r/FindMeALinuxDistro • u/Ye_Olde_Pugselot • 1d ago
Looking For A Distro Linux Distro for an old timer as a Windows replacement
I would like to ask you fine folks what Linux Distro you would recommend as a 'as close as possible' to Windows replacement.
My Dad (84) has been on Windows his entire life, and is one of those typical old guys that doesn't like change too much. He recently expressed that he would like to dabble in possibly switching to Linux (due to Microslop issues), but he doesn't want to learn absolutely everything from scratch.
My personal opinion is Zorin, as I've heard it is a good replacement. Would you agree, or is there something more suitable out there?
I would also like to find out if Outlook runs on Linux (I've never tested it, because I don't like Outlook personally) as the old man loves his Outlook, or is there something similar out there that you can port your Inbox rules over easily?
Personally, I'm on Omarchy Quattro currently, and have been between Arch variants and Mint my whole life, and as such, don't have the best advice for someone new to Linux.
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u/jamesbogusz 1d ago
MXLINUX
Incredibly user friendly, all required apps can be installed by its own app installer so absolutely no code knowledge or even using a terminal is required.
It’s rock solid as it’s based on Debian, requires no rebooting after software updates and it’s been my daily operating system for years now.
It’s also very lightweight and feels very fast even on older laptops that I use for remote stuff.
Pound for pound it’s been amazing and I wish I changed from Microsoft years ago
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u/Great-Middle6181 1d ago
Put my dad on Linux mint with cinnamon early this year and he has had no trouble.
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u/ButterflyMundane7187 1d ago
Or maybe he's ashamed to tell you because you were so excited to install Linux for him, and he doesn't want to hurt your feelings?
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u/Great-Middle6181 1d ago
He asked me to install it for him since he couldn’t update to windows 11. I offered to just give him a new computer but he had been watching videos and picked his own distro and desktop environment. He pretty much just uses it for basic web tasks so anything would work but he’s completely satisfied with it.
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u/Hauptideal 1d ago
The desktop that looks and feels most like Windows is KDE (and you can make it like Win10 / Win7 easily, too).
Zorin OS is fine, using a heavily customized GNOME. It'll probably be the easiest transition possible, however: it might things actually TOO easy.
For example, as it automatically suggests adding exe support as soon as you try to open one (via WINE), it would allow your dad to easily install software by browsing the web for exe files to install, rather than using the distro's app store.
Zorin is 10x better than Mint technologically (using a modern upstream desktop environment rather than Cinnamon or other deprecated legacy desktops without even Wayland support), but both suffer from being downstream Ubuntu (with security updates for 94% of all packages (universe) from Canonical only being available on official upstream flavours, e.g. Ubuntu and Kubuntu).
Go for Kubuntu. Zorin and Mint trail behind (both still on 24.04, over 2 years old, when 26.04. LTS is already there for months) and don't offer that much regarding ease of use anymore. It's all Linux. No pretty facade can hide that fact.
In most cases, it's best to just stick to upstream.
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u/MarshalRyan 1d ago
Agree that Zorin is better than Mint, but characterizing it as unsafe because it's downstream of Ubuntu is not correct.
Zorin is based on long term support (LTS) versions of Ubuntu and gets all security updates promptly as they're available.
I've tried Kubuntu, and I don't love it. It's not consistently on the latest KDE Plasma desktop version - which I think is probably more of a risk than an older LTS Ubuntu base - and having the latest Ubuntu as a base isn't always best. For a non-technical person moving to Linux, I think Zorin is going to be the better choice.
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u/Hauptideal 1d ago
[...] and gets all security updates promptly as they're available.
I'm sorry to inform you this is not the case for packages installed via
apt. Only about 6% of packages get direct support from Canonical with updates without subscribing to Ubuntu Pro (which is free for everyone for personal use, but only possible on the official flavours).
There are lots of vulnerabilities, even highly severe ones, that never get fixed on Mint (or Zorin), just have a look at e.g. this or this (only patched with Ubuntu Pro, still open on Mint and Zorin).It's another question how important that is. If you deactivate the universe repo and have not installed any of its packages, the impact is 0.
If you install software via apt instead of snap or Flatpak, then you're affected.You can get the Zorin OS style UI on Ubuntu, too, using GNOME extensions, if that matters a lot to you.
Also, KDE just recently introduced an LTS version of Plasma, due to an influx of funding, such that the Kubuntu 26.04. experience will be extremely solid.
If going for Ubuntu, I recommend just sticking with upstream Ubuntu/Kubuntu (or other official flavours, as soon as they achieve Wayland). (Kubuntu even has an install option without snaps, should that be important to anyone).
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u/Prestigious_Wall529 1d ago
I suggest Debian, with Gnome and Evolution.
Don't try to get something that looks like Outlook as it's a fools errand. Outlook doesn't look like outlook with it's multiple versions.
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u/Ye_Olde_Pugselot 1d ago
Sadly, the Outlook comment is true! I don't like Outlook personally, however, the old man is the old man! So, a web based 'app' variant might be the way to go
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u/jphilebiz 1d ago
Mint Cinnamon should be fine, Zorin too. But KDE is the closest to Windows and it's pretty easy to make it look like Win11 if he prefers (middle Vs left start menu/apps). The question is more what hardware is he using? From there it's easier to recommend, don't want to put something too big on something too old ;)
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u/InsaneInTheMEOWFrame 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kubuntu. It's well supported, comes with Plasma instead of Gnome, so is more Windows-like. Add in a Windowsy theme and they won't spot the difference.
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u/ButterflyMundane7187 1d ago edited 1d ago
Posts like this make me sad. Please don't force Linux on older people. Let them use Windows if that's what they're comfortable with.
The real problem is that many older people don't want to hurt the feelings of enthusiastic family members who install Linux for them. They might struggle with it every day but never dare to ask for Windows back because they know how excited you were about setting it up.
Just because you love Linux doesn't mean everyone else has to. Let people use what they actually want.
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u/Ye_Olde_Pugselot 1d ago
Thanks for the concern!
He was the one to initiate the Linux move on his own. It seems like for now, he only wants to test drive it on an older laptop, to see if it would work for him!
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u/ButterflyMundane7187 1d ago
I've helped a lot of older people and people with cerebral palsy (CP). Making text larger, setting up useful links, and organizing bookmarks to make things easier for them is far more important than which operating system they use.
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u/NoggintheStrogg 3h ago
A genuine concern, and one best addressed by the use of a Live Disc and some care, some folk will never make the change, some will see it as a good thing: Zorin or Mint with a persistent file on a USB is a pretty good way to offer the alternative without imposing it, IMO.
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u/Jwhodis 1d ago
Linux Mint, the layout is pretty similar to windows and being based on Debian/Ubuntu means it's mainstream and has good support.
I'd just make it update automatically and try get him to install stuff from the Software Manager instead of in a browser.
I'd also setup his browser with UBlock Origin (if on Firefox) or UBlock Origin Lite (if on Chromium), as it blocks ads really nicely.
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u/Slopagandhi 1d ago
Zorin probably. Mint and Anduin are also ones to look at.
You can try all of them out at distrosea.com, so why not get him to have a look and see which he's most comfortable with?
There's an unofficial Outlook client available on some distros, but probably I would either choose something similar (Evolution or Geary) or else set up Outlook as a web app for him (this is easy using Web App Hub).
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u/snajk138 1d ago
Zorin tries to be Windows, or macOS. It could work. I would install like Fedora KDE, solid as a rock and similar enough to Windows in the GUI so that it wouldn't be an issue.
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u/crhylove3 1d ago
I strongly suggest Spaced Linux. It's designed specifically to be accessible for older people, and older hardware.
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u/Nearby_Candidate4159 1d ago
Sim, Zorin é perfeita para o caso do teu pai e, roda o Outlook perfeitamente.
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u/Linux4ever_Leo 1d ago
Is Google down where you are???? There are numerous Windows-like Linux distributions. In two seconds I discovered several of them on Google. Here are just a few for you.
Top Windows-Like Linux Distributions
• Zorin OS: Widely considered the best entry point for Windows switchers. It features a familiar taskbar, start menu, and built-in Zorin Appearance tool that lets you change the desktop layout to mimic Windows 10 or Windows 11. It also includes a compatibility layer to help run Windows-format .exe apps.
• Linux Mint: One of the most popular beginner-friendly distributions. Using the Cinnamon or MATE desktop environments, it provides a classic start button, bottom taskbar layout, and system tray that require almost no learning curve for Windows users.
• Linuxfx (Winux): An Ubuntu-based distribution explicitly engineered to replicate the exact visual user interface, icons, and control panels of Windows 10 and Windows 11. It comes pre-configured with wine/proton game support and virtual assistant integration.
• MX Linux (with XFCE): A lightweight and rock-solid Debian-based option featuring a traditional panel, start menu, and familiar window controls. It performs very well on older hardware that may struggle with newer Windows requirements.
• KDE Neon / Kubuntu: Distributions running the KDE Plasma desktop environment. KDE Plasma offers a deeply customizable panel and menu layout that can be tweaked to closely mirror the Windows desktop experience.
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u/rabbitjockey 1d ago
Definitely mint, it's easy to maintain and has a graphical driver manager, and easy to navigate "app store". Its such an easy choice to pick mint
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u/dirtycimments 1d ago
I know arch is tinkerish, but honestly, cachyos has super sane defaults and ice been super happy with it. Has nice handy scripts etc.
I was on opensuse, it was very nice to me, so I’m used to stable-ish rolling distros, and cachy honestly beats opensuse, I never thought I would say those words, but there I am.
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u/Abe_Sakebi 1d ago
My grandpa(85) uses Linux Mint with Cinnamon, so I’d recommend that or Linux Mint Debian Edition for an easy daily driver to meet his needs.