You’re a new Linux user. Maybe you’re a Windows XP refugee, maybe you’re not on board with Windows 10, or maybe you’re just someone who enjoys playing around with new operating systems.
Whatever your reason for trying Linux, there’s probably a few Windows programs that you miss. Is there any way to get Windows software working on Linux?
As it turns out, there is. It’s called Wine, and while it can be very useful it probably should only be your last resort. Here’s why, and how to get started if you can’t find an alternative to a beloved Windows app.
What Is Wine?
Wine is a compatability layer that makes it possible to run Windows software on Linux machines. (It also works on Macs, but that’s another article entirely). It’s worth noting that this is not an emulator: there is no virtual CPU, and you don’t need a copy of Windows running in the background. Wine runs Windows software directly.
If you’re confused by the above paragraph, just know that Wine is a tool makes it possible to run some Windows software on Linux systems.
If you prefer Microsoft Office to Libre Office, or Photoshop to GIMP, Wine potentially gives you a choice. You can go ahead and download Wine right now using your distro’s package manager, and try out some software. But there’s a downside.
Why Native Apps Are Always Better
“I can switch to Linux and keep all of my software?”, you might be saying. “Sign me up!”
Not so fast. While there is a plethora of Windows apps that run well using Wine, it’s not necessarily going to be simple or stable. Installing things can be a hassle, and even if you get a program working there’s a chance things will crash somewhat regularly. Updates to Wine frequently break previously working programs, and if you’re not good at troubleshooting it’s going to be hard to work out what’s going on.
Basically, Wine is an option but it’s not always stable and certainly isn’t user friendly for Linux beginners.
For this and other reasons, it’s almost always better to find a native program that does the job. This is particularly true for games, complicated programs where lots of things can go wrong. Finding a native Linux game on Steam is always better.
But it’s arguably even more important for productivity software, where crashes can cost you time and money. Before attempting to run software with Wine, check out our list of the top Linux software and see if there’s a viable alternative.
To summarize: Wine should be used as a last resort, or because you want to mess around with it.
No Wine Until You Finish Your Homework
Say you want to run Microsoft Word. Trying to install the most recent version of that software will almost certainly not work, because it uses all sorts of new Windows features that Wine hasn’t implemented yet. But which version will work?
To find out, head to the Wine Application Database. This is a user-compiled repository of Windows app that are known to run using Wine.
Search for a program you’d like to run and you’ll see ratings for various versions of the program. From highest to lowest, these are:
Platinum: Work flawlessly, without you having to make tweaks.
Gold: Works without issues, but you’ll need to tweak Wine a bit to get things up and running.
Silver: Works with tweaks but there’s going to be some minor issues that, while annoying, shouldn’t affect your usage much.
Garbage: Don’t even try.
Sometimes the latest version of a piece of software won’t work well, meaning tracking down an older version is probably a good idea. Back at Wine App DB, click through to a version that works and you’ll find notes and tips from other Linux users. Consult this if you have trouble installing software.
It’s worth noting that information won’t necessarily be true of the most recent version of Wine: occasionally software that used to work will stop working for any number of reasons.
Easy Mode: PlayOnLinux Automates Installation
If this all sounds overwhelming to you, I recommend you check out PlayOnLinux. This is a simple app that automates the installation of many programs, notably more than a few games.
The application offers an App Store type interface – browse it and see if the application you want to install is offered. If it is, you’ll be guided through the installation process for your software. In some cases you’ll need access to the CD for the software; in others PlayOnLinux will download the software for you.
Part of what makes this software nice is its approach to getting software working: basically, if there’s a version of Wine that’s known to work well with a particular program, PlayOnLinux will download that version. This means you don’t need to worry about your applications breaking.
We’ve recommended this as a way to get Windows games up and running, but it also works for a variety of other Windows exclusives. It even gives you access to old versions of Internet Explorer (shudder).
Enjoy Wine In Moderation
So that’s Wine, a powerful but fidgety tool that can help you run Windows software on Linux. It’s worth noting that Wine makes it easier to run really old software on Linux than it is on modern versions of Windows, so you could argue that Linux is better at Windows reverse-compatability than Windows itself.
Have you given Wine a try? What did you think? Let’s talk about what does and doesn’t work in the comments below, along with any other thoughts you might have.
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like to travel. Similarly, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who actually enjoys flying. From the TSA, to overpriced airport food, to being bumped from your flight when it’s overbooked; you could be forgiven for thinking that modern air travel is designed to be a frustrating — and at times Kafkaesque – experience.
I, on the other hand, don’t mind flying. Over the past two years, I’ve taken over 50 individual flights, much of it within Europe and on transatlantic routes. I’ve learned to cope with the arcane and unyielding rules of airports, and the general misery of flying economy.
This is partly because I’ve learned how to plan my trips with the aim of maximizing my overall comfort, and using technology to make my trip that bit more bearable.
Here are some of the “secret flying tips” you need to know.
Before Your Flight
Before you even set foot in the airport, there’s a lot you can do to improve your flying experience. This will require a bit of research, as you’ll soon find out.
Pick Your Airline
Some people are quite happy to sit on an airplane and bide their time with a good book while they wait for the plane to touch down. They’re not concerned with in-flight amenities like a free drinks service, or an In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) screen. Others are a bit more demanding.
With that in mind, it’s always helpful to do a bit of research into the airline you’ll be flying with. This is especially true when you travel within Europe, as some of the airlines you often associate with premium service (like Aer Lingus and Brussels Airways – both “flag carrier” airlines) are indistinguishable from traditional “no frills” airlines, like Spirit, Ryanair, and EasyJet, and do not offer complimentary meals or drink service.
Before booking a flight with an unfamiliar airline, I first search for them on SkyTrax. Not only does this give me a real-world overview of what their customers think, but I also get an understanding of what to expect in terms of seats and service.
Another great tool is Wanderbat, which allows you to directly compare multiple airlines based purely on the fees they charge, the service they offer, and what their customers think.
Pick Your Aircraft
Confession: I’m a hardcore airplane nerd.
Seriously, drive me to any airport, and I’ll be able to point out each of the different jets sitting on the tarmac. “There’s a 747. There’s an A330. There’s an Embraer ERJ-175″.
So, why do I get so excited about aircraft?
Because I know that the aircraft I fly on directly impacts how comfortable I will be on my journey. I know that if I’ve got a choice between a cramped Embraer regional jet and a Boeing 737, the 737 will be slightly roomier. Likewise, if I’m doing a transatlantic jaunt and I’ve got a choice between a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and any of the competing Airbus planes, I’ll pick the Dreamliner because it has bigger storage bins, adjustable LED lighting that’s easy on the eyes, and large windows that flood the cabin with natural light.
Moreover, I know that planes can differ from airline to airline. Some airlines, for example, fly 757s on transatlantic routes that are equipped with personal entertainment screens, where you can choose the films and TV shows you want to watch. Others use the older-style drop-down screens, where you have to squint to watch the same awful Harrison Ford film as everyone else.
I know what planes to avoid and what planes to aim for. This information directly influences how I plan my travel.
Before I pay for a trip, I look at FlightAware, and search for the route I’m interested in taking. Below I’m looking at London Heathrow (LHR) to Newark (EWR).
As you can see, a number of airlines fly this route, each using different equipment. Since I prefer to fly long-haul flights on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, I’ll choose to fly British Airways.
It’s worth noting that you can usually find out what aircraft will be operated before you book a flight straight from the airline.
Once I know the airline and the plane, I plug that information into SeatGuru. This tells me what amenities are offered; from personal entertainment screens, to in-flight WiFi.
Pick Your Seat
Not all airline seats are created equally. if you let your airline choose your seat for you, you’re taking a huge gamble on your overall comfort.
If you end up at the back of the plane, you’re going to end up with a rigid bulkhead seat which you won’t be able to recline. You’ll probably be the last to be served when the meal service comes round, which also means you might not get your first choice of food. Triple whammy – you’re miserable, uncomfortable, and you get the vegetarian option for dinner.
Sitting near the toilet is equally bad. Generally, things are a bit more pungent here, and if you want to catch a bit of shuteye, the constant movement of people rushing to use the toilet will keep you awake.
Moreover, some seats have IFE boxes underneath them, which are responsible for powering that row’s in-flight entertainment systems. These are bulky, and can really limit the amount of legroom you have.
As you can see, there are a lot of variables that can affect your overall comfort level when flying. Personally speaking, I like to sit at the very front row of economy. These seats generally have more legroom, and you’re amongst the first to get served lunch, and the first to leave the plane. But if that’s not available, it’s always good to identify the second (and often third) best seats available.
Again, I do that with Seat Guru. Plug in the airline and the aircraft, and it’ll point out the seats to snap up, and the seats to avoid. For example, check out economy on the British Airways Boeing 747-400. I’m looking at my preferred seat:
Here, it thoroughly discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this particular row. Namely, although it comes with miles more legroom, it lacks floor storage and movable armrests. You might be disturbed by screaming infants too, because this row is often used by parents, because they can seat a bassinet on the floor.
SeatGuru even identifies the bad seats, and explains why they should be avoided. Check out this utterly crummy seat, also on a Boeing 747.
At The Airport
Airports are never fun. Doubly-so when you’ve got an excruciating long layover. Thankfully, if you’ve got a smartphone, you can make them a bit more tolerable. Here’s how.
Visit a Lounge
Whenever I have a layover that’s longer than six hours, I leave the terminal and head into the city. It’s a great way to stretch your legs, see a new city, and get some fresh air. I really like long layovers.
But if that’s not an option, layovers can be immensely frustrating. There’s only so many tasteless, $20 airport burgers you can eat. There’s only so many times you can pace the aisles of the Duty Free store, trying to work out whether that bottle of Johnnie Walker costs more here, or at your local supermarket. But there’s a better way.
I am, of course, talking about airport lounges.
You could be forgiven for thinking that these are reserved for besuited, high-power businesspeople. People like George Clooney in Up in The Air, who’ve accumulated enough status and air miles to enter these air-conditioned oases, with their free food and complimentary drinks. But that’s totally not the case. If you’re willing to pay a flat fee, you too can get in.
Off to Korea for 10 days ???????????????? #HalfTerm #AirportLounge #RKOI
A photo posted by W.S.J. ? (@wsjung8) on
A great tool for finding lounges is LoungeBuddy, available for iOS and Android. Type in the Airport you’re in, and it’ll tell you where the lounge is, and how much it’ll cost you. It’ll be less than you think, too. Generally, lounge access runs from between $30 to $60.
In my experience, the more expensive the lounge, the better the amenities. Those at the higher price point tend to come with complimentary showers, business suites with Apple computers, and superior food and drink.
If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s also perhaps worth getting a subscription to PriorityPass. For $399, you get unlimited access to select airport lounges worldwide for an entire year. $399 sounds steep, but it might end up saving you money, as you won’t have to pay for food, beverages, or Internet access whenever you visit an airport.
There are cheaper subscriptions, of course. $99 gets you a discount on each visit to a lounge, while $249 gets you 10 free visits, with each subsequent visit costing only $27.
Managing your PriorityPass subscription is super easy, too. They offer mobile apps for Android, iPhone and Blackberry, where you can access your digital membership card, modify your billing information, and rate the lounges you’ve visited.
Get Some Shuteye
I’m probably not the only one. I simply can’t sleep on airplanes. I don’t know why. I just can’t.
If you’ve got a long layover, or even worse, an overnight layover, you’re going to want to get some rest. But here’s the problem – airports aren’t naturally conducive to a restful night’s sleep. They’re just too loud, and bustling.
If you’re on a paper-thin budget, pay Sleeping in Airports a visit. This site provides tips for making your overnight airport stay a bit more restful, with reviews from real-world frugal travelers.
The next step up from that is to crash in the lounge. Some lounges, like the British Airways lounge at London Heathrow, have cabanas which you can rent out by the hour. For more information, check what LoungeBuddy has to say.
Finally, if you’ve got a slightly bigger budget, consider booking into an airport hotel. These are generally quite cheap, especially when compared to city hotels, but you can get them for even less with the Hotel Tonight app (which we first covered back in 2012), available for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
Hotel Tonight works by offloading unsold hotel rooms for a steep discount. While they’re often not the best rooms, they can be significantly cheaper than buying them from a hotel search engine.
When You Land
Once your plane has touched down, you’re then faced with the challenge of getting to your hotel. Thankfully, technology can make this step a bit easier.
Get Online
Although the cost of data roaming is plummeting – largely thanks to the European Union – it’s still a very expensive proposition to get online while abroad. I was recently in the US, and if I wanted to use the Internet on my UK cell phone, a megabyte would cost £5 (about $7.50).
It’s similarly strict for WiFi hotspots. I was in Rome for five days earlier this year, and each Wi-Fi hotspot required you to authenticate with either an Italian cell phone (which I didn’t have), or your credit card details (which I wasn’t prepared to provide).
It’s especially problematic when your plane has just landed, and you have no way to order a ride or find directions to your accommodation. Lots of airports do not offer free WiFi access. This is especially true for the smaller airports that are used by low-budget airlines, like Brussels Charleroi and Paris Beauvais.
I’ve started to get around this by using a SkyRoam Hub.
This is a mobile WiFi hotspot, but with one important difference. Inside is a virtual SIM which allows you to securely access the Internet anywhere in the world for a flat rate of $10 per day. There are no surcharges, contracts or caps. And when I say anywhere, I mean it. SkyRoam covers most of Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australasia. Coverage in Africa is a bit spottier, however.
Although the day rate is pretty cheap, you do need to buy the hotspot. This costs $125, and includes five day passes. But it’s worth it, I’ve found.
If you’re only concerned with using messaging apps, you might want to consider purchasing a ChatSim (formerly known as WhatSim). These SIM cards allow you to send messages over Whatsapp, Line, BBM, Kik and more, for a flat fee of €10 (about $11).
Get Out
The final hurdle when it comes to air travel is actually leaving the terminal. Everything about this stage of your journey is terrible – from getting through passport control and security, to navigating unfamiliar public transportation services. Terrible.
Some people are actually trying to solve this problem.
In June this year, I attended the Challengers conference in Barcelona, where I met a number of European and American startups. One which caught my eye was called Cityhook. This Dublin-based startup is trying to make the travel experience that bit less painless by offering a service that allows you to simply book airport connections online.
CityHook also has an API (Application Programming Interface), which they hope airlines will use in order to offer their passengers connections to their onward destinations as a value-added service.
Those who use Uber a lot probably know that many airports won’t let divers pick up passengers from outside the terminal. In these circumstances, I instead use Hailo.
Hailo is like Uber in many respects. You book your ride through your smartphone, and you pay using a saved credit card. They key difference is that instead of riding in someone else’s personal car, you’re using an actual taxi.
Hailo is available to download for iOS and Android. You can also book trips through their website.
Don’t Hate the Journey
There’s a lot to hate about air travel, from unsmiling TSA officers, to seemingly endless layovers, to being burdened with the middle seat. But with a bit of creativity, and by taking advantage of technology, you can make your journey that bit easier.
Do you use technology to enhance air travel? I want to hear about it. Drop me a comment below, and we’ll chat.
If you’ve got a friend, partner, or family member who’s a passionate traveler, one of the best Christmas gifts you can get them is piece of technology that’ll let them enjoy their hobby even more.
But where do you start? It all depends on how much you want to spend, and what the person enjoys doing while they are globetrotting, so here’s the MakeUseOf-approved guide to the top ten tech gifts for the intrepid international adventurer in your life.
Trakdot Luggage Tracker
Lost luggage is the last thing you want to have to put up with if you’re a frequent traveler. It’s bad enough if you’re going for a two week vacation to a tourist resort, but it’s a hundred times worse if you’re on your way to some remote island in South-East Asia.
Although the Trakdot isn’t going to physically prevent your luggage from getting waylaid, it can come in useful when trying to deal with an airline carrier in a foreign country. If the carrier’s customer service representatives speak little-to-no English, at least you can show them where your luggage is on a map and hopefully speed up the recovery process.
The Trakdot will work anywhere that your phone has signal, and will send you a notification when your luggage eventually arrives at its destination.
3-in-1 Retractable Charging Cable
You’ve got a new iPad, and old iPod, and a Samsung smartphone. From a travelling perspective, it’s a charging disaster – the last thing you want to be doing is using your precious weight limit on endless cables and charger connectors.
The 3-in-1 Retractable Charging Cable is an MFi (Made for iDevice) -certified product, and at just $8.99 is about the same price as an official Apple-branded charging cable.
Best of all, it comes complete with a micro-USB head for Android-charging capabilities, so this one gadget will power all your devices. It features a central hub to keep your cables tidy, and for a few dollars more there are also options to add various international plugs and in-car chargers.
At the time of writing, 85 percent of the Amazon reviews are either four or five stars.
Franklin TGA-495 12-Language Speaking Global Translator
Almost all frequent travelers will have translation-based horror story; they typically involve asking for a bathroom and ending up in the middle of nowhere on the back of a local’s horse.
Therefore, the traveler in your life probably needs the Franklin Global Translator. It includes more than 450,000 words and 12,000 phrases from 12 different widely-used languages – all of which are spoken in real human speech by locals, not by a computer-generated voice.
The included languages are; Chinese, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Turkish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
RUBAN 6.2 Foot Universal Security Cable
One of the biggest downsides to travelling and backpacking is the potential for theft. Most locals and fellow travelers that you meet will be some of the most genuine and honest people on the planet, but sadly there is always the odd bad egg.
The problem is especially apparent if the person you’re buying for spends a lot of time in hostels. The nature of them means people will be coming and going all through the day and night, several of whom won’t even be staying in the establishment.
It’s vital to protect expensive belongings, and a PIN-protected security cable is a sensible investment. It’ll cost you just $9.90.
RHA T10 In-Ear Headphones
Another truth of travelling is that you’re to spend a lot of time, well, travelling.
Overnight buses, endless boat journeys, countless airports – most experienced globetrotters could write a book on the subject.
A pair of high-end earphones makes a great present, therefore. The $189.95 RHA T10 High Fidelity earphones have noise-cancelling technology, interchangeable tuning filters, and loop over the ear for maximum comfort. For $15 more, you can add a microphone and remote control.
GoPro Hero 4
Time spent travelling is over in a flash, and then all people have left are their memories and blurred smartphone photos.
Give your traveler friend something that will let them record all their experiences like a professional by buying them a GoPro Hero 4 (7 things to know when buying an action cam).
It’s the newest release in the GoPro range of products and comes with a vast array of features, including built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the ability to capture 12MP photos at speeds of 30 frames per second, a casing that’s waterproof up to 40 meters, and three different fields of vision for videos.
Olloclip
The Olloclip acts as a wide-angle lens for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus by sliding onto the corner of the phone and covering the existing camera. It makes it easy for iPhone owners to take landscapes, 180 degree fisheye images, and up to 15x macro shots.
The camera was originally funded via a Kickstarter campaign, but after phenomenal success the developers have now branched out into a wide range of other products.
You can pick one up on Amazon for $79.99.
Royce Freedom Wallet
We touched on lost baggage earlier, but it’s even worse if you lose your passport. When people are travelling they can need it for anything from booking a hotel to renting a car – not to mention getting out of the country.
Losing it means a lengthy trip to an embassy; if you’re somewhere remote that could mean days of travel, not to mention the fact it could screw up the rest of your plans.
Getting a Royce Freedom Wallet solves the issue. It’s got a pouch for your passport as well as all your credit cards, and has GPS technology that will constantly track your wallet on map.
LG A275
The LG A275 might look like it’s stuck in the late 90s, but it’s got one huge benefit – its dual sim capabilities. It means your friend can keep their sim card from their home country online at all times, but also pick up a cheap local sim card for using in whichever country they are exploring.
It’s also Quad-Band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) thus covering them for almost all phone networks around the world.
Finally, at $19.39 it’s extremely cheap. If it gets lost, broken, stolen, or dropped in the ocean, it’s not the end of the world.
EatSmart Precision Voyager Digital Luggage Scale
The last thing anyone needs when they’re travelling is to get to the airport only to be told their baggage is too heavy.
As so many people travel on a tight budget, it means they can often be left with the decision of either dumping their toiletries or that unique Chinese vase they got for their mother.
Help your fearless pioneer avoid the hassle and the embarrassment by getting them a digital luggage scale. The $29.95 offering from EatSmart has a 50 kilogram capacity and includes a long-life lithium battery.
What Will You Buy?
Have you got a globetrotter in your life? What will you buy them this Christmas? Share your ideas in the comments below and help to inspire your fellow readers!
Image Credit: Travel suitcase by Twin Design via Shutterstock