One of the many wonderful things about Linux is that you can make it look how you want. If you want to go crazy and create a desktop that looks and feels unlike any other, you can. But there are also distributions for people who’d rather have a user-friendly and instantly familiar desktop environment.
Wubuntu is one such distribution, and I’m sure you can figure out what operating system it mimics. Yes, the correct response is Windows 11.
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I’ve tested plenty of Linux distributions that attempt to copy the look and feel of Microsoft’s OS, and none of them get nearly as close as Wubuntu. Upon installing Wubuntu, I was surprised at how much it resembled Windows 11 — down to the inclusion of Microsoft’s AI, Copilot, and Microsoft Edge.
The only thing Wubuntu is missing is those pesky ads in the menu.
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As you probably expect, Wubuntu is based on Ubuntu and uses the KDE Plasma desktop to achieve a strong appropriation of Windows 11. On the panel, you’ll find a weather app, a sidebar, a desktop menu, a run command launcher, favorites, a system tray, and Copilot. Upon first login, you’ll be greeted with the Settings window, where you can select your theme and adjust a few other aesthetics.
As usual, KDE Plasma is a highly configurable desktop environment.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Dig a bit deeper, and you’ll find things like Microsoft PowerShell and quick links to Office 365 apps, each of which opens in Edge. For those who’d rather keep their document creation/management locally (or in the cloud), the OnlyOffice Desktop Editors is installed.
Wubuntu also includes tools to interact with your Android devices, Active Directory support, a driver manager, Google Chrome, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Steam, Thunderbird, VLC media player, Webcamoid, Wine/Winetricks, and Flatpak (so you can easily install even more software).
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Aside from the collection of pre-installed software, what’s most impressive is how well the developers have copied the look and feel of Windows 11. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still not a fan of the Microsoft operating system, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be impressed with the amount of work that went into creating this distribution. And the more you dig into Wubuntu, the more little details you’ll find — especially if you’ve been using Windows 11 for some time.
As Wubuntu is based on Ubuntu, you know you’re getting high levels of user-friendliness and outstanding hardware support. The only downside is that Wubuntu ships with kernel 6.8.0-48, which means you’re not getting the added hardware support from the latest kernel release. Even so, unless you’re running the latest hardware, kernel 6.8 will do a great job detecting and supporting your computer’s technology.
If you’re a fan of Copilot, there’s an icon just for you at the bottom right of the desktop. You’ll have to log in with your Microsoft account when you launch the app. Once you’ve successfully logged in, Copilot will be available to help you.
Click the icon at the bottom-right corner of the desktop and Copilot appears, ready to answer your questions.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
My experience with Wubuntu
Although I’m not a fan of Windows 11, I am a big fan of Ubuntu and KDE Plasma. I believe Ubuntu is the most user-friendly operating system available, and Plasma is one of the finest desktop environments on the market (no matter the OS).
When you combine those two factors, you already have a brilliant desktop operating system. To add a distinctly Windows 11 look and feel into the mix, you wind up with a Linux distribution that is sure to please several user types, such as:
- Those who enjoy the look and feel of the Windows desktop but do not like the operating system as a whole
- Those who want a stable, reliable, user-friendly OS
- Those who want a Linux distribution that can run Windows applications, including games, without too much trouble
Ultimately, Wubuntu is incredibly easy to use and about as flexible as an operating system can be. You get the power and stability of Linux, some rather important Windows tools, and the inclusion of Flatpak, Wine, and Steam to greatly expand the number of software titles at your fingertips.
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Wubuntu is the most Microsoft-esque Linux distribution I’ve ever tested, and should go a long way toward pleasing users looking to migrate from Windows but who fear change. If that sounds like you, give this Linux distribution a try.