Over the years, I’ve often thought that, despite how fast-moving the desktop Linux ecosystem is, there’s not much left that could truly surprise me. Yet I keep being proven wrong, and that’s a good thing. Winux, one of the newest additions to the scene, is a clear example.
Whether I like it or not, this distribution brings back memories of about 20 years ago, when Lindows, later renamed Linspire under legal (and fully justified) pressure from Microsoft, first tried to take the path of a Linux distribution built entirely to be as close as possible to the Windows experience.
Today, several Linux distributions aim to position themselves as an easy starting point, and even a replacement for Windows users looking to switch without friction. Zorin OS is a well-known example. Even so, these projects keep their own Linux identity, with similarities to Windows being more indirect than literal.
Familiarity instead of compatibility.
This piece of documentation from forgejo, about how their actions are mostly github actions compatible is how I feel about this or similar endeavors.
I really like KDE, because it’s familiar enough to Windows users that they can just kinda use it. Many of the shortcuts are the same. But I’ve had a bad experience with things that try to emulate Windows more completely, because people begin to expect some windows idiosyncracy or some other thing to be there. And then they get frustrated when it’s not the same.
KDE manages to be “close enough”, which results in a better experience.
Does it come with all the drivers working out of the box and no need for command line? How about compatibility with all the Windows programs since the 1990s?
Because that is the reason Windows is still more popular. The UI has not much to do with it seeing how Windows changes UI every major version.
Purchasing the license unlocks features such as an even more Windows-inspired desktop and control panel, an integrated Android subsystem with graphics acceleration, a graphical OneDrive client inside the file manager, Copilot and ChatGPT integration, advanced system configuration tools, improved security for web browsing, and exclusive desktop enhancements that are not available in the free base Winux install.
I’m surprised they didn’t include these things by default and remove them when you buy a license; that sounds like a straight downgrade. Aren’t these things some of the main reasons people stop using Windows?
not today, people migrate because W11
I use OneNote extensively - have 20 years of notes, and I disable OneDrive integration in Windows.
And the AI integration? Wtf?
Android integration sounds interesting though.
Android integration sounds interesting though.
It’s probably just Waydroid, but rebranded.
Lol, I’m sure.
Still I downloaded it and spinning up a VM.
At this point windows 11 doesn’t look like windows. Can’t linux just be its own thing lmao?
Well I think that’s part of the magic, Linux should enable people to do what they want to do, even try to emulate windows.
Debian KDE was close enough for me to make the jump without much trouble.
KDE is the secret to winning over Windows users. Plasma 6 is everything most people want Windows to be. It’s also why I am very unpopular with Mint acolytes — I am always trying to steer new users away from Cinnamon, which means away from Mint.
I am always trying to steer new users away from Cinnamon, which means away from Mint.
I’m not a fan of Ubuntu and its derivates in general (short version of the reason: Ubuntu continues to enshittify, its derivatives fight an increasingly harder battle to apply plasters to fix Ubuntu) and the reality since a few years is that an increasing number of people become familiar with SteamOS, its immutability and Flatpak use, so the old battle ground of .deb vs .rpm, where system config files are stored, etc. has just outlived itself. “A Ubuntu variant is the best because that’s what online tutorials are about” is no longer relevant for the vast majority of people.
Newbie to Linux here; can you not just install KDE with Mint?
You are able to install a new desktop environment (or “DE”), I used to use Fedora Workstation, which is GNOME, and I was able to install KDE and had the option of switch to it from the login screen. Technically, you are able to run with two, or more, DEs at once and switch between them on restart, which is fun, but the downside is that there are extra default apps from each DE (e.g. file managers, media viewers) which can make things confusing, and if you want to replace a DE, like I did when I switched to KDE, I was advised to be a bit careful to install the new DE before uninstalling the old one, as otherwise I would be stuck with no DE at all. You don’t want to pull a Linus and accidentally uninstall your desktop environment and blame Linux for your troubles!
Generally, it’s better to just install a distro with your preferred DE (Fedora Workstation for vanilla GNOME, Ubuntu for their flavour of GNOME, Fedora KDE/Kubuntu/Bazzite for KDE, Mint for Cinnamon, etc. Some distros like Debian and EndeavourOS let you pick whatever DE you want on install which is nice) and learn to get comfortable with using Linux and hopefully the “scary” terminal (it’s not scary at all, it’s just another tool in the toolbox!)
You can. But since mint no longer comes with a KDE-default version it’s not ideal for onboarding new linux disciples.
If you game at all and are familiar with the windows interface, bazzite-kde has been great for me.
Linux Mint has been so great and stable that is really hard to get people to move to something else.
Its just Ubuntu with a theme.
You have to do everything from the terminal anyway…
I almost went with Zorin, but the ratings and reviews in Linux Mint ultimately won me over, as well as ease of use.
That said, I almost checked out Winux, but evidently, it is not actually FOSS.
Ah, it seems like this is just Linuxfx after a rebrand.
I recommend reading this article about their incredibly shoddy security (and software development) practices around their “Pro” version.It’s certainly a surprising addition to the circle of distros…Reminds me TOO much of Windows and that’s a big negative for me. However, for someone else this would be a pathway towards escaping Microsoft that has gotten lobotomized by their lust for AI.
Honestly, if someone wants the ease of Windows but isn’t tech savvy enough to figure out “typical” Linux, I’d just point them to Aurora. Fedora atomic, easy system upgrades, easy rollbacks, nearly no downtime due to backup images.
Atomic distros have a set-back of having to deal with Package Layering in the case of those that aren’t found on Flathub. That’s a bit outside of the wheelhouse of a non-tech savvy person. You or I could easily deal with package layering, as it’s important to remove them before a major system update…We’d remember to do that before applying such an upgrade. They might not, leading to frustration. I think Linux Mint, ZorinOS, or even just Ubuntu would be better.
Still, I do use Bazzite, as I am comfortable with the package layering and understand mostly how atomic distros work.
Atomic distros have a set-back of having to deal with Package Layering in the case of those that aren’t found on Flathub. That’s a bit outside of the wheelhouse of a non-tech savvy person.
Today’s non-tech savvy persons usually want Chrome, VLC, and Steam. Yes, there are exceptions but I set up Linux PCs for a few people with unsupported Windows versions recently and they are just fine with that because all they do is to access web services from Chrome, playing back the occasional downloaded media file, and some games.
Yeah, it does depend on the user, like I replied to another person. You have to figure out the needs of the user and adapt accordingly. For some, their needs are far less complex and all of their software would be on Flathub. So package layering is a situation problem, I just got unlucky with 3 out of the several programs that I use. Which is why I’d mention it, as edge cases are always a thing.
Don’t need to layer packages, that’s like number 3 or 4 on a list of options to try before resorting to layering.
You can do most things on distrobox with almost zero overhead
Eh, could, but I like the layering. Realistically, it’s just three apps and everything else has a Flatpak version. I might experiment with using DistroShelf for the apps that don’t actually need to be layered. Mullvad VPN is the only app I use that needs to be layered.
Edit: I did it, installed Ubuntu into a box in DistroShelf, and installed Bibisco and Filen in that Ubuntu Box. It was easy, and I removed those layered apps from Bazzite. Eh, I might still be a lazy bastard, at least I can do that little amount of work. LMAO
That’s a good point. You’d have to know your intended user. Somebody who only uses flatpak probably doesn’t need to worry about anything, but if they want to start layering, they’d run into problems on a major version change.
Yeah, it is understanding the user and trying to give them recommends that would suit their technical ability and desire to learn. As using Linux (any distro) requires varying degrees of knowledge, I often ask people what they do with their computer and if they are fairly comfortable with technical things before making a recommend. I also firmly remind them they need to learn the basics, as it will often save them a lot of trouble!
Yeah, but does it have a kickass reggae theme song that disses bill gates like Lindows?
No? Well then does it even matter?
Every few months, another news article about yet another (assumedly) short-lived distro with a goofy ass name, a mid to good Windows-like KDE theme and its windows illusion breaking as soon as they show a screenshot from dolphin/diskover/ whrre at best the colors look different hits my homepage.
This one seems to at least have a windows-like settings app, winboat integration and even a paid licensing system built on top…
like really why use kde at all for windowsing when the chicago95 theme for xfce is right there
Wake me up when they recreate the ultimate power of Regedit.
Regedit but it’s a GUI dotfile manager. Imagine that.
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I tried a tiling desktop environment (hyprland) and it just did not work for me. I like dragging windows around and Alt+Tabbing between them instead of Super+2 to switch to my app on the other desktop
the cleverness of Linux users to attract Windows normies
If you desire that close of a carbon copy to Windows, you should just use Windows.
