Hey guys!

ok I want some opinions about running windows apps in Linux.
I have been using WINE for a while with ok results but I want to find and use the BEST!

The products that I have been looking at are:


WINE - OK works for most apps. not so good with games

DOSBox - great for DOS apps but lacks the ability to emulate windows

PlayOnLinux - better than just WINE for games.

Crossover Office - costs money, scary!

Cedega - also costs money...

Other then games there isn't any good reason to run windows apps on Linux. You just want to because you are used to those apps and uneducated about the Linux alternitives. I have an old cedega; they changed it around so you had to use some GUI to install games and it checks you subscription. I don't like that so I just use the old version. It plays the games I want. I try to use Linux native applications whenever possible there are even some great Linux games available. Also the vast majority of native linux apps and games are opensource and thus free.

Since you need Windows apps, run them in windows. But, do it in a virtualized way. There are several methods for doing this, and one should work well for you.

I have given up dual-booting just to run an old but faithful scanner. Now, within my Slackware system I use VirtualBox to run Windows2000 and the scanner driver application.

On a P4 2.4 Ghz unit with 515M of ram the CPU runs hard, and memory use is high, but doesn't swap.