Challenges

Ehren was excited about dumping Windows and moving completely to Linux. However, he depended on two Windows applications which had no equivalent in Linux. One was a software application specifically for running a massage business. Another was a special application for connecting to his particular credit union to do online banking.

Also, Ehren was used to using Quicken, and would need a suitable alternative.

Solution

We tried to run the special applications under WINE, a free Windows emulator. This would allow the applications to run on Linux without having Windows installed. However, we found no record that anyone had ever tried to run these applications with WINE.

As it turned out, I was able to install the applications to run under WINE with just a little bit of fussing. Aside from some minor issues with different fonts displaying, the applications seemed to run perfectly fine on Linux.

Ehren evalulated GnuCash, a free, open source financial program. It was attractive to him because it contains some business features, such as creating invoices.

Results

Ehren seems quite happy with Linux. He's writing a book now using OpenOffice, and appreciates tabbed-browsing with Mozilla Firefox. The one complaint I hear is that some multimedia browser plug-ins don't work. This could be addressed by purchasing and installing CrossOver Office, which provides access to plug-ins for Quicktime and Windows Media Player. However, this hasn't been a priority for Ehren to address.

In his own words:

"I had just purchased Quicken a month before I switched. Even though Gnucash did not have all of Quicken's features, I felt that the freedom that Linux and the future of Open Source promised was more important than a slew of features that it turns out I don't really need."

"The Microsoft operating system and office I was using were outdated. I would have pay to upgrade them. With Linux, there were free modern alternatives."

"I enjoy feeling like I'm part of the community, rather than just a consumer. When we got my special applications running under WINE, I submitted them to the WINE application database, so other people would know they worked. Both were accepted."

"I feel more like if I really have a problem, there will be people I can talk to. If they don't know the answer, there is probably someone who cares enough to look for one."