Is linux xp desktop compatible with Microsoft Office 2007?

October 10, 2007 8:05 PM

Will linux xp desktop (the new linux program that looks like windows xp and lets one intall some windows software) let me install Microsoft Office 2007? What about an organizer program called Bottin?

I'm thinking about converting from xp to linux xp, but I don't want to have to give up too much in terms of software.

posted by Eiwalker to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Linux XP Desktop uses Wine to run Windows programs. The Wine web site has a list of compatible applications. Office 2007 compatibility is rated "garbage" (poor). Bottin hasn't been tested, as far as I can tell.

You can easily install Wine and run the same Windows programs on other, more popular Linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu) too. You'll probably get better results by finding Linux-native equivalents for most software, though—and maybe dual-booting if there are a few Windows apps you just can't replace.
posted by mbrubeck at 8:24 PM on October 10, 2007

Whoa, talk about your impending lawsuits. I'd switch to a more popular distro than something that will be sued into oblivian very soon.

That said, linux runs windows apps through WINE. No, its not as stable and lots of stuff doesnt run right or not at all. Youre better off emulating/virtualizing a windows install if you want to continue to use windows apps. Also be prepared to become very cozy with the command line.

I suggest you get a live CD and try running some of your apps first.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:30 PM on October 10, 2007

Running windows apps on linux involves using a compatability layer called wine. Unless they have added some particular extensions to wine you'll have as much luck with windows apps on "linux xp" as you will on any other linux distro. A quick look at the wine application database suggests that office 2007 is probably not going to work well or at all (google for "wine office 2007" and see what information you can find). You're going to have a better experience using native linux apps (like openoffice) on a mature distro (like ubuntu) than you will trying to make ms office work on linux. A review of linux xp on linux.com said it logs you in as root by default which is a bad idea, and it seems to be based on fedora 3 which is very old. And it has an activation license fee. In short, you'd be better off trying out Ubuntu or Fedora if you're keen to play around with linux, it'll be much less heartache.
posted by theothersteve at 8:40 PM on October 10, 2007

At a higher level than what the previous comments state: You should not do this.

You should not consider moving to linux xp or any other linux unless you want to begin thinking about your computer (and computing in general) in a totally new and different way. For linux, a computer is not an appliance that you turn on and it works and you write your documents in word and off you go. It's a lifestyle. The fact that they can (probably pretty poorly, based on my limited experience with linux and unix window managers) fake up the xp look means nothing to how close to the code your new computer life will be.
posted by zpousman at 8:57 PM on October 10, 2007

While it's amazing how much Wine can do, you shouldn't count on it working with anything you don't see verified as working in the Wine application database.

If you try Linux expecting to run Windows-native applications, you'll almost certainly be disappointed.

But you might find that Open Office does the things you wanted from MS Office. (I don't know anything about Bottin, so can't comment on alternatives.)

Download and burn an Ubuntu Live CD and you can just boot it and play around with it without having to install it. (For best results, wait another 8 days for the new release.)
posted by Zed_Lopez at 11:07 PM on October 10, 2007

Be aware that when you try this out, you should compartmentalize the experience in your brain in order to prevent it from tainting your overall experience with linux poorly, as it undoubtedly will.

Linux can be very enjoyable to use, but that's going to be on a completely different level and scope than any of your other OS experiences, so try to avoid these types of knock-offs.
posted by odinsdream at 11:18 PM on October 10, 2007

Okay so i just did this rather than guess about the outcome and make you annoyed at linux.. ( i have a linuxmint install ( better than ubuntu as all the codecs etc are installed sssshhhh !!! dont tell anyone )

Downloaded bottin.
Installed. ( wine bottin2x.exe )
Ran it . ( it appears on the Wine startup menu )
Got to choose English or French as main language then ... not much else

( tried directly running it from command line as well;
wine ./home/stuartmm/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files/Bottin/Bottin.exe and not much better. )

Sorry about this. I may be doing something wrong .

I hate to say this but something else may be better under linux than keeping a windows program going.
What do you want to do with this that cannot be done by something else.
posted by stuartmm at 12:31 AM on October 11, 2007

WINE does not have compatibility for Microsoft Office software.

CodeWeavers have released an application called CrossOver Office, which is compatible with older Microsoft Office products. Up to Office 2003. Unfortunately, it is not officially compatible with 2007, so that may not be possible.

The software is not free either, it is pay-for and costs $39.95. Check out their website: http://www.codeweavers.com/

However, this will allow you to run Microsoft Office 2003 (or older) software on your Linux-based OS. Which is pretty damn good if you ask me.
posted by doomtop at 6:47 AM on October 11, 2007