I found this well written review which suggests that Win10 users not able to upgrade to Win11 should use SDesk Linux
It apparently has Gnome configured to work like a Win screen, and has most popular apps preinstalled.
It is not 100% open source.
Downloads here
WARNING THIS SITE MAY BE MALEVOLENT
or use Torrent
Maybe someone with a Win background might be interested to test it out?
Based on arch linux so not an easy distro for new users, except for the dock along the bottom of the screen cannot see the big appeal, will stick with mint myself.
But thanks for pointing it out
I thought you had already made your commitment.
Arch does not have to be difficult… Manjaro and Artix have tried to make it human compatable… not 100% successfully, but Artix is nearly there.
All Arch needs is a specially tailored DE… I think that is what SDesk is trying to do… if you like , put a Win DE on Linux.
@nevj
Based on Arch?? Would not call that as beginner-user-friendly?? Might give it a go on one of my laptops!! Wonder how many will opt for the $192.25 SDesk Physical Edition!!
Hi Daniel,
You would be the ideal one to tell us if it is a good Windows substitute.
My bet is it fails, like all other such attempts.
I missed the $192 bit. That is as expensive as Win.
Regards
Neville
Would not have to install SDesk for that!!!
I do believe I would put that money into a new W11 machine!!!
Yeah, a hardware solution is always the best, and certainly the least work, but it may break your budget.
Doesn’t Zorin have a variant for Windows users? i.e. try to look and feel like Win10 or 11?
I think that would be easier for new users - it’s Ubuntu based - so probably easier than an Arch based distro…
Cant find it. It says Zorin works on computers up to 15 years old.
Agree, Zorin may be less difficult
All these attempts to put a Win frontend on Linux seem to flop… except Apple.
Wikipedia says this:
](Zorin OS - Wikipedia) It uses a GNOME and XFCE 4 desktop environment by default, although the desktop is heavily customized for users more familiar with Windows and macOS.[2][3]
That does not make sense… it cant have 2 default DE’s?
We are getting your dust today.
Last time I looked at Zorin - you could choose - i.e. a fairly vanilla style Gnome (like you get on Ubuntu, or Pop_OS (22) or Fedora) - a theme/style that makes it look like Windows 11, or a theme/style that makes it look and feel like MacOs…
I never spent long with it…
I do the latter on Ubuntu and Pop!_OS 22 - i.e. install MacOs style theming - icons, window control widgets, and move the window widgets to the left - and have Cosmic-Dock, or Ubuntu-dock/dash to look like the dock on MacOS… I have MacOS MacBooks either side of my Pop!_OS desktop and it helps to have most stuff looking consistent…
They’re not different DE’s - they’re just themed differently…
That is clearly a better approach, at least for ex MacOS users , but it does not come pre-setup..
Win is difficult… every release looks different. You could do something and it would look dated next year. That may be a strategy to counter imitators.
My draft Win imitators list seems to be
SDesk does not qualify… not open source.
Hi Neville, 
I might perhaps unjustifiably add Linux Lite. But it doesn´t reflect my own opinion.
Anyhow, here is what Linux Lite says of itself:
and:
Source: Linux Lite Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System
So they claim to provide a Windows-like desktop helping with the transition from Windows to Linux.
It´s not meant to be a lookalike per se. It´s still theLinux characteristics that shine through.
Many greetings from Rosika 
Hi Rosika,
Yeah, OK.
I think Lite fits after Mint… what do you think.?
I did not realise Lite tried to be Win transition friendly.
Mabe it belongs higher up on our beginners difficulty list too?
Regards
Neville
Hi Neville,
Seems good to me , but see my comment below.
Well, they claim to be Win transition friendly. I have never considered this aspect.
To me it´s just another Linux distro.
Comment:
It´s already in the “easy” section, right after Solus.
I don´t feel I´d be able to be a good judge for your question as I have no experience with those higher-ranked OSes.
Perhaps we should leave it where it is right now. To me it seems quite alright.
Thanks a lot, Neville.
Cheers from Rosika
Hi Rosika,
OK, new list
Hi Neville,
the new list looks good.
Putting Linux Lite right after Mint seems to make sense after all.
Thanks for your effort.
Many greetings from Rosika
Its very hard to be totally different.
Think windows and mac.
One menu at the top one at the bottom
Close button top right or top left
Red or green
They are all much if a muchness …
Add docker or ubuntu left icon bar and again the are the same
Add libreoffice or open office or microsoft office …
Firefox or google or opera
They are all so similar, but thats what I show my clients, side by side bugger all to choose.
But whilst we are limited to screens its not going to look much different
SDesk iso can’t be downloaded. Pretty shabby.
Well that says it all, thanks Bill
True.
Once we discovered the best way to use a screen, that was it… everyone converged.
Like modern motor cars… they dont have the diversity of early manufacturers.
@nevj
Got the SDesk iso, put it on my ventoy usb, would not boot my Dell laptop!!! So I used Rufus and burned the SDesk iso to a usb and same results!!
I know Gentoo boots and runs well on the old Dell laptop and when I have time, that is what the laptop will be running!!!
