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AmpersUK
January 31st, 2010, 01:44 PM
Greetings from Finchley,

I am a retired Journalist who has been using Ubuntu since 7.10 and would like to do more for the community. However I am not that technically minded and my only programming experience was when in 1979, I wrote an invoicing program in B.A.S.I.C. :-)

In addition I am 70 so although active, a little too old to learn really involved new tricks.

So I thought I would use what skills I have to help and write an article.

This will be aimed at Windows users who are too timid to take the plunge. It will be along the lines of the 70,000 PCs of the French Gendarmerie who introduced their users to new software that was available on Windows and Linux such as Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office. After eighteen months of their users getting used to the new software, they switched everybody to Ubuntu - no fuss!

I have been researching a list of programs that work on the Mac, Windows and Linux. I have included the Mac as this is important as well. However I am only giving Windows and Linux alternatives as I believe Mac users are probably well aware of what is available out there on Windows. How could they not be?

My list, so far, is:

Internet Explorer - Firefox
Outlook email - Thunderbird
Windows Office - Open Office
Photoshop - The Gimp
Adobe InDesign - Scribus (and mention the excellent "official" book on Amazon)
CorelDraw - Inkscape

I will also research commercial books on each program.

CAN YOU HELP?

It would be desirable to have a list of ten to fifteen programs of the more common ones required in Linux so that people can get used to them in Windows before they make the switch.

I will also add the article to the various publication websites out there such as ISSUU, Knol and Scribd - have I missed any out?

My thinking is there must be a huge number of people who have heard about Linux but who are just too timid to make the change because they think that they will not be able to do their work if they can't have their Windows programs.

Over to you...

Ampers

Yellow Pasque
January 31st, 2010, 01:51 PM
This is what wubi is for, no?

konqueror7
January 31st, 2010, 01:53 PM
mmm...an instant messaging and a voip program should also be included, they are also almost at the same usage level as with browsers,,,

IM >> Pidin IM
VoIP >> Skype

for others, i think they are too specific for most users,,,a photo manager maybe? good luck with the article!

chewearn
January 31st, 2010, 01:53 PM
Here is a link which could be useful:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeSoftwareAlternatives

Swagman
January 31st, 2010, 01:57 PM
This is what wubi is for, no?

No.

OP was asking for equal (or near to) programs that windows users could easily gain familiarity with as to help the transition to Ubuntu/Linux

There is always WINE/Play on Linux that "helps" some windows programs to work. I use Ps Cs2 in WINE and it works ok.

anaconda
January 31st, 2010, 01:57 PM
Also worth mentionng that some windows programs do work in linux (and mac)
eg. office2007 and adobe photoshop CS2 both work with a new version of winw..

AmpersUK
January 31st, 2010, 02:57 PM
This is what wubi is for, no?

No, I am aware of Wubi, but this is not aimed at the people who start to take the plunge by installing Wubi. But thanks for your contribution.

AmpersUK
January 31st, 2010, 03:05 PM
Here is a link which could be useful:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeSoftwareAlternatives

Thanks for that, I will need to spend some time here as I need Mac alternatives as well. However, it will point me in the right direction and Ican add the middle link to my article as well.

AmpersUK
January 31st, 2010, 03:07 PM
mmm...an instant messaging and a voip program should also be included, they are also almost at the same usage level as with browsers,,,

IM >> Pidin IM
VoIP >> Skype

for others, i think they are too specific for most users,,,a photo manager maybe? good luck with the article!

Thanks, I can also add a section for main programs who also offer a Linux version such as Skype. Not sure if Pidgin is available on the Mac.

AmpersUK
January 31st, 2010, 03:09 PM
Also worth mentionng that some windows programs do work in linux (and mac)
eg. office2007 and adobe photoshop CS2 both work with a new version of winw..

I had a look at winw (http://www.winw.org/) but couldn't see how this would assist???

anaconda
January 31st, 2010, 09:06 PM
I had a look at winw (http://www.winw.org/) but couldn't see how this would assist???

Ooops there was a typo in my post..

Of course I meant wine, not winw
More info can be found from:
http://www.winehq.org/

With wine you can run windows programs in linux/mac machines.

aysiu
January 31st, 2010, 09:26 PM
You may want to check out http://www.osalt.com and http://www.linuxappfinder.com

konqueror7
February 1st, 2010, 01:47 PM
Thanks, I can also add a section for main programs who also offer a Linux version such as Skype. Not sure if Pidgin is available on the Mac.

yeah, that would be a good idea separating commercial applications from open-sourced ones...oh, and pidgin is available on mac,,,:D

AmpersUK
February 2nd, 2010, 10:39 AM
You may want to check out http://www.osalt.com and http://www.linuxappfinder.com

Thanks, bookmarked in Speeddisk

Zzl1xndd
February 2nd, 2010, 11:37 AM
Not sure if Pidgin is available on the Mac.


Although Pidgin its self is not avilable on the Mac, they do have Adium (uses Libpurple, same backend as Pidgin).

adium.im/

Also might be worth checking out http://lgn.linux-hardcore.com/ I know Windows switchers are always asking about games.

AmpersUK
February 2nd, 2010, 11:44 AM
Although Pidgin its self is not avilable on the Mac, they do have Adium (uses Libpurple, same backend as Pidgin).

OK, I will check out every program on my list before publishing


Also might be worth checking out http://lgn.linux-hardcore.com/ I know Windows switchers are always asking about games.

Ugh! :-), I should include a paragraph about this but even so, I think Linux has a long way to go to catch up with games. I think the problem is, Games is a much more costly application and our "Open Source" culture will not entice the big Commercial Games Houses into our arena.

Ampers

GregBrannon
February 2nd, 2010, 12:05 PM
IDEs or programming editors:

SciTE
Eclipse
Geany

AmpersUK
February 2nd, 2010, 12:08 PM
IDEs or programming editors:

SciTE
Eclipse
Geany

Not for my article. It is aimed at non-technical users. A gentle suggestion of how they can escape the Windows or Mac "lock-in" mentalist of each of these companies.

I will have ten to fifteen of general programs mentioned and links for further reading if their program hasn't been mentioned.

Ampers.

AmpersUK
February 11th, 2010, 03:42 PM
I have written this article three times. Each time making it as simple as possible as I am aiming at a non-technical non-Linux audience. In addition, I wanted to bring in a real-life situation.

Anyway to cut a long story short, you can read the results on my blog, Knol (Ampers) or Scribd (Ampers) - link to my blog is :: http://ampers.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-source-software-does-it-byte.html (http://ampers.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-source-software-does-it-byte.html)

I am also trying to place it in one of the computer magazines.

Ampers.