Zorin OS (Linux) - use windows programs ?

myself321

Hi there

I am going to try Zorin OS (never used linux before)
http://zorin-os.com/index.html#

it says on their website "run Microsoft Windows programs in Zorin OS with the help of WINE and PlayOnLinux."

would i just download them and install them as normal (the above programs do the rest in the background) as on a Windows OS.?

Do i need an AV? , any other hints and tips much appreciated .

patman99

WINE will run some Windows software (I do say 'some' as it won't run everything). You should be able to download this from your installation's package manager.

Not sure about PlayOnLinux though. Transgaming do a similar paid-for product called 'GameTree for Linux'.
I would guess that to use all the software you want, you might need to install 3 pieces of software to cover your needs.

henm2

Zorin does have a good reputation but I have not used it regularly only booted it as a live distro off a multiboot usb flash stick. In Linux you do not download programs in the way you are used to only do it via Zorins's software manager 'software centre' or alternatively as with many other distros via the alternative downloader called Synaptic. All programs downloaded are free and clean from viruses trojans etc.
The WINE program will play some windows software.
Other good distros are Linux Mint 15 cinnamon edition(just released), LXLE (based on Lubuntu), and Solydk (which is based on Linux Mint debian edition)

esuhl

Search the WINE Application Database to see if a particular Windows program is known to work under WINE or not: http://appdb.winehq.org/

PlayOnLinux is based on WINE. You can search for supported apps here: http://www.playonlinux.com/en/supported_apps.html

To be honest, if you pick a Windows program at random, there's probably at least a 95% chance that it won't work under WINE/PlayOnLinux.

No; you probably don't need an antivirus on Linux. There are antiviruses available, but they are usually only used by people who are using their Linux machine to serve Windows computers. (e.g. If your Linux box is a mail server, it could receive copies of Windows viruses. That won't affect the Linux machine itself, but you might want to install an antivirus so the Linux machine kills the virus before it passes it on to a Windows machine. For normal use, as a desktop PC, you don't need an antivirus.)

I haven't heard of Zorin before. It looks like it might be quite interesting for new Linux adoptees... How are you finding it so far?

henm2

there are many good linux alternatives to popular windows programs. Check this link to help locate the right linux based alternative programs for you http://linuxappfinder.com/alternatives

debitcardmayhem

You don't say which machine you are contemplating running Linux on. I mainly use Fedora as my day to day OS of choice, but I run that on an i5 with 8GB of ram and use Win 7 Pro in a virtual machine at the same time. You also don't mention which Windows programs you wish to use either, a little more info may help everyone to suggest / help further.