numbutu

[SAABQueen7]

I am considering changing from Windows 2000XP to Linux Numbutu. Can anyone tell me if I will be able to use my Word and Excell docs? Also, will I be able to use Windows Media Player? If not, what are my options? We download music regularly and most sites use WMP as their prefered player.
Thanks.

[happybunny]

Let me guess...this is your first venture into linux?

first, its Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/). It is a great place to start, especially for someone who just wants to use a computer.

As far as your MS based products, no not really. However there are alternatives.

OpenOffice.org is arguably better, if not just similar to the Office suite. OpenOffice can read in your Office documents, with the exception of macro based Excel doc's, but most should be fine. If this is a concern, you could try SUSE linux....their version of OpenOffice includes much deeper support for Excel from what I've seen.

Mplayer, totem, kplayer (?), xine, xmms are all media players. Adding support for proprietary formats is easy, especially in Ubuntu.

[mrrangerman43]

Wellcome

Well its called Ubuntu, and it comes with the Gnome desktop windows manager, if you want a desktop that looks alot like windows you will want Kubuntu which uses KDE for a windows manager. Take a look a this link http://www.justlinux.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=53 and you will find a hundred different ideas. Because of copyright laws most players you get with linux will not have the needed codex to play .wmp and such. But can be made to work. As for Word and Excell .docs I'm not sure but I believe OpenOffice can read and write to them. Once I started using, OpenOffice I have found I don't need Word or Excell. Unless you need Word for work.

Dan

[Parcival]

Mplayer, totem, kplayer (?), xine, xmms are all media players. Adding support for proprietary formats is easy, especially in Ubuntu.

It will not be possible, however, to play legally purchased and downloaded songs that come with a DRM protection that requires Windows Media Player.

On the other hand, it's not wise to purchase DRM protected songs anyway. I buy my songs in a Swiss online store that provides part of its music as MP3 downloads and they play on any platform.

[TheCatMan]

True. Based on the DRM-"protected" sound files I've seen for sale, I've concluded that DRM stands for Divert Revenue to Microsoft.

As for office docs etc, I've used programs like Gnumeric and Abiword as well as OpenOffice, and all 3 can open and save in MS Office-compatible formats. Macros don't work but I've never needed them - your mileage may vary.

The irony is that I have less trouble opening MS Office format files since switching to Linux than I used to when I was using Windows at home. Recent versions of Open Office are more MS-compatible than old versions of MS Office.

[SAABQueen7]

Everyone I talk to keeps talking about Excel macros. I am unsure what that refers to. I have most of my files in Word and in excel spreadsheets. Will these work in unbutu? I also have some paint files. Can I convert them to something else and maintain their integrity?

[Parcival]

Everyone I talk to keeps talking about Excel macros. I am unsure what that refers to.

If you are just an "ordinary" Excel user who uses the program to make lists, sort them, and calculate some basic formulas, don't worry about it.

I have most of my files in Word and in excel spreadsheets. Will these work in unbutu?

Yes, they will, although you never have a 100% guarantee for compatibility. However, I have made the experience that OpenOffice has the better crossplatform compatibility than Microsofts very own products released for Mac and Windows.

I also have some paint files. Can I convert them to something else and maintain their integrity?

The Gimp will answer all your painting needs. It is similar to Photoshop, which you may already know from Windows.

[chameleon]

I have most of my files in Word and in excel spreadsheets. Will these work in unbutu?

Yes, no problem. I open, edit, and save MS word, excel and powerpoint files in Ubuntu on a daily basis without any problem.

[TheCatMan]

If you get hold of a Knoppix CD, you can boot the CD to get a full operating system without installing anything, that will give you a chance to try opening and using your own Excel files in a Linux environment with no risk.

(K)ubuntu also works as a live CD, but I 'm not sure if it includes Open Office or if you'd have to download it after installing.

[blackbelt_jones]

-
+/\

[Parcival]

Yes, the Kubuntu liveCD comes with Openoffice.

[WhiteKnight]

Yes, they will, although you never have a 100% guarantee for compatibility. However, I have made the experience that OpenOffice has the better crossplatform compatibility than Microsofts very own products released for Mac and Windows.
Very true... My excel macros work in Window's version of excel but fails to run in the mac version.

The Gimp will answer all your painting needs. It is similar to Photoshop, which you may already know from Windows.
Although Gimp is very similar to Photoshop, IMO they are quite different actually... As of now, i dont think Gimp is a enough for a substitute for photoshop. But its a great piece of software though.

[dkeav]

depends on what you use photoshop for

[Parcival]

Although Gimp is very similar to Photoshop, IMO they are quite different actually... As of now, i dont think Gimp is a enough for a substitute for photoshop. But its a great piece of software though.

I haven't checked for Linux yet, but for Mac OS X Gimpshop is available. :D It's Gimp just with the Photoshop style GUI.

The reason why my friends working professionally in the business haven't replaced Photoshop with Gimp yet is because it can't do CMYK.

[Loverman]

http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html

[SAABQueen7]

So, if I was going to choose a type of Linux that was closest to Windows, in the way it functions and looks at the desktop level, which would I choose?

[happybunny]

So, if I was going to choose a type of Linux that was closest to Windows, in the way it functions and looks at the desktop level, which would I choose?

Choose Windows XP or Windows Vista then.

If you want Windows stick with Windows.

[chameleon]

You want to move away from WInXP/2000, but you want to move to something that looks, feels and functions like WinXP/2000, and you're concerned that none of your office docs will work?

Do you think maybe you're not really ready to take the plunge into the Linux pool?

[dkeav]

what he said, if you are not willing to learn or change, and you just want a "free" copy of windows, then stick with windows and pay for it

linux is linux, windows is windows, if you want to learn something new and embrace change, we are here to help, we cant fix windows for you

[TheCatMan]

I don't entirely agree.

Yes, Linux is built on a different philosophy from Windows, and I agree nobody should waste time trying to make the two identical, but there are plenty of people who are happy with the look and feel of Windows but dislike other aspects of it (such as the lack of reliability, the hardware requirements and the behaviour of its manufacturer, to name a few). The beauty of a free(ish) market is the ability to keep the good parts and abandon the bad parts.

The best advice I've had from this site is to try it, try it, try it. Get hold of a few live Linux CDs, they cost nothing to download & burn and there's no risk. For an out-of-the-box Windowsy look and feel I'd recommend something that uses KDE (such as Kubuntu).

Alternatively try a Mac. I've never used one, but I cut my PC teeth in the days when Apple were constantly suing Microsoft for copying their ideas, and I'm told the Macintosh interface is still one of the best.

Whatever you choose, even if it's Windows, don't be afraid to play with the system to make it work how you want. Computers are very expensive, very flexible machines, so you might as well spend a few minutes making them comfortable for you to use.

[Parcival]

So, if I was going to choose a type of Linux that was closest to Windows, in the way it functions and looks at the desktop level, which would I choose?

It doesn't really depend on the distribution of your choice, but on the desktop of your choice. If you want a Windows lookalike, go for the KDE desktop and apply the Redmond theme. However, there are other desktop configurations that are way cooler. ;)

[WhiteKnight]

Even if they do look alike, the way they work is vastly different. Linux has interface that look like windows or osx, like what everyone said, it depends on the WM u choose.

I second KDE with Redmond theme.. thats possibily the closest thing u get to windows look with linux, start menu and all. I did use KDE for some time when i just stared out with linux (Mandrake and Knoppix), however, i have switched to enlightenment since. Too much unecessary bloat. But, even with the bloat, it still feels smoother den windows.

Linux is capable of breathing new life into ur old box even when windows had given up on it :P

[XiaoKJ]

IIRC, there are a ton of XP-recreating DEs and WMs that rightfully claim to be closest to the Redmond look and feel, like XPde. However, KDE is far more usable to me, as a Redmond-alike DE, than the others because it only tries to mimic the basic behaviour instead of the whole behaviour/colour-scheme etc...

In fact, KDE is constantly improving in usability while XP->vista is a huge step backwards.