Running pirated MS software? Thread poster: Marc P (X)
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Marc P (X) 
Local time: 03:11
German to English
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| Geir Vikan
Norway
Local time: 03:11
Member (2003)
German to Norwegian
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| I tried it all... | Aug 25, 2003 |
.. but I need Star Transit and the Adobe tools to do my work.
And you can't get them on Linux.
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:11
German to English
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TOPIC STARTER | I tried it all | Aug 25, 2003 |
GeirV wrote:
.. but I need Star Transit and the Adobe tools to do my work.
And you can't get them on Linux.
Ah, but I'm sure you're not running pirated MS software, even if you do look very "shady" on your profile picture.
Marc
| | | | Rick Henry
United States
Local time: 20:11
Italian to English
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| You can run some Windows apps under Linux. | Aug 25, 2003 |
GeirV wrote:
.. but I need Star Transit and the Adobe tools to do my work.
And you can't get them on Linux.
Codeweavers' Crossover Office - http://www.codeweavers.com - will let you run an increasing number of Windows apps under Linux. It runs Microsoft Office 2K quite well, as well as a couple of Adobe products. I can tell you from personal experience that I've gotten ¨non-certified¨ Windows apps to run under Crossover Office with very little effort. It was a minimal investment for me, and gave me the chance to see if I could do my work without Windows. For the most part I can, but I should also note that I've spent a considerable amount of time developing my own tools and way of doing things (databases for almost everything, from terminology reference databases to accounting).
[Edited at 2003-08-25 21:52]
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gianfranco
Brazil
Local time: 22:11
Member (2001)
English to Italian
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| Is Linux a viable solution for freelance translators? | Aug 26, 2003 |
Marc,
very interesting story, but... in practical terms, do you seriusly consider Linux/Open Source a viable solution for the typical freelance translator?
Just consider the following issues:
1.
The company featured in your article has nearly 100 staff.
They surely have been able to dedicate 2-3 full time employees and some consultants (during the initial period) to the task of switching operating system, installing applications, setup ... See more Marc,
very interesting story, but... in practical terms, do you seriusly consider Linux/Open Source a viable solution for the typical freelance translator?
Just consider the following issues:
1.
The company featured in your article has nearly 100 staff.
They surely have been able to dedicate 2-3 full time employees and some consultants (during the initial period) to the task of switching operating system, installing applications, setup and retrain all users.
2.
A single person cannot work full-time and, at the same time, learn a whole new set of applications, interfaces, tools, configuration tricks and maintenance tasks.
In your example, 98% of the staff had all these tasks performed by support and technical personnel.
3.
We are constantly exchanging documents with colleagues and customers.
What if there is a feature that renders not compatible a document exchanged?
In particular, I understand that even Word documents exchanged between Windows and Mac are not 100% compatible, and they both come from a Microsoft application.
I fear that the situation will be much worse exchanging documents between MS Office and one of the Office clones under Linux.
4.
In our work we use many other utilities, tools and secondary applications.
The same tasks can be performed by other tools available under Open Source, but we may have already purchased or learnt to use our set of tools (including CAT tools, but not only...)
Switching environment can be a very large investment in time and therefore very expensive, despite of all the possible long term advantages. Also, it is not for everybody, as Linux is still somewhere behind Windows (and Mac) in terms of easy of installation and use.
In my opinion it is a serious alternative only for medium to large companies, surely conveniente for them in the long term, as they can achieve bigger savings and delegate the initial problems to dedicated staff, but not viable in the short term for small organization or single individuals unless they have very high level of computing skills and expertise in Linux in particular.
Gianfranco
[Edited at 2003-08-26 10:08] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:11
German to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Is Linux a viable solution? | Aug 26, 2003 |
Hi Gianfranco,
I'm glad you asked the question that way, because the answer is definitely "Yes". Linux is certainly a viable solution for individual freelance translators. I abandoned Windows altogether last summer and am still in business, so it must be possible.
Whether Linux is a better solution or not, is something people should decide for themselves.
I'm currently writing the "Linux for Translators HowTo", which will answer your question in more detail... See more Hi Gianfranco,
I'm glad you asked the question that way, because the answer is definitely "Yes". Linux is certainly a viable solution for individual freelance translators. I abandoned Windows altogether last summer and am still in business, so it must be possible.
Whether Linux is a better solution or not, is something people should decide for themselves.
I'm currently writing the "Linux for Translators HowTo", which will answer your question in more detail.
Marc ▲ Collapse
| | | | gianfranco
Brazil
Local time: 22:11
Member (2001)
English to Italian
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MarcPrior wrote:
...snip...
I'm currently writing the "Linux for Translators HowTo", which will answer your question in more detail.
Marc
Marc,
if you write a guide to Linux for translators I will be a very keen reader.
I hope that my previous posting is not seen as poised against Linux or Open Source, just the opposite is true!
What I pointed out is that the transition to Linux is neither easy (you need more than the average technical expertise) nor cheap (if you consider the time that is necessary to invest).
Not many 'translators', whose daily job involves producing translated text, can indulge in months of dedication to a new system. A medium size company, such as the one featured in the article, is a completely different proposition.
I'd like to ask you just a question: "How many translators do you know working in Linux only, i.e. without a backup PC in Windows?"
Gianfranco
[Edited at 2003-08-26 16:26]
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:11
German to English
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TOPIC STARTER
What I pointed out is that the transition to Linux is neither easy (you need more than the average technical expertise) nor cheap (if you consider the time that is necessary to invest).
Those people who do try Linux often buy a new distribution, then try to install it on the five year-old PC gathering dust in the corner.
It can usually be done, but it is likely to be hard work. Just like trying to install the latest version of Windows on the same PC would be. But who would think of doing that?
Most people buy a PC with Windows already installed and configured. Well, you can buy a PC with Linux installed and configured if you want. No one considers doing that. It's almost as if it's politically incorrect. If it isn't hard work, it isn't Linux.
Not many 'translators', whose daily job involves producing translated text, can indulge in months of dedication to a new system.
I have invested months of my time in Linux, it's true. But when I started, I didn't know any other translators using it. I had to figure a lot out by myself. I have also tried to test any Linux software of relevance to translators. Imagine the task of trying to test ALL the Windows software for translators. OK, there is more of it (at the moment ), but even so.
As far as using Linux on a day-to-day basis is concerned, it isn't any more work than Windows.
I'd like to ask you just a question: "How many translators do you know working in Linux only, i.e. without a backup PC in Windows?"
There are very few translators using Linux and not using Windows as well. But that doesn't mean that Windows is a backup. The main reason is that Linux users make greater use of technology, so in addition to using Linux, they are also using products on Windows which by no means all other translators are using. A great many of them use Deja Vu, for instance. In fact, there is an Internet forum dedicated solely to getting Deja Vu to run on Linux (so far without success). Some users have told me that DV is the only reason they still have Windows.
Marc
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chance (X)
French to Chinese
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| Hi Marc, Hope to hear from you soon ! | Aug 26, 2003 |
MarcPrior wrote:
I'm currently writing the "Linux for Translators HowTo", which will answer your question in more detail.
Marc
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:11
German to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Linux for Translators HowTo | Aug 29, 2003 |
Gianfranco, Chance, et al,
The "Linux for Translators HowTo" and the "Linux for Translators Myths and FAQs" are now accessible at
www.proz.com/howto/12 and
www.proz.com/howto/13.
Marc
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