I'm not sure if this is the correct area to chat about this but I think it comes close.

I've noticed a trend in a lot of posts. It seems the vast majority of VA's here use Windows. I've seen threads talking about all the different programs that people use, which are for Windows. A small amount of programs used are Internet based (like Google Docs).

And now I wonder.... am I the only one out here using Linux as their main system?

Being a bookkeeper I have QuickBooks and Simply Accounting which are available only for Windows at the moment. But I use them on a laptop or VirtualBox. If I'm not actively using either program everything else I do is in Linux programs. OpenOffice, Gimp (graphics) and Quanta (html).

So I'm wondering 2 things, no 3 things; Who else out there uses Linux, Who would like to use Linux but doesn't think they could get the programs they'd need, and Who is using a Mac?

Kim.

Hi Kim,

I use linux, to be exact ubuntu 10.10. I switched about a year and a half ago and have never looked back. I just got tired of microsoft windows always freezing up.

I am working on a presentation to show how much linux has improved and how easy it is to switch systems. Many people here about the terminal and get scared. So education for new linux users is the key.

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Ruth M Callejas, Lead Consult Admin & More
Taking Care Of The 'To Do' List, So You Can Take Care Of Business

I dual boot and switch back and forth. Sometimes either one can be up and running for days.

I am also an avid gamer so I have to have windows, that's not a question for me. In the end I work in which ever one is up at the moment.

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Amanda Mock
My Virtual Little Helper

Okay you Linus users. I know nothing about Linux. How do you solve issues with your clients or other associates using Windows or Mac. I know this often an issue when one is using Mac and one is using Windows. Are you faced with the same sort of compatibility issues?

The reason I stick with Windows is I know windows, and I know most people use Windows and MS Office products. Is Linux really that much better than Windows and what issues do you face using them and how do you resolve those issues?

Also, what is the cost comparison between Windows and Linux? What advantages does Linux hold over Windows?

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Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

Originally Posted by RhondaHolscher

Okay you Linus users. I know nothing about Linux. How do you solve issues with your clients or other associates using Windows or Mac. I know this often an issue when one is using Mac and one is using Windows. Are you faced with the same sort of compatibility issues? The reason I stick with Windows is I know windows, and I know most people use Windows and MS Office products. Is Linux really that much better than Windows and what issues do you face using them and how do you resolve those issues? Also, what is the cost comparison between Windows and Linux? What advantages does Linux hold over Windows?

Hi Rhonda,

First for me the work I do now for clients doesn't present a problem. Linux has Open Office and I can save the doc in rtf or Microsoft doc format. I also have the ease of being able to export to pdf with the click of one button.

Now the cost comparison is simple, everything on linux is open source (read free).

The few things you can't do on a linux based computer can be overcome by installing wine or virtual box which actually runs another OS on the same computer. So far I have not had to go that route.

Hope this helps.

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Ruth M Callejas, Lead Consult Admin & More
Taking Care Of The 'To Do' List, So You Can Take Care Of Business

I run Linux Mint 10 and also have a VirtualBox VM of XP handy for times when I need more than what Wine (it's like an emulation layer for Windows programs) can do for me. I'm glad to see I'm not alone here!

There are plenty of good programs in Linux that will handle my needs, and a good number of useful tools are either Java or online now too, so they don't care if I use Windows/Linux/Mac/Solaris/Unix/Amiga/[or whatever].

Out of curiousity: does anyone use Express Scribe in Linux with a foot pedal? I'm going to start testing the waters with transcription, and I read a while back that running ES in Wine breaks the ability to use a foot pedal. Just curious. (I know there is a Linux version of ES, but it is noted to not support as many formats as the Windows one.)

Thanks!!

Well since I don't use Linux I can't speak for it's compatibility issues with ES, but I do use ES and I don't use a foot pedal. Once you get used to using the hot keys it's actually pretty simple and I find it's less complicated than using the pedal. That's me though. I mean my fingers are already on the keyboard and it takes a second to hit a hot key. It's a matter of setting you hot keys where they are most comfortable for you and getting used to using them. So you might want to check into being able to use the hot keys in the event of not being able to use the pedal.

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Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

Rhonda,

Thanks for the info on the hotkeys. I had read that they were available, and was planning on learning to use them until I found out whether or not the foot pedal would work (since I don't want to buy one and then find that it won't work for me).

Glad to hear it's possible to use the hotkeys and not be too handicapped! I'm very comfortable with the keyboard, and rarely use a mouse at all, so I think I can pick it up fairly quickly.

Yay! It's great to see all these Linux users out there.

As for compatability, Open Office has versions for Linux and Windows. And both can save in a wide varaity of formats. The best thing about OO for Windows, it's open source (read free) you clients won't even have to buy MSO again. For accounting purposes I have vitrualbox with a copy of XP for my SA and QB. But then I do my personal financial stuff in Gnucash. There is lots of cross platform software out there. You may have to go look for it but sometimes it can be better then forcing yourself into 1 set of software just because everyone else is using that OS (read monopoly).

Kim.

Ah, yes...Gnucash. I'd forgotten about that one. I believe it is cross-platform as well, but I had some odd issues with the Windows version a while back.

How do you do invoicing and time tracking in Linux? Or, do you use QB for that?