Still need Windows?
Having known prolific users of Microsoft Windows, we know how it difficult it may be for some people to adjust to a new world of software. No matter how much of a Linux buff you might become later on, initially you will always still miss a lot of your old applications. And if you are into gaming a lot, Linux might be more than disappointing for you – since very few developers care to develop games and premium applications for Linux due to a variety of reasons; although there are notable exceptions like id Software and Epic Games.
Many times, people don't migrate to any other platform simply because they feel more familiar with certain applications that they might use, say Photoshop for artists, or perhaps Dreamweaver for web developers. Most people choose to stick to their earlier software set for the sake of convenience an familiarity, but then there is a choice that they missed. It is called emulation, or in layman terms, creating a virtual Windows environment in which a Windows program can run on Linux.
Wine – Wine Is Not an Emulator
Users might use it and treat it as one, but Wine isn't technically an emulator – although it does allow you to run Windows programs in a Linux environment. However, the users should note that not all Windows applications might work smoothly on it, though most major applications that you might need do work properly. The Wine project has a wide developer community and it is growing fast. You can visit Wine's official site to see the entire list of software that run properly. You can even view the problems (if any) in each application and know where the limitations are. Over the years, Wine has come a long way from supporting a few small applications to fully fledged software suites today. Wine's developer community has been transparent enough to share and incorporate any improvement, performance tweak or features to its database. For now, Wine is still a little more than an infant and is not very good for running demanding applications.
To install Wine on Ubuntu, go to Applications > Add / Remove, and search for 'Wine'. In the results that come up, check the box next to Wine, and click the Apply Changes button. Okay any confirmation dialog boxes that come up. As soon as its done, you are ready to use small utilities seamlessly just the way you use them in Windows. All you need to do is to go to the Wine menu which would be added after the install is done, and install files to your Wine program directory. Check its configuration options to know where it is located for your system.