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Are there any Windows-exclusive programs you use? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I had to test/fix something at work and I set up a Windows VM because it was a bug specific to Windows users. Once I was done, I thought, “Maybe I should keep this VM for something.” but I couldn’t think of anything that wasn’t a game (which probably wouldn’t work well in a VM anyway) or some super specific enterprise software I don’t really use.

I also am more familiar with the Apple ecosystem than the Microsoft one so maybe I’m just oblivious to what’s out there. Does anyone out there dual boot or use a VM for a non-game, non-niche industry Windows exclusive program?

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

MakeMKV: For ripping DVDs & Blurays

MakeMKV is available on Linux as Flatpak and works out of the box: https://flathub.org/apps/com.makemkv.MakeMKV

Bulk Rename Utility

Probably a tough one since most people will use the command line to bulk rename files. I do use ChatGPT sometimes to create rename commands for me that are more complicated.

Exact Audio Copy

I use Sound Juicer now, used fre:ac before.

https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.SoundJuicer

https://flathub.org/apps/org.freac.freac

Logitech G Hub I know OpenRGB exists, and it’s good enough for my needs when it comes to LED management, but it doesn’t seem to be able to control DPI presets like G Hub.

Piper can do DPI presets: https://flathub.org/apps/org.freedesktop.Piper

Mp3tag

I used Mp3tag on Windows and switched to Picard, I like it even more than Mp3tag now: https://flathub.org/apps/org.musicbrainz.Picard

Paint.NET

Is GIMP really that complex for this use case? I use GIMP to do simple stuff like paint, rescale images, blur things, fill things, ... https://flathub.org/apps/org.gimp.GIMP

Playnite

I don't use anything out of Steam often but If you don't like Lutris, maybe Heroic for GOG and Epic? https://flathub.org/apps/com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl

Mod Organizer 2

r2modman has native support for Linux: https://github.com/ebkr/r2modmanPlus

There's also support for one-click installation of Mod Organizer 2 with steamtinkerlaunch: https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch/wiki/Mod-Organizer-2

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

MakeMKV is available on Linux as Flatpak and works out of the box: https://flathub.org/apps/com.makemkv.MakeMKV

I was not aware of this. Thank you! :)

Probably a tough one since most people will use the command line to bulk rename files. I do use ChatGPT sometimes to create rename commands for me that are more complicated.

I'm still very much a Linux newbie so although I am familiar with some things on the terminal, I never even knew you could bulk-rename files with it. I knew you could rename them, but not bulk-rename them, I mean.

I use Sound Juicer now, used fre:ac before.

https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.SoundJuicer

https://flathub.org/apps/org.freac.freac

Thanks, I'll check that out!

I used Mp3tag on Windows and switched to Picard, I like it even more than Mp3tag now: https://flathub.org/apps/org.musicbrainz.Picard

Thank you!

Is GIMP really that complex for this use case? I use GIMP to do simple stuff like paint, rescale images, blur things, fill things, … https://flathub.org/apps/org.gimp.GIMP

Yes, it takes a bit longer, even on higher-end PCs, to load up, than Paint.NET. Pinta used to be a good equivalent, but I think that's long since been abandoned, though I could be wrong. It also has way more functions than I need, frankly, and that leads to a cluttered UI. I've tried to use it before, and that always ends up being the case.

I don’t use anything out of Steam often but If you don’t like Lutris, maybe Heroic for GOG and Epic? https://flathub.org/apps/com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl

I've heard about it, but from what I've seen it doesn't seem to be very close to a 1:1 comparison. Though admittedly I've only read about it, but it seems to not be as good. Again, I'd be willing to try it out, but there doesn't seem to be many Linux equivalents as good.

Also, it's not that I don't like Lutris, but compared to Playnite, it's very bare-bones.

r2modman has native support for Linux: https://github.com/ebkr/r2modmanPlus

There’s also support for one-click installation of Mod Organizer 2 with steamtinkerlaunch: https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch/wiki/Mod-Organizer-2

Nice! Thank you again!

Edit: Fixed quote markup.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Just because I didn't see you respond about it, Piper is great, so I second that user's recommendation! I highly recommend you check to see if your peripherals are supported, as I use it on my Logitech mice to edit my mappings, DPI settings, and profiles (and while I don't use the function, you can edit your LEDs in Piper as well). https://github.com/libratbag/piper

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I actually didn't even notice that one. I guess all the recommendations sort of blended together! xD

Thanks for the heads-up! Haha.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I tried Lutris first and it was okay but left something to be desired. I switched to Heroic and am in love with it. It works so well and the UI is great

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Same with my multiple attempts at Lutris.

And ooh, Heroic has a Windows client! I can try it out now! Thanks!

Edit: So, after a couple hours of fiddling around with it, Heroic Launcher seems really great! Only a few flaws that I can see so far, like not being able to sort by category (you can filter by category, though) or being able to edit any metadata fields for a game unless it's been manually added, like any of these for instance (screenshot from Playnite):

Not deal-breaking by any means, but it can be very annoying, especially when you get instance like BioShock 2 being listed before Bioshock 1 in the game library. Lol.

Edit 2: Yeaaaaaaaah I don't know what the hell just happened, but I refreshed my GOG library and all of a sudden like 2/3rds of my games are now listed as "uninstallable". ...Yeah, I'm going back to Playnite. I hope it's better by the time Windows 10 is unsupported because there's no freaking way I'm downgrading to Windows 11. Lol.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. I use it on Linux and haven't had the issue of uninstallable games. I wish Playnite had a Linux client

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I do too! Playnite is AMAZING. I've been using it for a couple years now and it is incredibly stable and so versatile. AND it's got community plugins!