Previously, people scoffed at the idea of switching to a Linux-based operating system due to a lack of software. While that’s still true for some people – especially business users – it’s less of a concern these days. Why? Well, so much is done through the web browser these days, which reduces reliance on Windows software. For many consumers, just having the Google Chrome browser on, say, Ubuntu, is more than enough to meet their wants and needs. Not to mention, there are plenty of great Linux apps out there like GIMP and DaVinci Resolve.
But okay, let’s say you really want to use a Linux-based operating system, but there’s Windows-only software that you absolutely can’t live without. Luckily, you can always ditch Windows and upgrade to something like Fedora or Linux Mint. How? ‘Or’ What? Thanks to the excellent Wine! This compatibility layer (isn’t it to dare call it an emulator), can sometimes allow you to run Windows software on Linux. Today version 7.0 was released.
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“The Wine team is proud to announce that the stable version Wine 7.0
is now available. This release represents a year of development effort and over 9,100 individual changes,” says Alexandre Julliard, Wine Developer.
The developer shares the following areas where major changes have been implemented. You can see a full changelog here.
- Most modules converted to PE format.
- Better theme support, with a grouped theme for a more modern look.
- Significantly improved HID stack and joystick support.
- New WoW64 architecture.
Before you get too excited, know that Wine isn’t flawless. Some apps and games work fine, while others may be slow or buggy. There can be a lot of trial and error involved. Unless a certain Windows-only program is essential to you, I’d recommend finding a Linux alternative instead – or opting for a web-based solution – such as Microsoft’s excellent Office Online. In other words, in many cases Wine should be a last resort.
If you are ready to download Wine 7.0, you can get the source here. Looking for an easier way to install it? You can download the appropriate packages here.
What Windows-only software is stopping you from switching to Linux? Please tell me in the comments below.
Image credit: Julien Tromeur/Shutterstock
