Linux Has It All

Modern Linux is a professional operating system, and its archives contain a mind-boggling amount of software to meet just about every need. For example, it can be used for office tasks, to make music, to play games, to design circuit boards, to edit digital photographs, and much, much more. If you can think of it, Linux has a program that can do it!

It isn't so much a case of Linux chasing Windows's tail and cloning what's available under Microsoft's operating system. It's more the case that Linux has a selection of software that is larger and far more esoteric than that of Windows, but that also includes several programs that provide powerful alternatives to Windows favorites.

Not only that, but diversity is vitally important within Linux. For example, rather than offering just one e-mail program, you'll find there are many available. They compete against each other in a gentle way, and it's up to you which one you settle down with and use.

Note 

The diversity in Linux programs means that no two Linux users are alike. You might use Konqueror for your web browsing, for example, while your friend might use Mozilla (an alternative browser program). You might use OpenOffice.org for your word processing, while your colleague at work might use Koffice. Compare this to the world of Windows, where virtually everyone uses Outlook Express for e-mail, Microsoft Office for office tasks, and Internet Explorer for browsing.

There's a lot of choice out there, and part of the fun of using Linux is exploring what's available. Of course, the added bonus is that virtually all this software is free of charge, so you can simply download, install, and play around. If you don't like it, just remove the program from your system. However, don't forget to revisit the program's home page after a few months; chances are the program will have been expanded and improved in that short period, and it might be better at meeting your needs.

Table 11-1 lists various popular Windows programs alongside their counterparts for SUSE Linux. Remember that the SUSE Linux versions come installed by default and are included free of charge. You'll find the programs listed on the K menu. You certainly don't need to purchase any additional software, as with Windows!

Table 11-1. Comparisons of Windows and Linux Software

Type of Program	Windows	SUSE Linux	Alternative Choices
Word processor	Microsoft Word	OpenOffice.org Writer	Abiword (www.abisource.com), Koffice Kword (www.koffice.org/kword)
Spreadsheet	Microsoft Excel	OpenOffice.org Calc	Gnumeric (www.gnome.org/projects/gnumeric/), Koffice Kspread (www.koffice.org/kspread)
Presentations	Microsoft PowerPoint	OpenOffice.org Impress	Koffice Kpresenter (www.koffice.org/kpresenter)
Drawing (vector art)	Adobe Illustrator	OpenOffice.org Draw	Sodipodi (www.sodipodi.com), Koffice Karbon14 (www.koffice.org/karbon)
Web page creation	Microsoft FrontPage	OpenOffice.org Writer	Mozilla Composer (www.mozilla.org), Amaya(www.w3.org/Amaya/)
E-mail	Outlook	Kmail	Evolution (www.ximian.com/products/evolution/)
Contacts manager/ calendar	Outlook	Kontact	Evolution (www.ximian.com)
Web browser	Internet Explorer	Konqueror	Mozilla (www.mozilla.org), Firefox (www.mozilla.org), Opera (www.opera.com)[*]
CD/DVD burning	Ahead Nero	K3b	X-CD-Roast (www.xcdroast.org)
MP player	Winamp	XMMS KsCD	AlsaPlayer (www.alsaplayer.org)
CD player	Windows Media Player	KsCD	AlsaPlayer (www.alsaplayer.org)
Movie/DVD player	Windows Media Player	Kaffeine (or Xine)	Mplayer (www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/)
Image editor	Adobe Photoshop	The Gimp	Koffice Krita (www.kofffice.org/krita)
Zip files	WinZip	Ark	File Roller (http://fileroller.sourceforge.net/)
MS-DOS prompt	cmd.exe/ command.exe	Konsole	Xterm (installed by default in SUSE
Calculator	Calc	KCalc	Too many to mention!
Text editor/viewer	Notepad	Kate	Kwrite (www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=9901 )
Desktop games	Minesweeper/ Solitaire	Kmines/Kpatience	Too many to mention!
[*] A free version of Opera is available, but it is proprietary software, rather than open source.

Table 11-1 also includes a number of other mainstream alternatives, which aren't installed by default under SUSE Linux. You might wish to try some of these after you've read later chapters in this book covering program installation. Most are on the SUSE Linux DVD-ROM that comes free with this book or, in a minority of cases, just a quick download away.

Note 

Table 11-1 lists only a fraction of the programs available under Linux. There are quite literally hundreds, if not thousands, of others. The programs listed here are those that work like their Windows equivalents and therefore provide an easy transition.