The role of Wine

[Shachar Shemesh]

Moshe Brace using Yahoo wrote:

> I read with great interest the plea  for help to remain in Linux 
> instead of  returning to Windows. 
>
> One of the major concerns I have on this issue is the use of 
> programmes like Wine and other emulators. If using these programmes I 
> feel in some way that it is a form of cheating on oneself. Are we in 
> Linux or are we in Windows? When do we actually cross the line?
>
An operating system is an environment meant for running applications. 
Ideally, it is the applications, rather than the OS, that are the real 
ends, with the OS merely being means to that end.


If you need a specific application, and yet still get a choice of which 
OS to run it over, than everybody wins (well, maybe the manufacturer of 
the monopolistic OS doesn't win, but who cares?). I think treating it as 
a "line" is the wrong question to ask.

> Even with all the tweaking that I may have to do to get a stubborn 
> programme to work with Linux, I like using it and feel comfortable 
> using it. Regarding Office programmes, yes there are more options in 
> the Microsoft Office version, but as a person who has learnt Technical 
> Writing, I would say that most people do not use even half of these 
> options; they can easily get away with using Open Office.
>
Now you are no longer talking about which OS to use. You are now clearly 
within the realm of which word processor to use.


Shachar

-- 
Shachar Shemesh
Lingnu Open Source Consulting Ltd.
http://www.lingnu.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.huji.ac.il/pipermail/linux-il/attachments/20090326/b35fe902/attachment.html>