"Running a few Windows applications on GNU/Linux can easily be
achieved by using Crossover. I've even installed Internet Explorer
using this wonderful piece of software which is developed by
CodeWeavers, folk who even had the good sense to run a promotion
recently to mark the approaching end of the reign of the worst
president in US history.
"The lack of an Internet Explorer clone for GNU/Linux has
nothing to do with freedom - it doesn't exist because IE itself is
not a typical application, but a series of libraries, the main one
of which is part of the Windows system itself and cannot be
removed. GNU/Linux observes the distinction between kernel space
and userspace, a fundamental when it comes to designing an
operating system. The golden rule is that applications can fail,
the operaing system should not.
"IE was designed this way to provide functionality beyond that
of Netscape Navigator during the days of browser wars - and this
also means that it has opened the door for remote execution of code
by virus, worms and the like, activity which can take down your
entire system."