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.
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!