Learning Debian GNU/Linux

Other Approaches to Desktop Computing

If, after trying various desktop suites for Linux, you find yourself pining for your original Windows desktop suite, you can possibly coax your desktop suite to cooperate with Linux in either of two ways:

• the VMware virtual platform

• WINE

This section of the chapter explains these remaining options.

The VMware Virtual Platform

VMware, Inc. recently released a beta version of a product it calls VMware for Linux. The company promises a commercial release of the product that should be available by the time you read this. A related product, VMware for Windows NT, should also be available. For the latest information, check VMware’s web site, http://www.vmware.com/.

As the names suggest, VMware for Linux runs under Linux whereas VMware for Windows NT runs under Microsoft Windows NT. Each product lets you run a so-called guest operating system alongside the host operating system. Supported guest operating systems include:

• FreeBSD

• Linux

• MS-DOS 6

• Solaris 7 Intel Edition

• Windows 2000 Professional Beta

• Windows 3.1

• Windows 95

• Windows 98

• Windows NT 4.0

For example, using VMware, your Linux system can launch and execute your favorite Windows 9x applications, including desktop suites. Preliminary experience with VMware suggests that it is a robust and efficient means of running legacy desktop applications under Linux.

A time-limited demo version of VMware for Linux is available on the company’s web site. List price for both versions of VMware is $299 (US); ...