According to XDA-Developers, with Windows 10 now officially unsupported for most users, the search for alternatives is in full swing. While distributions like Zorin OS recently saw over 780,000 downloads in a month and the gaming-focused Bazzite passed 1 petabyte of ISO downloads, the article’s author singles out a different contender: AnduinOS. This niche Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu and using the GNOME desktop, is designed to closely mimic the look and feel of Windows 11, down to the wallpaper and Start menu-like app launcher. The author argues it provides a more familiar transition than Zorin, which can feel more like ChromeOS, and praises its out-of-the-box support for both Snap and Flatpak packages. However, the piece also cautions about the risks inherent in small-scale projects, including potential abandonment by developers.
The Familiarity Factor
Here’s the thing about switching operating systems: the initial shock can be a dealbreaker. You can have the most powerful, secure, and free system in the world, but if it feels alien, a lot of people will just bounce right back to what they know. That’s where AnduinOS’s specific focus makes sense. Zorin gets a lot of press for being Windows-like, but the XDA piece makes a good point—it can feel like a vague interpretation, almost ChromeOS-like in some ways. AnduinOS seems to go for a straight-up visual clone of Windows 11 aesthetics. For someone who just wants their computer to *look* roughly the same while everything underneath changes, that’s a powerful psychological tool. It’s basically training wheels that look exactly like your old bike.
More Than Just A Skin
But if it was just a pretty skin on top of Ubuntu, it wouldn’t be that interesting. The compelling part, as noted, is how it builds on that familiarity. Offering Flatpak support out of the gate alongside Snap is a huge win for user choice and app availability—it immediately sidesteps one of the bigger package manager debates for new users. And the deep customization of that Windows-like Start menu is a clever move. It takes the familiar concept and then shows off Linux‘s superpower: “You like this? Cool. Now here are 50 ways to make it *actually* useful and personal, without the recommended junk.” That’s a powerful demonstration. It says, “We get why you’re here, and now let us show you why you might want to stay.”
The Niche Distro Dilemma
Now, we have to talk about the giant caveat. The author is right to highlight the risks. The landscape is littered with brilliant, beautiful, niche distros that eventually vanish because one maintainer got a new job or lost interest. Relying on a project like this for your daily driver is a calculated risk. The Ubuntu base is its saving grace—your core system updates and security patches aren’t tied to AnduinOS’s survival. But the custom theming, the tailored settings, the special sauce that makes it *AnduinOS*? That could go poof. Is that a reason not to try it? I don’t think so. For many, it could be the perfect onboarding ramp. The key takeaway is the one the article ends on: once you’re in Linux, distro-hopping gets easier. AnduinOS could be the perfect first step, even if it’s not the forever home.
The Bigger Picture for Windows Migrants
So what does this all signal? The frantic download numbers for Zorin and Bazzite, plus the advocacy for a hyper-focused distro like AnduinOS, show that the post-Windows 10 exodus is creating a real market for “transitional” operating systems. This isn’t just about hardcore Linux users anymore. It’s about providing a soft landing for millions of users who feel pushed out by Windows 11’s hardware requirements or Microsoft’s direction. The competition is no longer just between Linux distros; it’s about which distro can best erase the friction of leaving Windows. The focus is shifting heavily toward out-of-the-box experience, pre-configured familiarity, and app accessibility. Projects that nail that—while being honest about their long-term sustainability—are going to capture a lot of converts. The door Windows 10 closed has definitely opened a very interesting window.
