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.
Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
1–10 of 22 posts
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#2Linux Mint
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427188
(imho, ymmv, n=1)
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#3I haven't used it in a while but RedHat used to feel quite a bit like Windows.
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#4Instead 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.
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#5Ubuntu plus Landscape for management:
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#6Ubuntu. 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.
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#7Linux Mint https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427188 (imho, ymmv, n=1)
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.
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#8Linux Mint https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=427188 (imho, ymmv, n=1)
+1 on Mint, specifically with the Cinnamon desktop environment for people leaving Windows
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#9Check 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.
Re: Ask HN: What Linux Would Be a Good Transition from Windows 11
#10[dead]