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Thanks to ShadowAce for the ping!
Posted on 04/08/2025 7:22:00 AM PDT by ShadowAce
I’m writing this article mainly for Windows users who’ve decided to switch to Linux. If you’re already a Linux user, chances are you’ve learned most of what I’m about to share—whether the easy way or the hard way.
The main goal of this article is simple: to help you figure out whether a “Linux for Windows users” really exists—and to bridge the gap between what you might expect and what you’re actually likely to experience.
Let’s start by taking a quick look at a niche group of Linux distributions that insistently want to look like Windows and then explain why that makes no sense.
So, you’ve decided to make the switch from Windows to Linux—first off, hats off to you! That’s a great move. By now, you’ve probably realized that Linux isn’t just one single thing like Windows. Instead, it comes in many different versions called distributions, or “distros” for short. These are all variations of what people generally just call “Linux.”
Now, if I wanted to sound super smart and technical (which I’m not—just a regular user who’s picked up some experience over the years), I’d point out that the term Linux technically refers only to the single component—the kernel—the core part of the operating system. But let’s not get too pedantic here. Since this is meant for folks just getting started, we’ll stick with the more common usage and just call it Linux. Deal?
Alright, let’s keep going. There’s a small (thankfully!) group of Linux distributions out there, since the days of Lindows (which later became Linspire)—a name I’m sure brings a nostalgic smile to the faces of longtime users, that have dedicated their existence to the idea to look and feel as much like Windows as possible. Some even try to achieve/mimic bits of its functionality—honestly, that’s not really doable.
These distros usually come with a clean and familiar user interface: a bottom panel with a list of open apps, a Start menu, and other elements that long-time Windows users will instantly recognize. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that—in fact, it’s pretty cool.
However, the not-so-cool thing is that some of these projects go a little too far with flashy marketing claims (plus you’ve probably come across similar headlines online pretty often), trying to convince users they’re the perfect Windows replacement.
And here’s the truth, plain and simple: they’re not. Because here’s the big, I mean a really big, well-kept secret… ready for it? No, seriously—are you ready? Linux is not Windows! Never has been, never will be.
What I’m trying to say is that these Windows-like Linux distributions are basically selling you a “package”—one that plays on the anxiety you might feel about stepping outside your comfort zone when exploring something new (and amazing) like Linux. And honestly, that package—the look and feel—is not so hard to put together, even for an everyday home user.
Trust me when I say: the real beauty, flexibility, power, and freedom of Linux has never been about the packaging. It’s all about what’s under the hood and what you can do with it.
So, if you’re planning to switch from Windows to Linux, don’t make the mistake of choosing a distro just because it looks nice or looks like Windows. Seriously—don’t do it. Instead, I highly recommend following the advice in another article here: “New to Linux? Stick to These Rules When Picking a Distro.” It’ll help you make a smarter choice that you won’t regret.
Once again, there’s nothing inherently wrong with a Linux distribution trying to mimic Windows, though, in my opinion, it’s a bit sad. The real issue is that your expectations of getting something close to the Windows experience are almost guaranteed to fall short. Why that happens? Read the next chapter.
Linux and Windows are two separate universes. Sure, you can plug in a mouse and keyboard and connect either one to the internet—but that’s where the similarities end. From a technical standpoint, they’re built on fundamentally different foundations and are designed to work in very different ways.
Because of that, it’s just not realistic to expect the same experience on Linux that you had on Windows—and the same goes the other way around.
If we dig a little deeper, the philosophies behind the two operating systems couldn’t be more different. Windows is built around profit—it’s a commercial product. On the other hand, Linux belongs to a whole different world—one driven by core human values like freedom, choice, and the power of free will.
It’s no exaggeration to say also that most Windows users are just like that by coincidence. But it’s almost always a deliberate, thoughtful choice with Linux users. It’s something they’re genuinely passionate about, something that comes from both the heart and the mind.
Don’t believe me? Go ahead and talk to as many Windows users as you want and see how much “passion” you pick up in their words. Now, find the first Linux user you can think of and ask them why they use it. You’ll see exactly what I mean. But let’s put that aside and get back on topic.
As I mentioned earlier, the two operating systems are really different worlds. Even with the best intentions and a lot of effort from developers on both sides—and there are plenty of great examples of that—it’s nearly impossible to create a fully unified user experience. But the good news is, that’s never really been the goal for either side (aside from that specific category of Linux distributions we talked about earlier).
Switching from Windows to Linux is like stepping into a whole new world—and it’s important to understand that before you make the leap. If someone tells you that you’ll feel right at home on Linux just like you’re used to with Windows, that’s simply not true.
The biggest—and really the only—thing you need to make the switch successfully is a willingness to change your mindset. With that, you’re in for a fun and inspiring journey into the world of Linux. But if you’re just expecting a Windows-like experience, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment because Linux just works differently.
And that brings me to a conclusion I believe in with every fiber of my being: If you want a Windows-like experience, stay on Windows. If you want a better experience, switch to Linux. Saying ‘Linux for Windows users’ makes about as much sense as someone trying to raise alligators at the North Pole just because there’s water there. It completely misses the point.
Linux doesn’t need to be like Windows—and that’s actually one of the best things about it. It strips away the restrictions, giving you the freedom to tailor everything exactly to your needs and preferences. It’s fast, powerful, and free of all the unnecessary “goodies” you often find bundled with Windows. That’s a big part of what draws millions of people to it.
That said, there have always been (and probably always will be) Linux distributions aimed at attracting Windows users, built around the idea of “Linux for Windows users.” Good. But the moment you try to install something by double-clicking a file—just like you would on Windows—or, more interestingly, run into an issue that asks you to open the “scary” black Terminal window and type in a few mysterious commands, it hits you: that promise of being “just like Windows” wasn’t entirely true.
It’s also important to keep something in mind—Linux isn’t usually built to give you a perfect, polished user experience right out of the box. Instead, it’s about customizing the system to fit your needs and growing your understanding along the way. And trust me, you’re going to run into some challenges. But those moments? They’re turning points in your journey.
How you respond to them makes all the difference. You can either think, “Ugh, I give up—this just isn’t for me,” or you can lean in with, “Alright, let’s figure this out.” If you choose that second mindset, I promise you—a whole universe starts to open up. One filled with possibilities you probably never even knew existed. And the best part? Every piece of it is designed to serve you and stay fully under your control.
So, if you’re not just chasing a Windows clone and genuinely want Linux for what it is, it won’t take long before you start wondering how you ever lived without it. The Terminal becomes your best friend. Boot times are lightning-fast. You get unmatched control, power, a sense of freedom, simplicity, and speed that’s hard to beat. That’s the real beauty of Linux.
The idea that some people are trying to “promote” Linux by making it look and feel like Windows is honestly kind of disappointing. Linux was never meant to be like Windows, and that’s actually one of its best things.
Switch to Linux not because it might look like Windows in certain cases but because it truly puts you in control. It’s designed to work better and better for you over time because you’re at the center of the experience. You have all the power to decide what your system does and how it works—not the other way around.
You’re not just a passive user being told what you can or can’t do—you’re the one calling the shots, shaping your own experience. So forget about Linux for Windows users – no such thing exists. Just go ahead and choose Linux.
I hope it’s becoming clear that there is no such thing as “Linux for Windows users.” The main reason for that is the deep, foundational differences between how the two operating systems are built.
From the moment you boot them up, to how you install apps, manage settings, or even use your mouse and play audio or video—Windows and Linux do things differently. On a technical level, there’s simply no way for one to replicate how the other works fully.
Sure, there have been efforts in this direction. Windows users have had WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) for years now, which gives them almost native Linux functionality right inside Windows. On the flip side, Linux users have long leaned on tools like Wine, which does a pretty solid job running Windows applications—games included—on Linux.
But at the end of the day, Windows and Linux are built on fundamentally different foundations. So, if you’re moving from Windows to Linux and want that transition to go well, it’s better not to focus on expecting to recreate the same experience.
Instead, think of it as stepping into a new world—one where things work differently, and often in ways that are more empowering and flexible for you as the user. That mindset shift can really make all the difference in having a smooth and successful transition.
Except run software that is only supported on Windows.
I agree, going from windows to Linux is no worse than going from Win XP or Win 7 to Vista or Win 10. Those were learning curves too. In fact it could be less, a Win XP or Win & user will be flying along right away with Linux Mint.
Circa 1990—-
Me: You are building a unix clone?
Linus: Yes
No. You are an Apple fanboy and the lack of attention to the machine’s decline is that you have gotten older and can no longer tell.
:)
“A default install of Windows will 95% of what people want without the person ever having to dig into the guts and configure stuff they’ve never heard of. They don’t want an OS to be passionate about, they just want to click icons and run software.”
And that is exactly what you get with the modern Linux distros. They are all just point and click GUI interfaces. The only time you would ever need to “dig” is if you really really want to do advanced techy stuff.
You funny!
“but I’m still sticking with Windows for now because of a game I play.”
And there it is... There is always “that one game” no one can live without no matter how bad windows gets.
Then the Linux fans should change the narrative. Instead of saying “there’s no such thing” say “it’s already there”. Of course that’s hard thing for fans of anything to say, because they’re fans and want to dig into what makes it different.
What an odd article. You would think by now people who are even the least bit interested in computers (as opposed to mobiles for selfies and TikTok) would know that:
I am very technical, and operate in THREE environments: Linux, Windows, and MacOS, all day and evening long, at work and at home. No big deal -- You get used to switching mindsets, and it eventually becomes almost seamless, even doing highly technical work. Humans are adaptive creatures.
For your average non-technical Windows user, who is thinking about trying Linux or switching to it, probably 90% will only notice some superficial UI differences, and otherwise if it runs their browser they won't care.
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Thanks to ShadowAce for the ping!
Linux and UNIX are commodity operating systems now. Excellent for the server side. Linux with X Windows derived GUI interfaces is great and convenient. Not fully as functional as Windows. As a long time UNIX/Linux developer, I prefer Windows as my desktop machine and UNIX/Linux as my backend server environment. Tools suited for a specific purpose.
bkmk
What a pile of useless crap.
The guy has no appreciation for the concept of “user friendly” and “intuitive”.
He seems to take joy out of going back to using command lines interface.
It’s torture and only the ultra geek get off on it. 99% of the people could care less about the OS. It’s the functionality and ease of use of the apps they interact with daily that matters.
And there are some very Windows like Linux distros that are quite good. I use Mint, and I have a hard time noticing the differences, except when I shut down and reboot, Mint is much faster.
“Except run software that is only supported on Windows.”
And that is true. But there is a Linux replacement for just about everything Windows now. And the new version of the Wine app will indeed run a lot of Windows apps in Linux.
Unfortunately for me, some of the software I need for work doesn’t have a Linux replacement.
</smile>
I'm now quasi-retired and my work machines I remote into are both Windows and Linux. But my personal laptop is Windows largely so I can run Visual Studio and SQL Server Express to make it easier to develop C# apps for personal reasons. (i.e. downloading market data and analyzing it to possibly optimize my portfolio, and generate graphs for my financial small group to answer questions like what happens if I invest in a market downturn, or studying my solar inverter telemetry to see if I should change settings on them, etc.)
This is a good time to thank Microsoft Corporation for unintentionally promoting Linux through their years of shoddy code built upon shoddy code, constant security breaches, mandatory updates, upgrades and overall greed. Way to go team!
Special Short Bus Trophy for whoever thought Windows 8 was an improvement over 7.
I'm part of the generation that built the operating systems and today's current interfaces. The command line is where all of the work gets done. The raw underpinnings of the GUI and network interfaces is very detailed. The current generation are appliance operators. They don't comprehend the details under the covers. If the appliances break, who will rebuild from first principles? GUI Windows and Linux are built for appliance operators. Nice productivity enhancers, but no substitute for understanding how the environment works.
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