Will most (or any) common software run on the Linux platform?

I know that Linux comes with its own variant of common software NEEDS, such as a word processor and music7film player, etc. I've run the demo and etc, but i only want to load my machine with Linux if i can load my photoshop, autocad, and desktop and Office stuff (or most of it).
Can i?

try this site http://www.winehq.com/Linux come with thousands softwares to satisfy your needs.
I have about 6 audio PLAYERS, 5 videoplayers which are able to play the kitchen sink , 2 sets of office softwares, GIMP that replaces you photoshop and functions way much better, if you ask me, and so on. My son is PLAYING UT2004 for linux and I do all my work on it.If you want to run Photoshop and Office on Linux with no problems you should think about Xandros Deluxe. It has Crossover Office built in which will run those Windows apps and a few others. (Heck you can even run Internet Explorer, but who would want to?)

There are counterparts in Linux to most Windows things - some a little different, or need to get used to, but all of that is frequently free (and certainly less than Windows stuff!!!!)Sorry, zaqualung,

if you want to use windows software, you better stay with Microsoft windows.

If you want to use a free GNU/Linux system with all the advantages and disadvantages, welcome to the community.

You can run thousands of software packages on GNU/Linux, but don´t ask what you ask. Although there are a lot of ways to run that kind of software on GNU/Linux, it still doesn´t look right to me.

For example Photoshop, and Autocad: why do these firms don´t make there software run on any UNIX platform? Because of CONTRACTS with Microsoft, they are in deep *censored*, if you ask about that.

And what do you ask: is it possible?

Learn something new, something open: open your mind, free you spirit:
use things as:
The Gimp
Qcad
OpenOffice.Org
Mozilla
XMMS
Kongueror

and many more good software ...Yes, you can usually have 2 OS's on your 'puter if your system has the capacity and/or capability of setting up a separate partition on your hard drive.