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Windows 10's extremity of beingness is coming successful 2025, and that means you person to anticipation your instrumentality tin tally Windows 11, buy a caller computer, oregon effort thing antithetic -- like Linux.
Linux shouldn't beryllium considered a last-choice alternative, either, due to the fact that it's each spot adjacent to Windows oregon MacOS. It's reliable, secure, user-friendly, and free. What much bash you want?
Also: Don't cognize however to discontinue Windows 10? This Linux distro is for you - and it's free
I know: You privation an operating strategy that looks and feels similar Windows 10. That makes cleanable consciousness due to the fact that you've been utilizing Microsoft's OS for a agelong clip and alteration is often hard.
Which organisation is close for those seeking a seamless modulation from Windows to Linux? There are rather a fewer choices retired there; I'll amusement you what I see your 5 champion options.
1. KDE Neon
Slight resemblance to Windows 7 and afloat configurable
It's classy, it's casual to use, it's KDE Neon.
KDE Neon is the flagship organisation for highlighting the KDE Plasma desktop environment. The large happening astir KDE Plasma is that it tin beryllium configured to look and consciousness conscionable astir immoderate mode you similar it. Out of the box, KDE Plasma does carnivore a flimsy resemblance to Windows 7, but you tin tweak it to look much similar Windows 10 oregon Windows 11 if you like.
Also: The champion Linux organisation of 2024 is MacOS-like but accessible to all
KDE Neon benefits from an Ubuntu base, truthful it's precise user-friendly and handles hardware designation similar a champ. And anyone coming from conscionable astir immoderate mentation of Windows volition consciousness close astatine location connected the KDE Plasma desktop environment. For those who'd similar to yet enactment with a desktop that looks thing similar Windows, KDE Plasma tin easy marque that happen. Turn the bottommost sheet into a dock and adhd a apical bar, and you person a desktop akin to MacOS. KDE Plasma is that flexible.
Like astir each Linux distributions, KDE Neon tin beryllium downloaded and installed for free.
2. Linux Mint
A precise user-friendly operating strategy
Linux Mint mightiness not beryllium themed similar Windows 10 oregon Windows 11, but it is surely wrong the realm of Windows-ish desktops. For example, you'll find a panel, a Start menu, a strategy tray, and clickable icons, each connected apical of a precise user-friendly operating system.
Also: How to regenerate Windows with Linux Mint connected your PC
Another crushed to spell the Linux Mint way is that it benefits from the aforesaid level of hardware designation arsenic Ubuntu. That makes cleanable sense, fixed that Linux Mint is based connected Ubuntu. Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon desktop situation by default, but you tin download editions that usage MATE oregon Xfce. For those migrating from Windows, I would urge sticking with the default Cinnamon desktop, arsenic it volition beryllium the astir acquainted and reliable.
Linux Mint is simply a escaped distribution and has a precise robust community. The developers listen, and the merchandise docket is precise reliable.
You tin download Linux Mint for escaped connected arsenic galore machines arsenic you need.
3. Zorin OS
Pro variation looks and feels similar Windows 11
This is conscionable 1 of the galore desktop layouts disposable successful Zorin OS.
Although the extremity of Zorin OS isn't to replicate Windows 10, it does connection respective desktop layouts, including a precise Windows-like UI. If you wage for the Pro variation ($47.99), you get further layouts, specified arsenic 1 that looks and feels similar Windows 11.
Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 5 factors to assistance you determine betwixt Linux oregon MacOS
Here is 1 of the superior reasons I americium including Zorin OS: You tin commencement retired utilizing the Windows 11-like layout and, arsenic you turn accustomed to the open-source OS, you tin power it up to person a desktop that resembles MacOS oregon 1 of the straight-up Linux environments (such arsenic GNOME oregon KDE Plasma). The Zorin OS desktop is based connected GNOME, but the developers person made it acold much flexible than your mean GNOME desktop.
The escaped mentation of Zorin OS comes with 4 desktop layouts, and the Pro mentation adds six more. Of those 19 layouts, 4 are Windows-like (Windows Classic, Windows, Windows List, and Windows 11).
Zorin OS Core tin beryllium downloaded and installed for free, and the Pro licence tin beryllium purchased from the authoritative Zorin OS site.
4. blendOS
Slightly Windows 11-like but besides immutable
The Deepin desktop situation makes blendOS a happening of beauty.
blendOS mightiness not beryllium connected your radar, but it should be. Not lone does this Linux organisation carnivore a flimsy resemblance to Windows 11, but it's besides immutable (meaning it's precise secure) and includes respective options for installing apps. You volition find pacman, apt, Flatpak, Podman, and adjacent blendOS's ain unsocial "blend" tool. Because of this, you volition find tons of applications to install. You tin besides alteration Android app enactment arsenic good arsenic dnf (the Fedora bundle manager) enactment from wrong the System app. Because blendOS is immutable, the chances of you wrecking the OS are slim. Additionally, you tin prime a mentation with GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon, Deepin, MATE, oregon LXQt.
Also: blendOS is the Swiss service weapon of Linux distros but it's not for everyone
For those coming from Windows, I'd urge either KDE Plasma oregon the Deepin desktop. The 1 caveat to utilizing blendOS is that I wouldn't urge it for users with precise small machine skills. If you cognize your mode astir Windows good capable (as successful you've utilized it for a agelong clip and are comfy with astir aspects of the OS), you shouldn't person overmuch occupation with blendOS. The lone happening you won't find retired of the container is Wine (for Windows apps) oregon Steam (for games), but you tin instal some with ease.
5. AnduinOS
New kid connected the block
AnduinOS is the caller kid connected the block, but it besides happens to beryllium 1 of my favorites connected the list. This Windows-like desktop is based connected Ubuntu and uses the latest mentation of GNOME to make a alternatively Windows 11-like desktop.
Also: This Windows 11-like Linux organisation is aimed squarely astatine developers
One happening to support successful caput with this organisation is that it's not filled with tricks, bells, and whistles to fool you into believing you're utilizing Windows. AnduinOS is much astir creating a desktop and workflow that Windows users tin easy accommodate to. By utilizing the operation of Ubuntu (currently mentation 25.04) and GNOME (currently mentation 48), AnduinOS creates a desktop that performs brilliantly and reliably. If you privation to usage Windows apps connected AnduinOS, you'll request to instal Wine, but different than that, it's acceptable to spell retired of the container and is simply a dainty to use.
Although AnduinOS is marketed arsenic a desktop Linux organisation aimed astatine developers, it truly tin beryllium utilized by mean users arsenic well. I find the desktop to beryllium akin capable to Windows 11 that anyone who's utilized that OS volition consciousness close astatine location here.
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