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How-To: Teach Linux To Do Windows, Part 1: Page 4 of 32

  1. Not all Linux applications are in place yet, particularly in the graphics and multimedia areas. For example, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an acceptable substitute for Photoshop or PaintShopPro only in the imagination of the Open Source zealots. In fact, they'll tell you it can substitute for Corel Draw, too!
  2. You'll need Windows applications to access your legacy application data files which don't have Linux equivalents which handle those file formats. Also, there are things not completely implemented in Linux yet, such as printer setup / maintenance. You'll probably have to boot to Windows to get to them.
  3. While Linux ports are in progress for many Windows applications, people who stay on the leading edge can't wait for them anymore. We can switch from legacy to Linux applications as they become available.
  4. Incompatibilities still exist between MS Office documents and the most popular Open Office programs. (That said, they are mainly a problem for those who require more complex document-formatting options, macros, etc.)