Using PortableApps On Linux
Since I’m using my trusted Asus netbook while I’m on the road I had to make sure that PortableApps were also running with that computer. It runs on a fast Linux OS and I just love how quickly it boots up. Ideal for when you have only minutes to kill on the airport, at the bus station or in the coffee shop and don’t want to wait 5 minutes until your Windows computer has even booted up.
In preparation for our upcoming cruise I wanted to make sure that I had everything I needed with me to keep writing without any clutter. Initially I wasn’t going to work at all, but now I just got this new, very worthwhile job that will actually pay for my portion of the cruise. Therefore I would be stupid to forego the work.
I will still be able to relax and enjoy everything our ship has to offer and only need to write for a couple of hours a day at the most to stick to the deadline. I’m actually excited about this, because I can still sit on the deck enjoying the sun and surrounds while earning money. Not a bad way to live if you ask me.
So in my need to be able to access offline bookmarks in Firefox and work on documents as well as jumping online if the need arises I found the best solution is to use my netbook, rather than a heavy laptop. Some might find the keyboard in a netbook too small for long term use, but I actually find it quite alright to type away. I just enlarge the font while I write and before submitting the work to my client I set it back to normal.
One thing I should have bought while in the UK was an external keyboard that rolls up and packs away conveniently. That particular one is made of silicon and stores away niftily without taking much room or adding extra weight. However, while this would make work a little easier I don’t see a problem going without it. If I was to spend 8 hours writing, then yes, I’d go for an external keyboard in a hurry.
Hacking my netbook to accept PortableApps was a different story, but in the end I managed and the applications work just fine. Getting used to Linux after being a Windows user for years is quite a challenge but also a lot of fun once things work out. Heck, I even managed to install my USB modem after tinkering for a while.
The installation in question I had to tinker with and install is called WINE. WINE allows me to use Windows applications on my Linux Xandros OS on the netbook. Since PortableApps is based on Windows, WINE is needed to do just that.
There is a lot of confusing and misleading information about doing this online, and it took me a while to find the right tutorial. To help you not waste as much time, you can find it here.
Hope someone can find use in this anyway.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Brett Legree | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
Monika,
This is a very helpful post indeed and should definitely be useful to anyone looking at running a netbook who still needs some Windows apps.
You can also buy (for a reasonable price) a customized version of WINE called Crossover Linux that is really easy to use and does very well with this kind of thing (they pride themselves on MS Office compatibility, if a user needs that).
http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxlinux/
(They make a Mac product too, but I’m more familiar with the Linux version and have used it for years.)
Though not directly related to your post, you can find a netbook suitable version of Ubuntu Linux (the Netbook Remix) at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UNR if you wanted to try something different.
It is pretty much what Dell puts on their netbooks. I put it on my son’s laptop – it is an older machine – and it is very snappy considering the hardware. I guess I kind of made him a homemade netbook, even though it weighs almost 7 pounds!
Anyway, once again, thanks for a very informative piece!
-Brett
Monika | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: I’m happy you found it up to standards as you are the man for all things tech for sure.
I had a look at the crossover Linux product and bookmarked it. It looks great indeed and will help many users who can’t be bothered to hack their netbooks.
Also love the Ubuntu remix version but am not sure whether I need this on my netbook. Although I am tempted for sure. Right now I have whatever I need and think I’m doing OK as I don’t have extra clutter. I guess this remix thing would replace my XANDROS version? Am I correct in that assumption?
Brett Legree | Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
LOL it is I who am always striving to write as well as you do, since you set the standards!!! The link you gave was very informative for sure.
Oh, the Netbook Remix is not necessary for what you have, it is really only an alternative, or perhaps for people who have purchased a netbook with Windows installed, they could use it if they wanted to try Linux instead. Xandros is a solid operating system (Canadian too!) and I know it works well on those machines – if it works, don’t change it
One thing you touched on that I don’t know if people really appreciate, so it bears repeating – those little Linux netbooks are very very quick to start up!
Lis Sowerbutts | Jan 27, 2009 | Reply
Nice post – I needed that link- I’ve been too lazy to find it for myself! Does it work on real aps- you know the sort ap that IMers use not just Word processing (why do people obssess about MS Word- Ive used Openoffice for year on my Windows laptop and never had a compatibility problem with people who use word)
Brett Legree | Jan 27, 2009 | Reply
@Lis,
Having followed WINE development for many years, MS Office is one of the most difficult applications to get working (along with Adobe Photoshop) – so if you’re able to get those to work, you can probably get lighter apps to work too.
Generally OpenOffice does work really well (unless you try to use it with the custom hacked, I mean, tuned templates where I work – only the real MS Office can open those).
(Personally I try to write everything in plain text and if I need to pretty it up, I’ll do that in whatever and then PDF it.)
If you look here http://appdb.winehq.org/ you should be able to see if the apps you want to use will work.