Hello, I'm not an advanced gnu/linux user but I will try to help you as much as I can.
"Do you have to install a Windough$ version (XP, Vista, 7) before you can install programs in WINE?"
No! You only need a linux distro and a wine version in oder to install your programs. Wine is not really a full emulator but a compatibility layer providing alternative implementations of the dll that Windows programs call, and a process to substitute for the Windows NT KERNEL.
"Is WINE good for anything other than games and a couple of other programs?"
That was why Wine was created, to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix Like operating systems. You can check
http://appdb.winehq.org/ to see which applications are supported. What else do you want to do with Wine? This is its function. You can read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_%28software%29
Regarding POL:
"Do you have to have any Windough$ installed to use POL?"
No, pol is an application to ease the installation of Windows applications (primarily games) using Wine. That's all.
" Is it more versatile than WINE? (I.E. Can I use it to install/work my magellan gps & map send programs?)"
Pol is more helpful and I think was created to ease the users effort when installing applications using wine. I don't know if you can install your magellan gps and map send programs. Maybe this link can help you :
http://tuxmobil.org/linux_gps_naviga...lications.html
Good luck !
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