UNC Linux Users Group

[Andrew Lee <andrew_lee AT unc.edu>]

Jesse,

The best option is CrossOver Office. I've been running it for over three
years now. It's much easier to use than WINE and the educational
discount is good, http://www.codeweavers.com/products/pricing/, $48.97,
for one copy, which you can install on as many boxes you want as long as
they're not being used at the same time.

Andrew

Jesse Aaron Safir wrote:
> Cristobal,
> 
> I have VMWare Workstation 5.0.  I've run it on Windows and run Linux
> inside.  I could also run it on Linux and run Windows inside.  The problem
> with virtualization like this though is that it's not always easy to share
> files between the host and guest OSes.  There's also the FREE version of
> WMWare Virtual Server, which used to be called GSX.  I'm running that on a
> RHEL4 server now and it works about the same as VMWare Workstation.
> 
> I'd love to be able to run Windows apps under Linux without having to run
> a Windows OS inside a VM.  I can try this with WINE if you can point me in
> the right direction.
> 
>> On Fri, May 19, 2006 at 01:45:38PM -0400, Jesse Aaron Safir wrote:
>>> Brian,
>>>
>>> What's the difference between CrossOver Office and WINE?
>> CrossOver is a product of Codeweavers that has a proprietary/restrictive
>> license, BUT does give you a very nice, relatively usable product compared 
>> to
>> the Open Source WINE project.
>>
>> If you want the ability to run misc MS/windows apps on your linux machine,
>> what you really want is VMware workstation. That will allow you to run the
>> entire MS operating system inside a virtual machine on your Linux box. 
>> Don't
>> attempt this unless you have > 10GB of HD space you can throw at it and > 
>> 1GB
>> of RAM on the machine in question. Much less than that and you won't be 
>> very
>> happy with the performance of your system.
>>
>> Please do note that VMware _also_ has a proprietary/closed/restrictive
>> license and will "taint" your kernel. If you are running RHEL and getting
>> support from them, they won't help you with whatever machine you stick it
>> on (so I hear, anyway). Official support agreements and closed/open 
>> arguments
>> aside, VMware workstation is a decent product.
>>
>> Keep your eye on Xen, though. Xen is coming along fast and will, with the
>> right VT CPU hardware, allow for the hosting of unmodified guest operating
>> systems (read: windows).
>>
>> -CMP
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>>> I will throw in a plug for CrossOver office. It is a very cool product
>>>> if you have to have it. For nothing else, it's fun to watch the MS
>>>> Office install do a "reboot" inside a window while the machine keeps
>>>> right on humming along.
>>>>
>>>> Cristobal Palmer wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, May 18, 2006 at 05:48:26PM -0400, Jesse Aaron Safir wrote:
>>>>>> Greg et al,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> How about WINE?  It appears that WINE is included in SuSE Linux 10.1 so
>>>>>> perhaps we don't need CrossOver Office if it's nearly the same thing?  
>>>>>> Do
>>>>>> you know of any good documents or guides that are about getting started
>>>>>> with WINE?
>>>>> While there is documentation on how to get started with wine, it is not 
>>>>> for
>>>>> the timid or weak, and it is hardly a complete solution, as it is always
>>>>> going to be behind the curve and there will always be 
>>>>> plugins/extensions for
>>>>> MS Office that aren't compatible.
>>>>>
>>>>> What's wrong with OpenOffice.org? What do you need to do with MS Office 
>>>>> that
>>>>> you can't do with a Linux-native app? If you _must_ use MS Office, you 
>>>>> will
>>>>> currently need to purchase Codeweaver's product or perhaps simply run 
>>>>> an MS
>>>>> OS under VMware or do a dual boot or...
>>>>>
>>>>> But again... what are you trying to do that there's not an Open Source 
>>>>> app?
>>>>>
>>>>> -CMP
>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://en.opensuse.org/Using_Xgl_on_SUSE_Linux
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Steps your through the process. It is unclear to me if the i830 is
>>>>>>> supported. Best thing to do is try. The i845 is supported.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> gregory j pryzby
>>>>>>> technology specialist
>>>>>>> office: 703-880-4979
>>>>>>> gpryzby AT novell.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Novell, Inc.
>>>>>>> Software for the Open Enterprise
>>>>>>> http://www.novell.com/open
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, May 17, 2006 at  7:49 PM, in message
>>>>>>> <Pine.WNT.4.63.0605171936010.2100@vgfqfwnfe40>, Jesse Aaron Safir
>>>>>>> <jesse_safir AT unc.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Okay so I have SuSE Linux 10.1 from OpenSuSE.org but how do I get
>>>>>>> this Xgl
>>>>>>>> stuff working?  Will my ThinkPad R31 support it?  I've got an Intel
>>>>>>> i830
>>>>>>>> graphics card and it does say "Activate 3D Acceleration".  What else
>>>>>>> do I
>>>>>>>> need to do?
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> --
>>>> Brian Payst, MS
>>>> Director of Technology & Systems Support
>>>> Division of Student Affairs
>>>> The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
>>>> voice: (919) 962-1469 fax: (919) 962-5241
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>> --
>> ------------------------------------------
>> Cristobal M. Palmer
>> UNC-CH SILS
>> cmpalmer AT ils.unc.edu
>>
>> internet equivalent of naked baby photos:
>> http://ils.unc.edu/~cmpalmer/
>> ------------------------------------------
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-- 
Andrew Lee
Associate Director for Information Security
Information Technology Services
UNC - Chapel Hill
phone: (919) 445-9394

Quis custodiet ipsos custodies? ("Who will guard the guards?") - Juvenal