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Using Wine + Wubi For A Smooth Transition
Yesterday, I discussed the possibility of Wine’s inclusion in Ubuntu. That possibility on its own is quite interesting, but it becomes even more interesting if you start thinking about the possibilities for migration from Windows. Imagine this:
A user uses Wubi to install Ubuntu. During the installation process, he is prompted to select documents and applications to copy over to the Linux side. After he is done, he reboots the computer and enters Ubuntu. Instead of just getting a fresh Ubuntu install, though, all of his files and Windows applications are already there for him. With this, he can go straight to work. If he decides to go back to Windows for a while, his updated files are there, since Wubi never actually made a copy, but instead just created links, so he can make changes to a document in one OS and then finish it up in the other OS. He goes on to use Ubuntu on and off for a few months like this.
As time goes by, the user decides he wants a full Ubuntu installation. He goes through a short wizard and then his Wubi installation is transferred into a full installation and actual copies of the files are made. Now the user has a full Ubuntu desktop, complete with his documents from Windows and his standard Windows applications.
Obviously, there are some issues with this idea. First, not all Windows applications work well with Wine. Second, you don’t know about the licensing of the applications. And third, this would be really hard to implement for many reasons.
The point is, though, that Wine’s inclusion would open up the possibility of allowing Windows users to migrate their applications, making it much easier for them to make the switch.
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I agree with the philosophy of the article. I have migrated from both xp and vista to kubuntu 8.04 and upgraded to 8.1/kde 4. Linux is touted as being a “geeks os” and that i think is the problem with it. All i know is ubuntu/gnome and kubuntu/kde. I have an above average knowledge of computers when compared with the millions of every day average windows users, yet my knowledge is useless when having to solve basic issues in linux. linux is hard for those of us who have spent years working with windows. in this regard, i am premanently reading kubuntu forums for advice and how to…becuase there, the guys are great and some of them write answers in simple language that we can understand. linux needs to understand that a lot more people, plenty more, are prepared to use linux but they get lost when having to input commands into terminals, to configure wireless, etc and they leave linux for that reason. i think kubuntu/ubuntu is on the right track. but linux needs to be simplified in order that the masses can see it as a viable option instead of windows.
Fourth, Wine itself is not really about migrating installed
applications. We always ask people to reinstall
when they move from windows. An app migration
tool would be cool, but it would have to be written
app-by-app. Some would be easy, some would be hard.
a small windows app with a wizard that checks which installed apps will and would not work on wine is a start.
then wine-doors & playonlinux do the rest