Ubuntu-based Winux joins the Linux ecosystem by mimicking the Windows experience, but is imitation the best path?

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.

  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world
    21·
    1 day ago

    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.

      • sbird@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        2·
        18 hours ago

        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!)