Listen, I understand the appeal of recommending user-friendly, beginner-oriented distros like Linux Mint or Zorin OS that may feel very familiar to long-time Windows users. They provide a familiar desktop environment and try to ease the transition. However, by doing so, we risk perpetuating a mindset that Linux is merely a free alternative to Windows, rather than a fundamentally different (and we’d probably say superior) approach to computing.
Linux’s true strength lies in its open-source nature, flexibility, and adherence to the principles of free software. Recommending distros that emulate the proprietary, closed-source look and feel of Windows subtly undermines these core values and does a disservice not just to the Linux community but also to the new users coming to these operating systems. We are essentially trying to promote Linux without the caveat that your muscle memory is going to be challenged by a new environment, which … it definitely will be, in one way or another. We cannot keep trying so hard to accommodate those that prioritize the familiarity they have with Windows as something that needs to remain in their Linux experience; people need to be willing to try something new when they try Linux.
Instead of promoting “Windows-y” distros, we should encourage newcomers to embrace the diversity of Linux by recommending distros that exemplify its unique philosophies. Distros like Fedora, openSUSE, Arch Linux, and others are a good start; maybe GNOME’s desktop paradigm is what someone’s been missing all their life, and they don’t think they hate the start menu desktop paradigm, but they begin to! Maybe an unbreakable immutable/atomic distro is exactly what your elderly relative needs, and their needs are met by Flatpaks! Maybe getting down and dirty with the command line is uncomfortable for your techy friend at first, but they begin to love it in no time!
By exposing newcomers to a unique Linux from the start, we not only provide them with a potentially superior computing experience but also foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the principles that drive the open-source movement. There is no Linux distro that is EXACTLY like Windows, and people asking for this or something close to this should simply continue to use Windows!
Additionally, recommending unique distros that aren’t based on Microsoft’s paradigms ensures that the demand for non-Windows-y Linux experiences remains strong, encouraging developers and communities to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of what free and open-source software can look like.
Let’s take pride in Linux’s unique identity, and promote distros that embody its essence. By doing so, we not only enrich the newcomers’ experience but also strengthen the entire Linux ecosystem, ensuring its continued growth and relevance. There is no “better Windows” in Linux-land, because in order to be entirely better than Windows, Linux is often very different!
I’d say: do recommend those windows like distro. Most people don’t really care about their OS. In their eyes the best OS US one they don’t have to think about/spend energy on. Hence the appeal of OS X for example. I think probably 80% of all users haven’t even fully understood what Windows is nor do they care in the slightest. They want to be able to browse the web, maybe game some, and maybe watch streams. They’d gladly attach their phone to a screen if it was easier than working on a different device. Whoever is really interested in learning things about their OS or distro of choice will do so in their own time and switch to something different if the need arises and not to become part of some cult like defenders of their holy distro (which it often feels like as soon as someone asks for recommendations). I have only recently switched to Linux Mint and am totally happy with it. I don’t feel like I absolutely have to try Arch for example. I got everything I need for now up and running and I have neither the time nor the need to learn anything else at the moment. Elitist posts like OPs are probably more effective in keeping people from trying Linux (that and the mass of names flying around for different parts, as well as the lack of beginner friendly documentation - although that has changed a lot since the last time I tested Linux a few years back)