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1 • Distro choice (by Roger on 2020-09-28 00:34:31 GMT from Belgium)
My answer is I would recommend another distro, there is no reason to copy anything from MS.
There is plenty of choice to better yourself and leave closed OS behind.
So copying MS or Apple is not needed.
That is what we with or GNU-Linux workgroup are telling people for years now.
We are not forcing anybody to switch just let our choice of OS do the work when we show how it works.
People how read my contrubutions on this site know that my choice is Linux Mint Mate, but in our group other menbers are using different distro and desktop, most choose the same as me.
Maybe it is the best choice, but we always leave it to menbers what they want to use.
Check our website, it is in Flemish ( Dutch ) and still only http not s
http://www.gnu-linuxwerkgroep.eu
There is a little bit of Java, so don't be alarmed.
2 • Re Linuxfx (by Romane on 2020-09-28 01:10:57 GMT from Australia)
I not only would, but will offer another distribution if/when asked. 2 main reasons
1. As Roger in @1 says. For myself, why go to such extreme lengths to cover up the fact that the person is running Linux? There are many excellent Linux distros "out there" which run as themselves not as an imitation of something else and are a good introduction to a "newbie" of the Linux eco-system.
2. I am always turned off by a distribution going commercial, though can understand the reason for doing so. If sales drop, the commercial distro is at great a risk as any other distro of, through lack of funding, collapsing and vanishing into the annals of history.
Merely my personal opinion, but Linux has come a long way since its early days when Windows was the majority choice of operating system, and Linux was too immature to be of any real competition. But it has matured massively, and the fact that a commercial entity such as Microsoft see real benefit in Linux shows just how much it has come of age. There is no reason, flat, for Linux to pretend to anything other than itself, and with pride at and for its achievements.
If I were to wish to run anything that looked like Windows, I would run Windows.
3 • Don't understand (by Jeff TIncher on 2020-09-28 01:17:35 GMT from United States)
I don't understand why Linux Distros are trying to copy Windows 10. I ran Linuxfx in a live mode and I'm impressed by how close it is to Win10. What I don't understand is why Linux distros (and there are more and more distros trying to do what Linuxfx is doing). If you want to be like Win10 you might as well stay there. I've used Linux Distros off and on for many years. I have had no problem going from Win to Linux. They both have the same desktop features, i.e. application menu, backgrounds, etc. I don't see why anyone would have a problem moving to any Linux distro.
4 • Don't understand (by Jeff TIncher on 2020-09-28 01:19:12 GMT from United States)
I don't understand why Linux Distros are trying to copy Windows 10. I ran Linuxfx in a live mode and I'm impressed by how close it is to Win10. What I don't understand is why Linux distros (and there are more and more distros trying to do what Linuxfx is doing) is bothering trying to be like Win. If you want to be like Win10 you might as well stay there. I've used Linux Distros off and on for many years. I have had no problem going from Win to Linux. They both have the same desktop features, i.e. application menu, backgrounds, etc. I don't see why anyone would have a problem moving to any Linux distro.
5 • mimics (by vern on 2020-09-28 01:36:16 GMT from United States)
I have Windows installed and use daily, also I have various Linux distros installed and use them as well.
I leave Windows as is. I like its interface. I also like Gnome, KDE, LXDE and like their interface. I don't want any of my Linux installs to look ANYTHING like Windows. I keep them in separate partitions, and they don't look anything like each other.
Why try to mimic Windows? Just use Windows then.
6 • Windows CopyCat Distros (by Rev_Don on 2020-09-28 01:38:44 GMT from United States)
I installed a couple of Window Clone/CopyCat distros for people quite a few years ago hoping to help them make the transition to Linux from Windows. What I found out what they had more problems than they did with a more conventional Linus Distros. The more it looked like Windows the more they expected it to behave exactly like Windows. They became frustrated when it didn't.
When I presented them with a more conventional Linuxwith a Gnome 2 or Mate, XFCE, KDE, or LXDE desktop there attitude changed and they were accepting to change their sinking. This was especially true when you placed the Start Menu and Task Bar on the top of the screen. They found it familiar enough to navigate around in it, but didn't expect it to act exactly like Windows. They did find OpenBox, Enlightenment, Unity and especially Gnome 3 more difficult to grasp.
Since then I haven't installed one of the CopyCat/Clone Distros for anyone since. I've found that giving them Linux Mint Mate, Ubuntu Mate, or Xubuntu gets them off to a good start in Linux.
7 • mimic UIs (by Charlie on 2020-09-28 02:00:16 GMT from Hong Kong)
Generally I hate distros copying UI directly from other OSes, it either hinders the development of good UIs in Linux,lacks of creativity or looks cheap and unprofessional.
Distro vendors should instead polishing the existing UI, contributing to upstream projects such as GNOME/KDE. I rmb the time when Linux generally looks better than Windows, i.e. the GNOME 2.x/KDE 3.x period. Today Linux Us are under some form of stagnation.
8 • reviews and Kodi (by TuxBSDfan on 2020-09-28 02:01:30 GMT from Canada)
I tried LinuxFX in a virtual machine and I must say I was bluffed. But I share your opinion about the purpose of the project. I don't know if there will be legal problems in the futur. I find it problematic that a distribution based on LinuxMint/Ubuntu so uses someone else's work to make a commercial proposal. I find it dishonest...
Your experience with Kodi is also my experience. I have never been able to do anything with this program. Big, Heavy, slow and extensions that in half the cases don't install. Finally I've been wondering for years who actually uses Kodi except the developer himself.
regard
9 • Windows copy cat with linux (by Clarence Perry on 2020-09-28 02:03:47 GMT from United States)
I haven't used Windows since '07 so I can't easily answer any questions on Windows. I think one of the main reasons someone would wish to go with a Windows clone is to easily get support.
Since I'm the known IT guy in the family, some members just can't fathom that I'm in IT and not using Windows and able to help them.
Therefore, when semi-computer literate kinfolk come around, I make sure I have a character based screen visible.
10 • Linuxfx (by Bobbie Sellers on 2020-09-28 02:42:47 GMT from United States)
I would not use this because I am already familiar with various distros that duplicate
the Windows XP look. This is a very common sort of attempt to make it easier for
the naive users to adopt Linux. Even my PCLinuxOS 64 can look like Windows
and even has accessible various copies of Windows background images.
Sooner or later the naive user must become somewhat enlightened about the use
ot the Virtual Terminal and Command Line tools. It might be disheartening to the
older users but if they go along with the effort they will improve their brain function
IMO.
bliss - 83 yoa with 70 year old clients
11 • have searched but never found (by ralph on 2020-09-28 03:13:14 GMT from United States)
> emulate the Windows XP desktop menu
Does the desktop menu of any linux desktop environemnt offer "drag to rearrange item ordering"? "drag an item to move it from one submenu to another submenu, or to toplevel menu"? Howabout "right click a menu item to view/edit its properties"?
12 • Windows and pretend to bees (by X on 2020-09-28 05:49:28 GMT from United States)
I opened Distrowatch Weekly on one system as I started to fix someone esle's Windows system.
It has so many problems that I am not sure I can do anything to improve the performance. It crossed my mind to substitute it with something like Linuxfx. However, it is not mine.
I used windows for a very brief period in 1994. Since then only to atempt to fix others' issues.
Like other commentators I would recommend something else. Why would anyone want present a Windows look alike. Do they eliminate the issues one encounters with the idol O/S? Is this a cancer spreading around the world?
13 • why imitate; it´s not that good (by Jada on 2020-09-28 06:01:29 GMT from Norway)
I ditched win10 for void 6-7 years ago on my parents pc.
With pekwm and without statusbar/taskbar, only a well put together rightclick menu to lanch and switch apps.
They are in their late 70 and had no problems adapting to a new minimalistic interface.
14 • Just install a good linux not an imitation (by Hank on 2020-09-28 07:39:38 GMT from Germany)
Having Installed antiX for many users coming from Win 10 no way I would copy.
I do put task bar at bottom, set autohide for maximum usable screen space, populate with some starter buttons. Change number of desktops to 6.
On Login: Claws mail and Palemoon autostart on desktops 1 and 2. Depending on user wishes other prime usage software on other desktops, with window size and position pre defined. I help setup internet Wifi, sound, Printer, if any problems occur, which is uncommon. Desktop is lightning fast IceWm. Aim is to provide a ready to work desktop immediately after login. Claws Mail gets Mail. A predefined page is open in palemoon,
it can of course be blank.
For the rest users are left in most cases with dual boot ability, win 10 or antiX Linux.
Interestingly some users have reported back that after using antix then booting in to the windows installation they became extremely frustrated with performance. Updates drove them mad with regular problems. AntiX just updates, on modern machines with user continuing his work as usual. I added a bash alias, user enters just one word - update in Terminal, presses enter, gives his password and lets linux do its work.
No user has permanently gone back to windows.
15 • when brainstorming leads to a bright idea... (by frimical on 2020-09-28 08:29:26 GMT from France)
That happenned, very early, as usual, on a monday morning. But, this monday was not a dull one, as it's always been. The team was delighted to find THE great idea that will definitely change and free the world: cloning windows over a linux engine, and make people pay for it! Waw! Wonderful! A business plan based on a great idea that'll never survive the time to read those words...
Why? it looks like it's an idea coming out of a cavern, on the scale of linux time, At the dawn of linux on the desktop, that was "supposed" to be helpful to make the shift, but never was really the case, because one of the many reasons said in the comments above.
Nowadays, it's not the case anymore. Linux works pretty well out of the box. Unless we're obliged "lobbyingly" to use an app that is tailored made for the one and only windows, otherwise the choice is there.
I have windows10. I avoid using it. Why? because the time it will allow me to start working, I'm already
done, switched off my machine, and gone to continue my life, when I use Linux. Those are facts.
And above all, paying to use a clone that is not really a clone, but trying to be a twin, not really a twin...
huh! who pays for a mosquito that will try to survive on the back of a horse? I'll go for the horse definetly more useful to me than the mosquito.
continue brainstorming genius team, maybe next time wiil be the right one.
( if it wasn't clear enough, that was about Linuxfx/windowsfx and friends)
16 • If it floats your boat… (by SuperOscar on 2020-09-28 09:40:07 GMT from Finland)
I don’t get all the hubbub about Linuxfx or other distros copying the Windows UI. If someone needs that, it’s fine by me. I’ve actually once been forced to cater for users who “couldn’t now use their computer at all” if one of their precious Win3.11 Program Manager icons was moved an inch to the right of its one and only true location on the screen. Those people still exist and might benefit for a copycat UI, if changing the underlying OS makes the job of their IT assistance (paid or otherwise) easier. Not everyone is ready to have each of their computers have a wholly different look-and-feel.
17 • copying windows 10, not a good idea (by a on 2020-09-28 09:46:02 GMT from France)
The user interface of Windows 10 isn’t very good. It’s messy. So copying it is a bad idea for this reason.
Now if the point is to give this distro to people who are already used to Windows 10 so that the transition is easy, I don’t think it will work because many things will be different anyway.
I think it’s better if the UI is clearly different so that these new LInux users don’t expect everything to work like Windows and then be disappointed.
18 • Linuxfx' "Windows experience" (by Anthony on 2020-09-28 10:07:21 GMT from Czechia)
> I had experienced a lot of pop-ups, an unusually restrictive customization wizard, and accidentally triggered three reboots in the first ten minutes. I certainly felt like the Windows experience was being faithfully recreated.
> [..]
> Linuxfx reflects both some of the nice elements of Windows and its drawbacks.
As a person who is forced to use Windows on their work laptop, and who has experienced increasing amounts of frustration with BSODs, program freezes (=>restart), start menu or program malfunctions (=>restart), serious resource usage (and consequent lag), I totally "feel this".
19 • Linuxfx (by pat_h on 2020-09-28 11:08:20 GMT from United States)
I am going to try Linuxfx just because I don't have a computer that can run Windows 10, 32 or 64. Out of a dozen machines, all I get when they boot is a popup that says " Sorry, your system does not...", even when meeting more than the minimum requirements. I am hopeful to get a Windows 10 experience with Linuxfx even though I prefer a desktop that looks more like Windows 95 or 2k. I am happy to see that it comes with Chrome but sorry to see the steady demise of 32-bit distros. My first distro was SUSE 7 and I will always remember the motto, "Have lots of fun". That's what Linux is about. Thanks for the news!
20 • Would I install LinuxFx (by Zyb on 2020-09-28 12:24:50 GMT from United States)
Would I install LinuxFx for family/friends? Yes. I will install whatever they wanted. After all it is their computer, their choice. That doesn't mean I won't tell them how wrong they are, if they are wrong... they are probably wrong ;-) but it is still their choice.
21 • Linuxfx review, and @15, @19 (by WhatMeWorry on 2020-09-28 12:49:50 GMT from United States)
About the review:
Linuxfx hasn't gone commercial, at least not yet. Their download page resembles Elementary's, giving you an option to pay what you want. $30 is the initial suggestion. The have also gone to two editions, "Founder's" and "Free." You are not required to pay or register for either one, although you are encouraged to do so. I believe they are hoping to make money on support. Good luck! They do have other products for sale, so I guess they don't need Windowsfx to put food on the table. Go for the Founder's if you want all the goodies.
I am running 10.6, so some things may have changed.: The installer supports ZFS. The installer stops at a "remove media and hit enter" prompt when restarting, just like other Ubuntu-based distros using Ubiquity. I had no excessive pop-ups. "Helloa" is really Google Assistant, so it will be listening and maybe looking when activated. It can be installed on other distros, should one wish. The search bar is also Google, so it better be good. Didn't try Kodi, but I empathize about the problems.
As far as copyrights or trademarks: the distro is based in Brazil, the same country where Apple has been fighting for 13 years about the iPhone trademark. Also, a ruling was made on the Windows name back in the Lindows days. MS lost, and paid $20 million for Lindows to go away. I'm sure the Windowsfx guys would be salivating at the prospect.
Don't know what the reasoning is behind the lookalike. I've played with themes and icons before, but just for amusement. These guys went whole hog.
@15, "I have windows10. I avoid using it. Why? because the time it will allow me to start working, I'm already done, switched off my machine, and gone to continue my life, when I use Linux. Those are facts."
Facts? Really? I've been running Windows 10 since it was Beta. Now I just keep it on VMs. It still starts and shuts down as fast as the average Linux distro. Faster than some.
@19, I all you want is the looks, you can try boomerang themes on Gnome, Cinnamon, or XFCE.
https://b00merang.weebly.com/themes.html
22 • Rather than make Linux look like Wondows ... (by Lee on 2020-09-28 13:06:53 GMT from United States)
I would like the MATE desktop on WIN 10
23 • @22 (by Zyb on 2020-09-28 13:18:02 GMT from United States)
Poor Mate.
24 • LinuxFX (by Ankleface Wroughlandmire on 2020-09-28 13:22:44 GMT from Ecuador)
Interesting about Linuxfx. It looks like they do still have a free version, but it requires going into their Telegram room to get it. They have direct "Free" download links, as well as a pay-what-you-want box that allows entering $0, but it pops up a Javascript message that you need to login to their Telegram.
25 • Linux Windows (by Friar Tux on 2020-09-28 14:12:27 GMT from Canada)
I would recommend another distro. In fact, I have installed Linux Mint/Cinnamon on computers (after wiping Windows clean off) and have been told that "this" is better than Windows. BUT, I only do it if the computer owner agrees. Usually I explain that nothing is totally Windows-like, but that you CAN have a traditional desktop with Linux. I prefer using the term traditional as it helps the transition between the two OS's.
I, myself, am a traditionalist. I like things in a certain place as it helps with the work flow. I do have two "taskbars", though, - one top, one bottom. The bottom one is your regular Start Button-Task Manager-Systems Area-type panel, while the top one is mostly for app launchers to my most used apps (similar to Docky/Plank but actually a second system-based panel.)
While I get the idea behind Windows look-alikes, I think they are a mistake. Offer a traditional desktop environment with the caveat that it will have a few things that will work slightly different (better??) than Windows. (By the way, one of my "selling" points to move people to Linux is that Microsoft has hinted many times that it wants to change Windows to a service - meaning a yearly subscription to use it. I don't know when or how this will be implemented but I can see by their changes to Windows that it is coming.)
Note to DW:- Great Weekly, as usual. As my Mennonite brethren would say, "It spoke to my situation."
26 • @24, Linuxfx, Quark (by WhatMeWorry on 2020-09-28 14:38:22 GMT from United States)
Looks like they are changing things. Wasn't like that 3 days ago. Probablywant to make it more difficult to get the free one. Funny thing is, in a country like Brazil, as in most of the world, people are not going to pay for lookalike Linux when they can get the second most popular OS for free: pirated Windows. Download is still on Sourceforge, here, until they decide to change it:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/otherzone/
But not to worry. Quark, based on Kubuntu, was just added to the waiting list and is also a lookalike. Even has a tiled menu. Everybody loves Windows 10.:-)
27 • Linuxfx (by whoKnows on 2020-09-28 14:51:38 GMT from Switzerland)
@ 19 (pat_h)
Then you probably won't be happy with Linuxfx neither.
It's as resources heavy as Linux can be.
--
I wonder how much of that “Windowisation” they actually did on their own and how much they “borrowed” ... except if b00merang is in team.
https://b00merang.weebly.com/
FX part of the BRAND name is also kinda annoying thing ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effect
28 • Quark (by Roy Davies on 2020-09-28 15:48:59 GMT from United Kingdom)
I've just read the article on Linuxfx. I have tried it but find that this distro to be lacking on so many fronts.
I then noticed a new distro, Quark, listed for the 'waiting list'., so I decided to have a closer look.
What a nice little distro. Derived from Q4OS, but based on Lubuntu 20.04 instead of Debian.
Yes, shades of Zorin, but for those with a leaning towards a Windows 'look'. It has some nice touches, like the Windows-esque apps panel, all neatly in alphabetic order.
I've decided to give it a spin and have installed it on an old HP Compaq 6910p, 2007 vintage, laptop.
Many thanks Jesse for the heads-up.
29 • Linux Distro (by Joel N on 2020-09-28 17:06:24 GMT from Canada)
If I'm going to install Linux for someone, I will install Linux, not a "Windows clone"
MY preference right now would be Linux Mint as I find it to be the most user friendly and comes with a good support group.
30 • Linuxfx for friends (by Oleg on 2020-09-28 17:21:02 GMT from United States)
I, after some testing on my own, would install it on my friends' and relatives' computers. There is some category of users that is extremely conservative in their ways. Some, mainly older people can easily get lost and stop functioning when things get out of ordinary, and amount of those things matters. At least, they are not going to have a hard attack upon launching their Linux(Windows)fx for the first time. And, Linuxfx will be a good choice for them to extend life of their computers, which are sometimes almost as old as themselves!
31 • Comments are free (by userfx on 2020-09-28 18:11:29 GMT from United States)
Linuxfx objective?!?
@21 - "MS lost, and paid $20 million for Lindows to go away. I'm sure the Windowsfx guys would be salivating at the prospect."
I wonder...
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Guys who know everything about Windows (wink, wink)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
@12 - "I used windows for a very brief period in 1994. Since then only to atempt to fix others' issues."
You can fix something you don't know how to use?
@13 - "I ditched win10 for void 6-7 years ago..."
So in 2014-2013; even if the original version of Windows 10 was released in July 2015?
@15 - "I have windows10. I avoid using it. Why? because the time it will allow me to start working, I'm already done, switched off my machine, and gone to continue my life, when I use Linux. Those are facts."
Okay...
@16 - "I’ve actually once been forced to cater for users who “couldn’t now use their computer at all” if one of their precious Win3.11 Program Manager icons was moved an inch to the right of its one and only true location on the screen."
And you fix that...
@25 - "In fact, I have installed Linux Mint/Cinnamon on computers (after wiping Windows clean off) and have been told that "this" is better than Windows."
And Linux Mint/Cinnamon is now the most used OS world-wide...
32 • Windows look-alikes (by Slartibartfast on 2020-09-28 18:44:55 GMT from United Kingdom)
Although I currently use Linux 90% of the time I have used Windows since 3.1 in work and home environments I find it familiar and am generally happy using it. (I missed the worst versions - ME, Vista Win8).
Given the changes in the interface over that time I find it hard to believe that older folk (like me) would have serious difficulty adapting to another (Linux) interface, unless they are already barely able to navigate their current windows install.
Perhaps I'm wide of the mark but such folk are probably mainly using email, browsing, basic Office and multimedia applications which could be set as launchers on the desktop.
33 • #31 (by x on 2020-09-28 18:50:25 GMT from United States)
I have not used windows on my systems since 1994. However most of the people I know use MS and they have needed help many times over the years. Just because someone chooses not to use or do something does not mean they do not know how.
Your attempt to insult others is meaningless, why are you here? Go away and come back after you grow up and learn more about whatever subject you think you may have mastered..
34 • Distro recommendation (by Cheker on 2020-09-28 23:09:46 GMT from Portugal)
At this point I recommend Debian. I believe it's friendly enough, you don't need to resort to Ubuntu. I might even show them what the vanilla desktops look like and let them choose it.
35 • Linuxfx (by usman on 2020-09-28 23:50:57 GMT from Indonesia)
Maybe Linuxfx make sense in place like internet cafe, library, public computer that the user only using browser & multimedia player.
36 • Reasons to run Linuxfx (by User on 2020-09-29 03:23:03 GMT from Philippines)
Honestly, I don't see the reason to run Linuxfx. If your goal is to "transition" Windows users by offering a near identical environment, they might think they never transitioned at all and ask for help and seek resources for Windows 10. At this point, the skin will inevitably peel away as virtually none of the advice will work on an OS which, even though it has been dressed up to look like Windows, works nothing like it underneath. By keeping up the illusion, you're just making it harder for the user to cope once the fancy dressing inevitably gets pulled away by one issue or another.
37 • Very appalled at Linuxfx/Windowsfx (by RJA on 2020-09-29 03:32:28 GMT from United States)
@Jesse, definitely flying too close to the sun!
Very shun-worthy and lawsuit-worthy. The report from #24 makes it suspicious. There may be a drive-by-exploit. Reminds me of an old tactic used in the '00s.
They definitely now deserve getting a Lucasfilm-style cease-and-desist letter, possibly at best.
38 • Can't keep up with Linuxfx's offerings (by eco2geek on 2020-09-29 05:33:18 GMT from United States)
Sunday, about 8:30 PDT, I found that you could put $0 in Linuxfx's payment box, which took me to Sourceforge, where I could download the same version that Jesse reviewed, v10.6.
About an hour later, the files on Sourceforge were gone. If you put $0 into the payment box, it took you to a page where it tried to open Telegram, so you could go to a chat room and request a free version.
Today, as @26 noted, you can download a free version from Sourceforge again, if you know the link. Linuxfx's download page still takes you to Telegram. (The "free" ISO on Sourceforge has a different name than the v10.6 ISO does.)
Confusing? Yes. It appears that the vendor isn't sure what they want to do yet and may change things up again.
In any case, I'm with the others who've said that, if you really want something that emulates Windows this much, just go get Windows. Pretending that Linux is Windows is only going to confuse you.
39 • Linux distros that emulate the Windows look (by Simon Wainscott-Plaistowe on 2020-09-29 06:22:52 GMT from New Zealand)
Why should Linux look like Windows? I can't think of any valid reason. For those who are happy with Windows, just use Windows. If you don't like Windows (like myself), just use something else. There are plenty of alternatives. For desktop Linux that "just works", I use Linux Mint. On the rare occasion that I need to use Windows for testing or reference/comparison purposes, I have Windows 10 & XP virtual machines. For now, my phone runs Android (until something better eventuates). My firewall runs IPFire. Multimedia boxes run LibreELEC. NAS box runs OpenMediaVault with UrBackup for workstation backups. Filesharing is done via NFS because it's heaps faster than Samba.
40 • Why even bother with a Linux system that tries to act 99.999% like Windows 10? (by Donald Sebastian Leung on 2020-09-29 08:02:53 GMT from Hong Kong)
I can get why some Linux distributions try to offer an environment that looks and feels familiar to former Windows users in order to ease the transition, and have no problem with them adding in a few proprietary components along with FOSS software to aid in that goal (I like the idea of FOSS in general over proprietary software but am not a purist / idealist ala FSF / Richard Stallman), but seriously, as many others have already pointed out, what is the point of running Linux if you're just going to make it act and behave 99.999% like Windows? Though, reading the review of Linuxfx, it sounds like it's even less stable and usable than modern Windows, which makes it even more pointless. I bought a Lenovo laptop with Windows 10 preinstalled a few months ago and during the first week before I replaced it with Ubuntu (and later Fedora), it didn't seem all that laggy/buggy at all and I never encountered a single BSOD like the ones I would encounter every now and then 10 years ago.
41 • Too close to the sun\\\Apple? (by Fossilizing Dinosaur on 2020-09-29 13:39:46 GMT from United States)
Wasn't it Apple that sued using a "software patent" on "look-and-feel"?
Isn't Microsoft a little more tolerant of sincere-flattery imitation?
42 • Windows 95 lookalike (by Stefan on 2020-09-29 13:46:06 GMT from Germany)
@19: If you look for a Windows 95 lookalike desktop for lowspec computers:
https://ahinea.com/projects/qvwm/
It's some years since I last used qvwm, but back then it was great, fast as hell, drag and drop with the mouse, functional Taskbar,...
43 • Windows CopyCat Distros (by Ennio on 2020-09-29 18:19:03 GMT from Netherlands)
@6 You mean, they changed their sinking about Windows to stay afloat with Linux?
44 • LinuxFX (by IchWarEsNicht on 2020-09-29 18:40:11 GMT from Germany)
To some extent, it is not so awful to copy the UI from Windows. Microsoft invests a lot of money trying to improve the user experience. In spite of this, they still came up with Windows 8. But I think the most important thing for a new user is that you have a system that is easy and reliable. It is better to put them on a distro with a proven track record. Maybe LinuxFX will get there some day. But for now I would steer them toward a more mainstream distribution.
45 • why emulate at all? (by emu late on 2020-09-29 18:46:21 GMT from New Zealand)
Windows are inexorably coming to the systemd blackhole at the center of all computing. All shall become UNIX, or a variant thereof. One kernel to rule them all... and one systemd to bind them!
That was half-joking. Watch - in 2-5 years Windows will be a desktop manager on top of the same Linux kernel everyone else is using. They're already buzzard-circling the Linux Foundation and integrating Linux and Windows. More to come, soon(tm).
Note - the Windows desktop was bad and has become much worse over time. If you are still in the free part of Linuxland, why the zark would you want to emulate the worst UI out there? Many reskins emulate Apple who are/were the UI masters, well under Jobs anyway, zero progress to regression since then.
The problem remains the big box stores and the general public, who are clueless. A computer is not a waffle-iron appliance. Don't even start on 'smart'phones and Apple/Googles's whack-a-mole games with malicious apps - a headline every week. The average IQ is not all that high and half the people are dumber than that, a sobering thought.
46 • Linuxfx NOT! (by Walt on 2020-09-29 18:55:38 GMT from United States)
Sir,
Do not want any device corrupted by microsoft!
Thanks,
Walt R.
47 • @ 22 LinuxFX (by Roger on 2020-09-29 21:17:31 GMT from Belgium)
@ 22 Good choice for desktop, but it still is windows underneath.
so there is still no choice than and you get the dreaded updates that stop anything.
48 • If they dropped the pretense... (by eco2geek on 2020-09-30 01:57:57 GMT from United States)
If they dropped the pretense that it's some sort of Windows clone, Linuxfx actually wouldn't be a bad distribution. It's got a ton of preinstalled software, and reminds me of Zorin Ultimate edition in that way. And the Cinnamon user interface is easy to use.
49 • linuxfx (by Hoos on 2020-09-30 05:45:40 GMT from Singapore)
It's one thing to emulate layouts and interface, another thing to copy a trademark (see start button in screenshot in the review).
50 • flying too close to the sun (by fonz on 2020-09-30 16:10:15 GMT from Indonesia)
nope, but more like landing on it. isnt it common sense to know that the US has the most strict rules, and not many would actually want to piss them off? while the rest of the world may not care, IMHO getting on the bad side of giants is suicidal. what if macrostuff went to gulag and said 'yeah, lets bully them windowsfx', and other giants joined in just for teh lulzfx? im still using win7+10 btw, only for gaming, no other real use for it.
wonder what would happen if a window company named themselves 'windows'. hopefully theyre not like king (candy crush) and try to sue anything and everything with windows in their name...
51 • Linnuxfx (by dragonmouth on 2020-09-30 20:23:16 GMT from United States)
I would not install Linuxfx, or ANY other Windows wannabe/look-alike distro. If anybody is so addicted to Windows that they cannot use a computer without a Windows look, they should keep using Windows.
52 • international lawsuits (by Dr. Dave on 2020-09-30 20:25:08 GMT from United States)
Despite the language of being an 'official' Ubuntu derivative, 'co-created' by Canonical, Ubuntu Kylin is from China. Outside of their apparent corporate endorsement and being the upstream provider, Canonical effectively has nothing to do with its development. So even if MS could threaten Canonical, they would still have to deal with the Chinese military. MS can't even stop the Chinese from pirating Windows, so why would they bother trying to stop them from theming Linux to resemble Windows??
Regarding Linuxfx and intellectual property laws, someone else already made the point about Brazil being a similar legal situation to that of China.
The exaggerated outrage expressed in a comment like #37 doesn't really make sense in the real world. Even though MS probably has some form of legal presence in many countries, the idea that a cease and desist threat would have any weight outside of the US legal system, demonstrates a misunderstanding of international litigation.
To put it simply, someone would have to make a very large sum of money; to eat a significant portion of Satya Nadella's lunch, in order to rationalize any serious legal attention. This threshold is compounded by distance from US legal jurisdiction. Legally speaking, the Chinese and Brazilians might as well be Martians. MS isn't going to waste the resources to catch a few rain drops across the ocean.
Just look at the history of the video game emulation scene for a practical industry comparison. Contrary to all of Nintendo's scary, threatening legalese over the decades, their actual follow-through on those threats has never materialized with any significance.
53 • China's play in this. (by Friar Tux on 2020-09-30 21:09:26 GMT from Canada)
@52 (Dr.Dave) So true. China, as they did with pirating Windows (with great success, too), just took what they wanted/needed and made it work to their purpose. With Ubuntu, though, it isn't actual prirating as Ubuntu is free to use, anyway. China has a long history of adopting Western products into their own national production scheme - cars, small appliances, etc., etc., and so on. (For a good laugh, just google Chinese product-copies that miss the mark in the West. Due either to bad English, or bad design copying.)
True, too, is the fact that MS will most likely not do anything with Linuxfx. For the very reasons you mention - plus it would not look too good in their present 'Microsoft Loves Linux' mindset.
54 • @53 - will MS engage Linuxfx? (by Hoos on 2020-10-01 06:07:14 GMT from Singapore)
Is Sourceforge US-based? Linuxfx's isos are uploaded there. What about where their website is hosted?
All those may affect whether MS actually does anything.
And it may be as simple as "just stop using our trademarks anywhere in your distro". They may have to show they take steps to protect their trademarks, to prevent trademark dilution.
But I'm just speculating.
55 • Windows (by coolio on 2020-10-02 18:22:04 GMT from United States)
I don't have a problem with a distro copying a UI and in fact, it's nice to have the desktop look available if I want it.
What I do NOT like is being left with no choice! I'd like to see a normal Linux desktop with options to change the look via downloads to whatever I like.
As for the review:
CHARGING MONEY FOR A WINDOWS COPY IS A NO-GO.
I wouldn't bother ever reviewing anything that charges money to download and install. We already have Crapple and Microcrap for that.
56 • FX forever (by o pinguim cabeçudo on 2020-10-03 00:38:33 GMT from Brazil)
Wow! Put out a Windows clone and you bring out everything from the international law experts to the tinfoil crowd. The Linuxfx devs sell a security and surveillance system. The distro was made specifically to make their software installation easy. No drive-by malware, and the Telegram page is just that, a user group. They decided to offer the distro on the web.
Ok, so they like the Windows look, and they maybe went too far. I'm sure they'll find some users, even if not many, who like it. Still, underneath it's Ubuntu/Mint, and you can change it to whatever you want, or go on and use something else. I tried it. It worked fine. Whether Microsoft want to do something is up to Microsoft.
@52, China didn't pirate Windows. Many Chinese do, and do many Brazilian, Americans and others.
@55, "I wouldn't bother ever reviewing anything that charges money to download and install. We already have Crapple and Microcrap for that."
You've just summed up the main reason Linux desktop will never get to a larger share: Too many Linux users are cheap and condescending.
57 • Windows like distros review? (by Saleem Khan on 2020-10-03 08:09:33 GMT from Pakistan)
Why does it feel like these kind of reviews are paid ones than out of curiosity? I suggested PLD review once and my comment was immediately deleted by DW.I also heard from many projects developers that getting a distro added to DW database is a paid base now , and it sounds true because there are so many good projects waiting to be added to the database and baby projects are added to the database.Many good distros teams don't even bother to contact DW.If this whole thing is business based DW should clearly announce it to public.There are tons of good things about Linux and open source and what we see are reviews about windows mimicking distros ! Nothing pure is left to be presented from Linux universe? DW so are you going to keep this comment on or make it dissapear magically instatnly once again?
58 • Finances (by Jesse on 2020-10-03 13:15:03 GMT from Canada)
@57: "Why does it feel like these kind of reviews are paid ones than out of curiosity? "
We don't do paid reviews. I've never written a sponsored review for DistroWatch.
>> "I suggested PLD review once and my comment was immediately deleted by DW."
That may be that your comment was removed, but your comment wouldn't have been deleted for the suggestion. It would have been removed by a spam filter for another reason. We're happy to receive review suggestions.
>> "I also heard from many projects developers that getting a distro added to DW database is a paid base now."
This is not true. Buying advertising on DistroWatch will put a project at the top of our evaluation list to be added, but most projects (almost all the projects) we add to the database do not advertise with us. It's entirely free to get added to our database. Paying for ads also doesn't guarantee a project will be added, it still needs to meet all our evaluation criteria.
>> "Many good distros teams don't even bother to contact DW.If this whole thing is business based DW should clearly announce it to public."
This also is not accurate. We receive many distro submissions each month. Our policy on adding projects to our database is available on our Submit Distro page: https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=submit
Any projects that meet the criteria are added to the database.
>> "There are tons of good things about Linux and open source and what we see are reviews about windows mimicking distros"
I hardly think two reviews (out of the 51 we do each year) on projects that mimic Windows is overkill. A lot of people are migrating from Windows and like having a familiar environment. If you are interested in other types of distros, we have 49 other reviews this year you may enjoy.
59 • WindowsFX or LinusFX (by Charles R Baker on 2020-10-03 16:54:35 GMT from Philippines)
I use LinusFX 10.5 (free) and installed it on my wife's computer. I have a paid for Windows 7 home edition (full product) which I use for Skyrim and other software, but not on line. New processors will not let you install windows 7 on them. I have heard of work arounds, but have never got any to work. I use Wine on Linux Mint for some games, but the 10.5 version of LinuxFX runs more .exe and .msi right after a complete install than other Linux distros with Wine that I have tried. What Wine or LinuxFX can't do is run Windows programs that try to directly access the hardware through the OS.
Linux's weakness as far as comsumers go is programmers (who want to make money) don't make games for it. There are some really good games for Linux, but not the main stream ones.
60 • WindowsFX (by Dave on 2020-10-04 09:34:36 GMT from Canada)
I'd love to have a Windows clone, because I like the shell and it won't reboot for updates, more secure, free, and less resources. I've never had any problems with Windows, but Linux is very unpolished, buggy, and hard to use. I've had issues that I spent hours finding a solution, but it was out of date, and used arcane console scripts. I couldn't get Tor Browser to work on Linux, but the Windows version under Wine just worked. There are many programs that work only under Windows; League of Legends, TV sticks, software defined radio (always easier to use in WIndows version), astronomy programs, image processing, simple Text to Speech reader (spent hours figuring out how to configure Festival and it sounded horrible), monitor calibration. Formatting a resume in LibreOffice to look correct when opened in Word never worked. I always run into file permission problems, files from some other distro where I'm not the owner because it's a different userID and I have to struggle to access it, trying to access Windows files where there wasn't a clean shutdown, trying to get Linux programs not in a repo to work, etc.
61 • Linuxfx & look and feel (by Kurtbw on 2020-10-04 14:00:26 GMT from United States)
At work, enterprise IT policies force me to use Windows. Fortunately, boss-man has avoided the not-so-good recent versions, sticking primarily to Windows 7, and only installing Windows 10 under duress.
At home, it's another story. I'm running Neptune 6.5. It's a KDE spin, which with a couple tweaks, behaves like Mac OS X (which IMO is still better than any Windows interface), and gives solid KDE desktop goodness.
I run Neptune because I do a fair amount of work with video, and Neptune just seems to work with the tools I need, pretty much out of the box. I'd recommend it to someone wanting off Windows, but having menu items in similar places. It's also updated on a rational cycle. Having the latest and greatest frameworks all the time can be a really good thing.
Solid distro, not getting much traction these days, but IMO worth a spin for those seeking KDE desktop-based distros that simply work.
62 • ain't cheap or condescending... (by tom joad on 2020-10-04 16:49:56 GMT from Canada)
@ 56
"You've just summed up the main reason Linux desktop will never get to a larger share: Too many Linux users are cheap and condescending. "
NO, no, no!!!
Many, many of us use Linux because it is;
Open source, way stable, (I use Mint Cinnamon), has a terminal that actually, really does STUFF, tons of online help that is readily available, doesn't have BSOD, nag screens, EULA's, screeds scolding about software piracy, etc, etc, etc, ad naseum.
Another big reason we use Linux Is Linux is not WINDOWS!!!
Lastly, I do pay for software I like and that works for me. I regularly pay for Parted Magic. I won't pay for a Windows knockoff that is a window dressed version of Mint!!! Nor am I alone.
I hope and pray Linux never goes mainstream. I don't want it discovered for its potential. I love Linux and want it to stay just the way it is, stable, predicable, highly customizable and secure. I know when I have a good thing.
Sorry !
for the rant.
Number of Comments: 62
Display mode: DWW Only • Comments Only • Both DWW and Comments
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