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Linux Distro Most Like Windows? - Linux distro most like windows? | ||
Discussion by cmosads with 13 Replies.
Last Update: March 1, 2007, 9:53 am | |||
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which Linux distro is most like windows?
does anyone know of any that will run windows (.exe) files natively? (without WINE)
(i heard there were a couple...i mite be wrong)
does anyone know of any that will run windows (.exe) files natively? (without WINE)
(i heard there were a couple...i mite be wrong)
Thu Feb 22, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Ubuntu is probably most like Windows, I'd suggest ordering the free cds (live and installation).
There may be a distro with something like wine built in, but I doubt it would do much else.
There may be a distro with something like wine built in, but I doubt it would do much else.
Thu Feb 22, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Thats always a tough question, it depends why you ask it.
Generally its because people dont want to learn the differences between the OSs and want everything point and click. First let me say this will leave you disapointed, switching from Windows to Linux is like switching from checkers to chess, it might be a bit of a learning curve but youll enjoy the final experience a whole lot more.
I would choose ubuntu, its set up is very easy and most things (eg wine) can be installed directly from the package manager with no compiling knowledge needed.
Other distros have tried to mimic windows (Lindows for one) but it never seems to work, there are things like file permissions that windows users have trouble with.
Ubuntu is by far the most supported as far as getting help, if you have an issue you type a seach in google with your problem and 'ubuntu' in the title chances are you'll get your answer.
Good luck!
-Jordan
P.S. Running windows .exe files even in an emulator in linux will still run badly (by linux standards) you may only be as stable as your windows pc running the same files. It is HIGHLY recommended to find a linux alternative to the program you are running, youd be amazed how many windows programs are cloned in *nix.
Generally its because people dont want to learn the differences between the OSs and want everything point and click. First let me say this will leave you disapointed, switching from Windows to Linux is like switching from checkers to chess, it might be a bit of a learning curve but youll enjoy the final experience a whole lot more.
I would choose ubuntu, its set up is very easy and most things (eg wine) can be installed directly from the package manager with no compiling knowledge needed.
Other distros have tried to mimic windows (Lindows for one) but it never seems to work, there are things like file permissions that windows users have trouble with.
Ubuntu is by far the most supported as far as getting help, if you have an issue you type a seach in google with your problem and 'ubuntu' in the title chances are you'll get your answer.
Good luck!
-Jordan
P.S. Running windows .exe files even in an emulator in linux will still run badly (by linux standards) you may only be as stable as your windows pc running the same files. It is HIGHLY recommended to find a linux alternative to the program you are running, youd be amazed how many windows programs are cloned in *nix.
Thu Feb 22, 2007 Reply New Discussion
disappointed? i love linux!!! i was just wondering which one comes the closest. so i can recommend the right distro of linux to newbies that ask me. i like ubuntu....i like slackware as well...
Fri Feb 23, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Sorry let me clarify, linux is a world apart as far as functionality and well everything. I think were at a point now with all the Vista fun where linux will pick up as a consumer os. But most people, who have used windows since grade school (part of microsoft's 'philanthropy') have a hard time making the switch.
I could set up a distro to do everything my grandmother needs to do. But my father would reject the idea of file permissions and would always want to run defrag... (and on a side note probably thinking he's supporting the communist party)
Its awesome your being pro-active, I will help any of my friends with their issues for the sake of the 'cause'. The gaming industry is still dictating trends right now in my opinion. I get alot of resistance still not sure why, perhaps I get too technical on people.
I could set up a distro to do everything my grandmother needs to do. But my father would reject the idea of file permissions and would always want to run defrag... (and on a side note probably thinking he's supporting the communist party)
Its awesome your being pro-active, I will help any of my friends with their issues for the sake of the 'cause'. The gaming industry is still dictating trends right now in my opinion. I get alot of resistance still not sure why, perhaps I get too technical on people.
Fri Feb 23, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Linspire used to be a lot like windows. It still is. But I think PCLinuxOS and Xandros look and feel much more like MS Windows than any other linux distro. They mimmick everything from the start menu, to my computer, all the way to the control panel. It's pretty natsy. I don't like it when linux distros end up mocking windows like that. I like windows, I like linux, I just don't think the two mix well together. I think linux should stay linux and windows should stay windows.
Fri Feb 23, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Linspire is a distro that looks alot like windows (that why it was made and that's why it first was called lindows, wich microsoft ofcourse didn't like and they sued the company for it).
Another good one (never tested, but it looks a lot like it) is Linux XP ( http://www.linux-xp.com/ ).
A last addition I want to add is ReactOS ( http://www.reactos.org/ ), it is open source, but I don't think it's linux. Anyway, it realy mimick the windows look.
Another good one (never tested, but it looks a lot like it) is Linux XP ( http://www.linux-xp.com/ ).
A last addition I want to add is ReactOS ( http://www.reactos.org/ ), it is open source, but I don't think it's linux. Anyway, it realy mimick the windows look.
Mon Feb 26, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Ubuntu is better than windows. It is pretty smooth to install, unless you have weird devices. Next to it is Suse, supports much more devices. very good for laptops.
next to them is Fedora core. Ultimately debian, gentoo and slackware, which are pretty good for the power users, but once you have a feel of it there is nothing compared to the power, speed and configurability of these distros.
my favourite being slackware.
next to them is Fedora core. Ultimately debian, gentoo and slackware, which are pretty good for the power users, but once you have a feel of it there is nothing compared to the power, speed and configurability of these distros.
my favourite being slackware.
Tue Feb 27, 2007 Reply New Discussion
The thing I don't like about Linux is when you get some software that you have to compile, and it asks you for additional packages, which in turn require other packages .... Ugh! I was trying to get some opensource 3d engine installed (Crystal 3D or something along those lines) and I spent literally 2 hours scouring the internet for working dependencies to install, and in the end I just got frustrated and wiped the drive with zeros in frustration 
All else considered, I've had the most success with Ubuntu. Easy to install, and easy to navigate. Using the package manager is a breeze, but be wary installing software that needs to be compiled
All else considered, I've had the most success with Ubuntu. Easy to install, and easy to navigate. Using the package manager is a breeze, but be wary installing software that needs to be compiled
Tue Feb 27, 2007 Reply New Discussion
I would have to agree with you Herbert, when I was first starting out that was my #1 problem. Ever since I switched to debian based distros (ubuntu being my current) I havnt had any problems, even the software I have to compile I can generally find the dependencies in the package manager.
Compiling code is a skill I hope doesnt get lost, being able to define the arguments for installs based on your computer is a fantastic idea, have a neat processor with more cache? or have an obscene amount of RAM and want the program to use a large file sizes? NO PROBLEM! Of course this is assuming the software has these options.
While dependencies might be a hassle its much better than the same information being on your computer 10 times installed by different programs (*cough* DLLs *cough*).
It still boils down to support for most people, I have an old Canon i320 printer that I have to use on my roomates computer because the only linux drivers out there are proprietary and charged for. Frustrating.
Compiling code is a skill I hope doesnt get lost, being able to define the arguments for installs based on your computer is a fantastic idea, have a neat processor with more cache? or have an obscene amount of RAM and want the program to use a large file sizes? NO PROBLEM! Of course this is assuming the software has these options.
While dependencies might be a hassle its much better than the same information being on your computer 10 times installed by different programs (*cough* DLLs *cough*).
It still boils down to support for most people, I have an old Canon i320 printer that I have to use on my roomates computer because the only linux drivers out there are proprietary and charged for. Frustrating.
Tue Feb 27, 2007 Reply New Discussion
But as I remember when you emerge on Linux something, it usually installs the dependencies, I don't think it could be a hassle, but anyway, if you want to use a PHP script on Windows, you also need to Install Apache and PHP.. Or if some application like XChat requires TCL, you need to install TCL, I don't think that is that hard, people are used to click next next next finish, or sometimes to random a live? back and cancel.. I don't think that Linux needs to look like Windows, due to they are not as comfortable as they could be, so it is better to use something more comfortable on the GUI side.. I never really like the close button on the right side, by me it should be on the left side and only one button, the rest on the right!
I don't think that Linux needs to look like Windows, due to they are not as comfortable as they could be, so it is better to use something more comfortable on the GUI side.. I never really like the close button on the right side, by me it should be on the left side and only one button, the rest on the right!
Wed Feb 28, 2007 Reply New Discussion
Linux Distro that is close to Windows? I am not sure about other distro, but I just installed Ubuntu last night, and man!
I think I am in love.
And yes, Quatrux, I agree with you when you say, Linux GUI does not need to look like Windows. It is far better in Ubuntu. May be because it is inspired by UI of both Windows and Mac OS. I read in their documentations that the KDE based distro, Kubuntu, was much closer to Windows and you could try that.
But I am sticking with Ubuntu I think. Another thing that I liked about Ubuntu is how easy it is to install it as a dual boot along with Windows XP. There were about six steps, involving language selection, time zone selection, partitioning and similar stuf, and it was good to go!
It comes packaged with basic suite of multimedia players, and productivity application like Open Office.
The font set is something I wish would be a bit more expanded in terms of different fonts. I mean, there are a lot - a lot - of fonts. I could even find fonts for the different regional langauges. But in terms of English fonts, it leaves much to be desired. May be a hunt downt the internet would help me out. (It has a good set of Sans-serif fonts, but not that good collection of Serif fonts).
I think I am in love.
And yes, Quatrux, I agree with you when you say, Linux GUI does not need to look like Windows. It is far better in Ubuntu. May be because it is inspired by UI of both Windows and Mac OS. I read in their documentations that the KDE based distro, Kubuntu, was much closer to Windows and you could try that.
But I am sticking with Ubuntu I think. Another thing that I liked about Ubuntu is how easy it is to install it as a dual boot along with Windows XP. There were about six steps, involving language selection, time zone selection, partitioning and similar stuf, and it was good to go!
It comes packaged with basic suite of multimedia players, and productivity application like Open Office.
The font set is something I wish would be a bit more expanded in terms of different fonts. I mean, there are a lot - a lot - of fonts. I could even find fonts for the different regional langauges. But in terms of English fonts, it leaves much to be desired. May be a hunt downt the internet would help me out. (It has a good set of Sans-serif fonts, but not that good collection of Serif fonts).
Wed Feb 28, 2007 Reply New Discussion
One thing you must know when jumping to Linux is, do I want to abandon how Microsoft Windows does things and am I willing to learn how to use Linux?
If no, then drop Linux, you will regret running it.
There hasn't been a Linux distribution for Windows user to just drop it because they claim that it's not easy to use.
Also, there's no native way to run Windows binary on Linux, just the same as is it possible to run Windows binary natively on MacOS X. (However, some MacOS X software can run on Linux and vice versa, but requires recompilation).
xboxrulz
If no, then drop Linux, you will regret running it.
There hasn't been a Linux distribution for Windows user to just drop it because they claim that it's not easy to use.
Also, there's no native way to run Windows binary on Linux, just the same as is it possible to run Windows binary natively on MacOS X. (However, some MacOS X software can run on Linux and vice versa, but requires recompilation).
xboxrulz
Wed Feb 28, 2007 Reply New Discussion
mmm there are many similar linux distro most windows.. there is UBUNTU.. Mandriva.. OpenSuse.., are easy to install... easy to use.. and configure... but you need to remember that linux never but never haven the same appearance to windows..
linux is linux
windows is.. wtf is that thing...? old the time "kernel panic"... "bluescreen"... =/... but it is necessary to recognize that it has comforts "some time"
linux is linux
windows is.. wtf is that thing...? old the time "kernel panic"... "bluescreen"... =/... but it is necessary to recognize that it has comforts "some time"
Thu Mar 1, 2007 Reply New Discussion
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