if you pay for Linux. What you're paying for is convenient packaging, manuals, salaries of some of people who create the software, and support.
   
   
   
3. I live outside the U.S. Where can I find Linux locally and in languages other than English?
   There are many distributors of Linux in many different languages around the world. Presently, the most reliable way we know of to find up-to-date information about the various options is to find a LUG (Linux User Group) in or near your country and peruse its web pages. You can do this by doing a country-code search in our LUGs section at http://www.linux.com/lug/search.phtml
   
   We're currently working on a global Linux CD vendor list to help with this, too.
   
   If you represent a distribution we don't have listed on http://linux.com/getlinux/ please use the contact info there so you can get yourself listed!
   
   If you don't see your favorite localized distribution there, please encourage a representative to contact us!
   
   
   
4. How can I tell if my hardware is supported by Linux?
   Take a look at the Linux Compatibility HOWTO at http://metalab.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO.html
   
   Most distributions provide lists of hardware they support, too.
   
   Another alternative to guarantee Linux compatability is to purchase a computer from a hardware company who supports Linux such as:
   
   VA Linux Systems (our sponsor!)
   
   
   
5. Can I run Linux on the same computer as Windows?
   Yes. If you have an existing Windows system, you can split the partition using tools such as fips or Partition Magic.
   
   Some distributions come with scaled-down versions of Partition Magic if you buy the commercial "boxed set" version - as of this writing, MacMillan's distribution of Linux Mandrake 6.0 and Caldera OpenLinux 2.2. Partition Magic makes partition resizing much easier for users who aren't familiar with the process.
   
   Also, Linux Mandrake is working on a free partition resizer called DiskDrake. More information can be found here: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/diskdrake/
   
   
   
6. Will I be able to use Microsoft Office files in Linux?
   Yes.
   
   Star Office, a cross-platform office suite is available for no-cost at http://www.stardivision.com/
   
   Applixware is another office suite and is available at http://www.applix.com/
   
   Corel Word Perfect can read and write Microsoft Word files and is available at no cost for personal use at http://www.corel.com/
   
   AbiWord can read Word97 and RTF documents and is free in all senses, including "open source". It's available at http://www.abisource.com/
   
   
   
7. I want to buy stock in Linux! What's your ticker symbol?
   Linux is software, not a company. Linux itself is written, maintained and supported by a variety of individuals and companies.
   
   For a list of publically-held corporations involved with and supporting Linux see Linux Weekly News' "Linux Stock Index" page at http://www.lwn.net/stocks/