[Leaplist] help with adding software

["pberry2" at cfl.rr.com]

Luke Goss wrote:
> I have recently switched to kubuntu and am enjoying it a lot. However, 
> I would like to use some of my old software that ran on windows, such 
> as some emulation programs, etc.
>    Is there a way to make kubuntu act like a windows, or os10 program, 
> at least for the purpose of running a specific program?
>     Also, is there any way to install programs via the add remove 
> programs feature that are not already on the list?
>     Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>      Luke Goss, Bay City, Michigan

There are many solutions to achieving your desire to run old Microsoft 
system software on any 'Nix platform.  BUT, there are so many variables, 
that for much of them, it is a case by case basis.  Some applications 
run better, as even Windos XP runs better and faster in an emulator on 
Linux, than it runs native, according to many reviewers in the press. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Basics of the Unix Clones:

GNU/Linux is a clone of Unix, the Linux kernel written by Linus Torvalds 
and released August 25, 1991.  Around it is bundled any of more than 
134,430 free applications and programs, to make the FREE and open 
distributions that could number in the 500+ range.  I do know that 
http://distrowatch.com host the top 100 most popular by download, on 
their front page, plus have another 194 in the waiting queue (must be 
offered for 3 months, and work up to be popular enough to dismount a 
current member of the leaderboard).

BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) was released by Berkeley UC in 
1984, as 386BSD.

There are a plethora of Unix like OSes, but, this is a GNU/Linux forum, 
and, that is the target of our discussion.

Then, there are an unknown number of commercial offerings of 
applications, that run on the *BSD, GNU/Linux, and other 'Nixs presented.

The 'Nixs are concurrent multi-processing, multi-tasking OSes.  Imagine 
an airport, that has 4,000 parallel gates for passengers to enter, and 
you might be describing a 'Nix environment.  There are about 54 other 
OSes I have found, at http://freeos.com  and many are discussed as being 
emulated on one platform, at http://www.oszoo.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page 

___ __ __ _ _ _ ______  __ _  _ _ __  _

Microsoft's 9 versions of Vista, several versions of XP, ME, 98,95,3.x 
and DOS are consecutive processing systems. 

Imagine an airport that has a single entry gate and everyone stands in 
queue to enter.  When one falls over, everything stops.
If you open multiple windows in any Microsoft system, you certainly 
cannot open what the 'Nixs can run, which is  200 windows in each of 20 
desktops, all at the same time!   And, as one window executes it's 
processes, all others wait their turn, in the Microsoft environment. 

On systems that process aaat 3 Gigahertz, that might not matter to some 
folks, who haven't experienced the speed and efficiency of a true 
multi-processing concurrent environment, like http://pcbsd.org or 
http://pclinuxos.com

__ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _

Now, there are tons of programs and applications that run well on the 
Microsoft systems, as well as can happen considering the limitations 
that are built in.  If those programs comply strictly with the Win32 
API, they might run in an emulator, under the 'Nixs.  Some of the 
emulators are:
DOSEMU;  WINE;  CrossoverOffice; Transgaming's Cedega; WINEX; VMware; 
MAME32.   Some require a licensed copy of Microsoft XP, ME, 98,95, or 3.x. 

There are also various other options, such as dual booting, dual 
computers with different OSes loaded and running ( Warranteed Dell 
Refurbs. start at $69 at http://cheaptronicsdepot.com ) .  Having 
personally dealt with them, I will stick my neck out and recommend, they 
are a mile from my home.  I do recommend at least a 933Mhz Dell 
Dimension 4100 like I run here today (I switch out computers every three 
weeks to three months,  to
recycle them, as I do have dozens in this pile-up of curbside donations 
and homebuilt systems.

Also, Cygwin, and other options exist, to run a 'Nix in an emulator, on 
a Microsoft system.   I wouldn't try it, but, my purposes are 
different.  I like to test hardware for compatibility with GNU/Linux. 

_ _ _ __ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _


Bottom line,  run a Microsoft system if you must, and you can spare the 
time and resources to maintain it, just to run the odd old proprietary 
application or game, but, run a Linux system to explore and enjoy the 
vast offerings  of Open Source solutions , games, applications. 

Oh, most the good stuff on the Internet actually runs very smoothly and 
fast, such as Second Life, in Firefox browser, on a Linux such as 
Ubuntu, or PCLinuxOS, or Fedora. 

Patrick Berry,
Casselberry, Florida