[KLUG Members] Help - Not OS Discussion

[Greg Mason]

>> I want to be able to see web sites the way they are "meant" to be
>> seen.  A large number of websites use proprietary things like ActiveX
>> and ASP.  I don't want that to be a hindrance.
>
> ASP isn't a problem that is a server side thing.
>
> Nothing ActiveX will ever work on any platform other than M$-Windows,
> ever; isn't going to happen; can't be done.  Fortunately IE specific
> sites do seem to be on a general decline, with a trend back toward some
> semblence of sanity overall.
>
>> What about Macromedia, etc.?
>
> Flash works fine.  As does Java.  At least it does for me.

Flash works great in KDE's Konqueror.
for other stuff (and flash 7) go to www.codeweavers.com and pick up 
CrossOver Plugin. It allows you to use all the standard windows plugins 
in your favorite browsers.

the only thing i've had problems with is one obscure website that uses 
Microsoft's broken java implementation.

>> I want to play my games... most of which are designed for windows.

look at www.transgaming.com WineX is a project where they are 
recreating the windows API for games. Some games have Linux installers 
already (like Unreal Tournament 2003)

>> I want to make the most of my video card.  The software that came
>> with it is Windows based.  (Radeon 8500DV)  Also, ATI does not
>> support the card on Linux.
>
> Don't own one.  I think several laptops around have Radeon chipsets and
> they are working, although it may take a touch of fiddlin'.

Come to a KLUG beginner's night to be sure it works, although I've 
heard that the newer ATI cards are working really well. I use NVidia 
personally, and i've had no big probs (except their stupid installer)

>> Currently I'm running Windows 98 and am experiencing a myriad of
>> problems.  I'm considering upgrading to Win2K or WinXP.  But, before
>> I fork out the cash, I thought I'd give Linux another chance.
>> Can all this be handled without much thought yet?

Yes, for office-like stuff, either use OpenOffice or fork out the cash 
for CodeWeaver's CrossOver Office to run M$ office on your linux 
desktop (i've done this for all the stupid excel stuff I need to work 
with, and whenever i need that god-awful excuse for a web browser from 
Redmond)

you can always set your machine up as a dual-boot system, so if 
anything WONT work, you can still hop back on windoze and use that one 
obscure thing that doesn't work yet.

For what you want, you may want to look at a distro that includes 
Crossover Office and Crossover Plugin (like Xandros).

Hey, my girl friend is using a linux desktop. if she can do it, anybody 
can :)