Windows applications run on Linux through the use of third-party software. There are other reasons one may want to run Windows applications on Linux, including licensing issues for replacement applications. For a comprehensive list of Linux applications, check out or. He has close to 20 years of industry experience, including serving as director of IT at 3Com Corp., as well as technology and management posts at Citibank, IBM and Toshiba.Īnother factor to consider is that there may not be a comparable Linux replacement for a particular Windows application. Opinder Bawa is senior vice president of technology and development at The SCO Group (formerly Caldera International Inc.), where he is responsible for integrating corporate vision and technology strategy. Organizations can continue to make users' familiar applications available while they learn the new systems at their own pace, alleviating some of the fear that goes along with learning new programs. Instead, a gradual transition makes more sense.
However, by doing so, they impose a steep learning curve on their employees, which can sometimes be a painful and costly experience.
Some companies opt to replace their Windows operating systems and standardize on a corporate Linux desktop. In today's corporate environment, the single biggest issue facing most businesses is cost. In fact, there are many Windows applications that will run well on the Linux operating system. They may be surprised to learn that there is a way to keep using many of the applications they are familiar with, whether they be Windows or Unix-based. One dilemma facing many administrators is whether to replace or somehow keep using those applications. As IT administrators weigh replacing proprietary desktops with open-source systems, they face the question of what to do with their existing applications.