Linux and Designer Pro 6

[steve.ledger]

Like the MAC OS, there are emulators (a virtual environment) within which you can execute Windows applications. But really, unless you're an enthusiastic geek, linux ain't ready for prime time.

[handrawn]

But really, unless you're an enthusiastic geek, linux ain't ready for prime time.

Using an emulator may be a bit geekish

Using Ubuntu out of the box is certainly not [relative to windows] - nor is updating and using it for the everyday applications many ordinary people need
Other implementations are now following the lead

Never got xtreme to work well under wine - or in fact acceptably beyond ver 2

Not tried virtual box

[BONES]

That depends on your machine. I could not get UBUNTU to install the graphics drivers for my QuadroFX card, no matter what I tried. I suppose it's OK if you have a run-of-the-mill computer that you use for run-of-the-mill things but if you have any expectations of performance or optimisation, then you definitely need to be a full-on geek. Any Linux distro makes Vista's UAC seem like a walk in the park and UBUNTU is no exception.

[DanKegel]

I could not get UBUNTU to install the graphics drivers for my QuadroFX card, no matter what I tried.

If it isn't easy, it's broken. Ubuntu installs the right NVidia driver with something like two mouse clicks. If it's harder than that, give up, something's wrong.

[BONES]

Again, it depends on your expectations. The Foundry's Mari, a 3D paint application, requires specific driver versions [and only works on one specific QuadroFX card] to ensure all features are supported, not just whatever it happens to be that UBUNTU has in it's installer. Like I said, if you just want to use it for run of the mill things it's probably fine, otherwise it can be a real headache. In any event, with generic or outdated graphics drivers, it is never going to offer the performance of Windoze out of the box.