AeroThemePlasma is by far the closest that exists now, but I think there’s still a space for DE dedicated to being as close of a Windows analogue as possible while remaining legally distinct with a fixed feature set to prevent feature and resource creep. Think a desktop close enough to the user’s choice between 2K, XP, 7, 10 or 11 that they could transition from Windows to Linux and barely even notice that there was a change.
I believe that “my favorite OS, frozen in time” has substantial demand (which will only increase as the big commercial OSes continue to enshittify) and it’s surprising that there aren’t more attempts to capitalize on that.
I've always found Zorin to be windows-like enough to transition people to. It has it's own visual identity, and isn't trying to be a simulacrum of windows - making it much more enjoyable to use.
I'm surprised that this distro's headline is "The Windows 7 experience on Linux" even though it's using a vague Windows-style XFCE theme.
If someone's interested in a real Windows 7 lookalike, take a look at https://gitgud.io/aeroshell/atp/aerothemeplasma, it's extremely close.
See for yourself:
- Kumander: https://www.kumander.org/img/images/kumander.png
- AeroShell: https://gitgud.io/aeroshell/atp/aerothemeplasma/-/raw/Plasma...
AeroShell seems to only have full support on X11. Didn't expect this argument to come up again
X11 is stable, mature, multiplatform, excellent software - wayland is not cross platform nor stable.
AeroThemePlasma is by far the closest that exists now, but I think there’s still a space for DE dedicated to being as close of a Windows analogue as possible while remaining legally distinct with a fixed feature set to prevent feature and resource creep. Think a desktop close enough to the user’s choice between 2K, XP, 7, 10 or 11 that they could transition from Windows to Linux and barely even notice that there was a change.
I believe that “my favorite OS, frozen in time” has substantial demand (which will only increase as the big commercial OSes continue to enshittify) and it’s surprising that there aren’t more attempts to capitalize on that.
I've always found Zorin to be windows-like enough to transition people to. It has it's own visual identity, and isn't trying to be a simulacrum of windows - making it much more enjoyable to use.
https://zorin.com/os/
It is Windows 7 reminiscent, but it lacks the glassy appearance of Aero which is the defining characteristic of the OS' visual identity.
As Microsoft has expressed, Aero is "cheesy."
Despite nostalgia, it was stripped in pursuit of a mobile-friendly UI (at the time).
'...calling the UI that debuted in Vista and continued in Windows 7, “cheesy” and “dated.”'
https://www.computerworld.com/article/1437474/microsoft-dump...
All Windows UIs will die, on Microsoft's time, not the user community.
Looks more like a cross between XP and 7 to me.
Is Windows 7 "retro" now? I personally still prefer the Windows Classic theme.
The logo looks like Firefox, Thunderbird, and a Charmander mixed together.
Which classic? 3.0? 3.5.1? 4.0/95? Win2k? I think 2k was top-tier.