Linux: MS word + wine?

jmora
Hello,

I've been using Linux and Zotero for a while, and now I would like to use an editor with a Zotero plugin. Until now I used Abiword as I didn't really need many features, in a future I'll try to learn Latex, but that is going to take me a long while. I was wondering if it would be possible to use microsoft word with wine and integrate it with Zotero. I could get a copy of microsoft word, but the point is to integrate it with zotero, otherwise I would not be interested and would be a waste. Has anyone tried to use it? Did you succeed? Should I move directly to latex ASAP?

Thank you very much.
  • adamsmith
    anything wrong with open office?
    For a compromise on Latex, consider Lyx.
    afaik word doesn't work well with wine, and Firefox only works OK. At a minimum you'd probably have to invest in Xover, a wine derivative that's optimized for having popular PC software running - no promises, though.

    I'd say nothing you can do will get close to the comfortt you'll get with Ooo.
    And if you use Lyx you can start learning Latex in the process.
  • jmora
    Open office is a little heavy for me and I've had bad experiences in the past (years ago) trying to edit files in OO and MSW (not completely compatible), beside of that I'd have to learn to use the interface, as I'm not really familiar with it.

    That's why I'm considering other options as latex, in which the cons are strengthened but offers something in exchange, although the best option would be MSW as it is the program I'm more familiar with. I thought it could work well with wine as supposedly firefox was more efficient on wine than directly on linux according to some benchmarks not too long ago.

    Thank you very much, I'll try OO once again to check how is it now and I'll give a look to Lyx to check if latex code is editable from lyx now, last time I checked I could not edit latex code, I mean, there was a WYSIWYG editor but not a plain text editor/tab/anything which is something crucial in a latex editor IMHO.
  • bdarcus
    OOo is lighter-weight than Word. Give it a try.
  • mronkko
    LyX rocks, but it takes some time to get used to. I have previously tried to get Zotero work under wine, but without success.
  • bdarcus
    edited October 14, 2009
    Worth pointing out that using a LaTeX-based solution (like LyX) only makes sense if you're in the sciences or math, where publishers accept LaTeX manuscripts. This is not widely true outside of the sciences.
  • jrkrideau
    Lyx allows you to export the file to latex and it then is editable in any text editor or dedicated LaTex editor.
  • bdarcus
    @jrkrideau: If you're addressing my comment, you're a bit off-topic. I wasn't talking about LyX per se but about "LaTeX-based solutions." LaTeX is simply not a reasonable alternative unless the places where you submit manuscripts explicitly accept it. Most journals do not; I've yet to see any in my field that do.
  • jrkrideau
    @ bdarcus
    No I was refering to jmora's comment of 2 days ago. I agree with you. From what I've seen all too many places still want a Word document.

    Still, LyX or other LateX solutions are handy when one is producing hard copy or pdf in many areas. Not everyone is aiming for a journal. I've worked on 150 page reports that would have been much easier done in Lyx.
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