NOT ENUF STUFF (DAMMIT)

[Calum]

well for normal stuff, text editing, office, a lot of multimedia playback/ripping, linux is at least as good as windows due to having equal or superior programs and a more stable platform for them to run on. This even extends to photo editing and a variety of other stuff. The best WYSIWYG html editor for linux is in fact mozilla composer, which comes free with an installation of mozilla on any platform. I recommend cleaning up your html by hand afterwards in a nonWYSIWYG editor like bluefish.

Anyway, my comment above only really applies to high end apps. I personally have not found any good replacements for Sound Forge, ACID or Rebirth. That's because i want to do intense level sound editing. There exist some programs that may fill the gap but they are mainly in their development stages, won't compile for me (not so knowledgeable yet!) or do not feature a lot of features. This is no doubt the case in many specialist areas. Things like GIMP fill in the gaps a bit, but the DOS/win crowd have had a lot of years of shunting stuff onto the public and it gives them a huge headstart.

Again, i say this only really applies to the specialist stuff, since the open source/linux developers have really got their socks up, and if people do continue to support the platform(s) then it can only snowball even faster!

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by Sleeping Dog:
One of the threads that I referred to is a discussion between Vladimir Malukh ([email protected]) and Serg Shikov ([email protected]) about this specific issue. http://www.cad.dp.ua/stats/spor-e.html
Although it is primarily CAD related, the main points of their discussion can be applied to the development of professional Linux based software in general.

Linux presently is like having a great stack of lumber waiting to be used.  However, without the right "hammer and fasteners", the house won't get built in a timely fashion.

Linux IS ready for the desktop, but the desktop is not quite ready yet for Linux.

You seem to be primarily concerned with CAD.  I would suggest you check out LinuxCAD.  It seems to be a clone of AutoCAD for Linux.  The last time I looked, a license was $100.00 (US).  There is an evaluation program that's free.

[Sleeping Dog]

I do appreciate your input about LinuxCAD (I appreciate everyone's input).

LinuxCAD on a developmental level is about where AutoCAD was nearly 10 years ago in terms of its 3D capabilities.  The package has not yet incorporated such things as 3D rendering or automated CNC tool pass utilities.  It does, however, seem like a viable and affordable option for someone needing only the basics of CAD functionality.

One little chuckle that I did get from their website was this last line of the "Free Demo" order form.

LinuxCAD Intel PCs Free Demo Version - $35.00

Best to all of you.

Sleeping Dog

[rsd]

There are a lot of programs that are equivalent of windoze ones.

Text/Hex:
Kate - (lacking global replace which should be in the next v., otherwise TextPad on linux)
jEdit - (excellent, platform independent - runs under java)
Nedit - ELF based, ugly, but has all you need from a text editor, has global replace)
KHexEdit - as it implies

HTML/XML/scripting:
BlueFish
Quanta Plus
(both can be used as text editors as well, BlueFish has global replace).
mozilla - HTML wysiwyg


CD rip/burn:
Grip -  a ripper
XCDRoast - burn
(there is a DVD ripper and burn software, did not try yet)

Accounting:
Appgen - (quicken like)
GnuCash (MS money like)

Office:
OpenOffice
StarOffice
Koffice

Compression:
Ark
Gnozip

Graphics:
Bitmap - GIMP
Vector - OpenOffice, Kontour
Capture - Screen Capture
Morphing -  Xmorph
3d - Blender, and some good ones coming, just growing out of their development alphas.
Numerous viewer and editing utilities.

DTP:
Scribus

CAD 2d:
Qcad

and so on.

Probably within a year or two, there will be either native linux replacements for anything you can think of. or linux ports available.

[TheQuirk]

let me add to the HTML:

 

quote:
Amaya
Amaya is the W3C's HTML browser and simple editor. [unix - solaris, linux RPM, source, win95, nt]

August
Here is an HTML text editor for Unix and Linux. It's in a stable beta release and is released under the Gnu Public License. [unix, linux] (requires Tcl/Tk)

Bluefish
This is a nice looking HTML editor, released under the Gnu Public License, but he requests that you send him a postcard as well. Lots of features for a beta release. [unix - freeBSD, Linux, Solaris, others]

Coffee Cup HTML Editor
Coffee Cup is a very popular WYSIWYG HTML editor, and now it's available for Linux. [linux]

Dozer
Dozer (Bulldozer) is a WYSIWYG HTML editor for X-Windows. [linux, unix]

Emacs Package - hm--html-menus
This package allows you to edit HTML with emacs with ease. [unix]

HomePage Builder V4 for Linux (beta)
A WYSIWYG editor that offers DHTML, CSS, and previewing in multiple browsers. A great image processor. Create your animations and image maps directly in your HTML editor.

HoTMetaL Pro
HoTMetaL Pro includes site management tools and graphical editors as well as HTML validation, global search and replace across a Web site. [win95, winnt, (mac, unix - version 3.0)]

A Simple HTML Editor
A simple full function WYSIWYG editor for XWindows. [unix - sunOS]

Vi the Text Editor
Creating HTML on a Unix machine is simple if you use vi. Links compiled by your HTML Guide.

[Sleeping Dog]

Thanks Quirk, RSD....I appreciate all of the info regarding app's that I can get.

Again, my buggaboo at present regards the lack of "Professional Level" software that runs under Linux for high end use.

The print profession, almost categorically, wants MAC files generated from a MAC.  After many years (and Adobe fixing a lot of bugs) some of them are finally able to work efficiently with PC generated high-res print-ready graphics.  Quark is another issue altogether, but having been an early entry into the "professional" print arena, it is still almost a requirement despite its translation, import/export and file issues.

Engineering/Architectural design software is dominated by Autocad and Microstation with a few other major players like Catia, Pro-E, etc. standing in the wings.  The costs are high, but not necessarily prohibitive for the MAC and PC versions of the first two.  However, after many years, they have a fixed place regarding 3-D design capabilities, file sharing and compatability with third party CNC and modeling packages that still does not exist in a Linux desktop application.

As noted earlier, Linux versions of the "high end stuff" have not yet been ported by Autodesk, Adobe, etc. for several reasons (mostly market economics).  That is what I am whining so much about.  Having a Linux platform and no professional software to run on it is like having a nitro-powered race car in a world that only sells regular gasoline.

Have a great day...

Sleeping Dog