Chapter 8. Using Linux Applications and Clients
This chapter describes how you can use Linux for common desktop computing tasks. You’ll learn about popular desktop suites and applications. This chapter also introduces VMWare, a program that lets you run Microsoft Windows and Linux simultaneously, and WINE, a program that lets you run some Microsoft applictions under Linux.
The Debian Project is firmly committed to including only truly Open Source software in its main distribution. Not all the programs mentioned in this chapter and the next meet the Open Source definition. Part of the beauty of Linux, though, is the ease with which it can be enhanced. The Contributed and Non-free archives on the Debian site include a wealth of additional software, and some programs are available direct from third party providers.
Linux Desktop Applications
Not long ago, running Linux meant abandoning your easy-to-use WYSIWYG word processor or configuring your system for dual boot, so that you could boot Microsoft Windows or IBM OS/2 to access friendly and familiar desktop applications. At that time, Linux supported no robust, full-featured graphical desktop suites.
Today, Linux supports several desktop suites; several more are under development. Apparently, if rumors are to be believed, even Microsoft is considering adapting their Office desktop suite to run under Linux. Whether or not Linux users can expect to soon run Microsoft Office for Linux (or whatever name Microsoft might give this potential ...
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