Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
I have users who glaze over the minute I mention "notepad." I think they can barely use Windows. But our work requires a level of privacy (regulatory and otherwise) and Windows 11 is just one big data transmitter. I know this is flamebait, but I'd love suggestions for a Linux desktop that looks like Windows, is stable and easy to administer and harden, and works with Dell business grade laptops that we bought new in 2025.
Zorin OS is worth a look for this use case specifically. it ships with a Windows-style layout by default and does active application compatibility work. for non-technical users who need it to 'just look right', it removes a lot of the initial confusion. Ubuntu/Mint are both solid but require some UI config to feel familiar. on the management side, Canonical Landscape works across Ubuntu-family distros including Zorin.
Instead of a specific technical answer to your question one thing I would consider if regulatory bodies are involved would be to look for existing hardening documents, scripts, tools from your auditors and see if there is a common pattern for OS choices that easily check all the boxes. Ask your auditors which OS makes audits easier for them and which of the hardening tools cause the least grief, require the least exceptions before looking at technical options. Just a suggestion from someone that may as well have moved in with the auditors for spending so much time with them.
After narrowing it down to 3 choices then present those choices to:
- Your legal team to review licenses before you put much effort into setting up automation frameworks, support tools, installation automation. They can be a buzzkill and I think some may secretly enjoy it.
- The people using that which you plan to administer. Let them play around with each option and get their feedback to maybe have happier group(s) of people to support. Test group 1, test group 2, test group 3. Let them compare and contrast.
Ubuntu. Its great. So much cleaner and userfrienly then Microsoft. Definitely don't need to be a dev to work in Ubuntu anymore. Honestly, I don't know how microsoft is holding its base.
Check out Zorin OS. As Win10 was approaching its event horizon back in Oct I was thinking of jumping to ZOS. It is similar enough to Windows to be usable. I never made the jump and still running Win10 but soon it will be Linux's day in the sun.
Yes, Linux Mint. After discovering SLS Linux way back in the dawn of Linux-time, trying Slackware, CentOS, Ubuntu and others, my daily-driver is now Linux Mint.
After narrowing it down to 3 choices then present those choices to:
- Your legal team to review licenses before you put much effort into setting up automation frameworks, support tools, installation automation. They can be a buzzkill and I think some may secretly enjoy it.
- The people using that which you plan to administer. Let them play around with each option and get their feedback to maybe have happier group(s) of people to support. Test group 1, test group 2, test group 3. Let them compare and contrast.
https://ubuntu.com/landscape
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427188
(imho, ymmv, n=1)
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint