Wubuntu: The Quirky Windows 11 Clone Disguised as Linux

Tech enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a weird one: the arrival of Wubuntu, a Linux distro that fancies itself as a Windows 11 clone. What happens when you take Kubuntu, a beloved Linux distribution, strip it down, slap on a fresh coat of Windows-colored paint, and sprinkle in some Microsoft-inspired tools? You get Wubuntu—the "Windows-on-Linux" remix nobody specifically asked for but that now undeniably exists.
This oddball concoction has sparked curiosity, head-shaking, and even legal question marks, all while holding up a slightly warped mirror to our OS allegiances. So let’s dig in and explore what makes Wubuntu tick—or wobble.

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So What’s the Deal with Wubuntu?​

Essentially, Wubuntu is a minimalist remix of Kubuntu (an official Ubuntu flavor using the KDE Plasma desktop environment), bundled with custom Windows 11-style themes, wallpapers, taskbars, and tools. The aim? To mimic the Windows experience in ways that are both superficial and hauntingly detailed. According to its developers, Wubuntu is for people who may love the idea of Linux but prefer the aesthetic familiarity of Windows.
Yet, despite its shiny exterior, its foundation screams Kubuntu—all the way down to some standard KDE quirks.
Here are the key takeaways about Wubuntu’s design and functionality:

• Windows 11 Lookalike: It comes with desktop features like Windows-style taskbars, an eerily familiar Copilot button, the Windows logo on the boot screen, and even a software utility called "PowerTools" designed to mimic Windows Settings.
• Minimalistic Apps: Gone are the default Linux usual suspects like Firefox; instead, you’ll find preloaded Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and even Microsoft-compatible OnlyOffice, steering users toward a Microsoft ecosystem.
• Special Sauce? The amount of Windows mimicry raises eyebrows, from the wallpapers to icons that appear to have marched straight out of Microsoft’s graphics library.
• Questionable Licensing: The jury's out on whether using these Microsoft-styled assets aligns with trademark and copyright laws.

While the developers claim they didn’t create the themes themselves (crediting open-source repositories for Windows-inspired KDE art on GitHub), the whole “Windows on Linux” act leaves the door open to legal—or at least ethical—challenges.

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What's Under the Hood?​

Wubuntu is based on Kubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, effectively repurposing the stability and flexibility of long-term support Ubuntu releases. Despite the cosmetic resemblance to Windows 11, the resemblance is, uh, cosmetic at best. Beneath the surface, this is still all very much Linux—quirks, freedoms, and frustrations included.
A few more noteworthy under-the-hood details include:

• Desktop Environment: KDE Plasma 5.27.11, famous for crazy levels of customization; you could make KDE look like a toaster interface if you tried.
• Compatibility Layers: Wubuntu has its game face on, thanks to tools like WINE (for running Windows applications) and PrimeOS (to run Android apps). Gamers also get Valve’s Steam client preinstalled.
• Microsoft Online Focus: Offline Microsoft Office is swapped out with links to browser-based Microsoft 365—and the distro even encourages the use of OneDrive’s unofficial Linux client.
• KDE Discover Instead of Windows Store: Wubuntu’s app-store-like experience is powered by KDE Discover. However, it integrates Flatpak support instead of Ubuntu’s Snap package management system.

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Ethical Grey Areas: A Distribution with an Identity Crisis​

If the name “Wubuntu” gives you a forehead wrinkle, wait till you hear about its other aliases. Here’s a quick list of labels the operating system uses, as found within its interfaces:

• "Windows Ubuntu"
• "Windows Linux"
• "Winux"
• Yes, even “Windows Linux With Copilot”

Clearly, this OS is struggling to settle on an identity.
Trademarks in Peril: Both "Microsoft Windows" and "Ubuntu" are registered trademarks. Canonical might shrug off Wubuntu’s antics; Microsoft, on the other hand, has a reputation for fiercely defending its intellectual property. And let’s not forget the design elements, from Windows' flat-square logo during boot to the Copilot icon and Windows Start Menu-like layouts.
Is this legal? Wubuntu's website conveniently avoids answering that explicitly. While it openly credits open-source repositories for its themes, it hasn’t clarified its agreement (if any) with Microsoft or Canonical for using these assets in a branded operating system. And as for the proprietary components like PowerTools, which ask users to cough up $35 for full access, we’re not sure if that muddies or clarifies things further.

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Is This Even Practical?​

Once you peel back the shiny Windows-like skin, Wubuntu feels like a bit of a façade. For one, the Windows-themed elements only work at a superficial level. Many of the familiar taskbar icons lead not to the programs they suggest but to Linux-native alternatives. For example:

• Clicking on the “Widgets” icon pulls up KDE’s somewhat clunky Widget launcher.
• The pseudo-Cortana “search” button opens Kubuntu's basic Run dialog box.
• System settings are warped through a paid proprietary app called PowerTools, albeit with an underlying Plasma configuration still accessible for free.

There’s an odd mix of innovations and inconveniences here. While Microsoft Edge comes preinstalled (we never thought we’d say “yay” to that), there’s an exceptionally unusual omission of Firefox. Coupled with a default KDE Plasma layout, this mishmash makes you wonder who exactly Wubuntu is targeting.

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LinuxFX: The Doppelgänger Problem​

Adding an extra twist to the plot, Wubuntu isn’t alone in its mission to replicate Windows on Linux. LinuxFX, another Ubuntu-based distro, offers a painfully similar concept—right down to its layout, themes, and Windows-style components.
Differences between the two are slim:

• LinuxFX leans more Windows 10 than 11, with left-aligned taskbars.
• LinuxFX works on older (BIOS-based) systems whereas Wubuntu doesn’t—UEFI is a requirement.

The heart of the matter, however, is that both distros ostensibly serve the same crowd of Windows-to-Linux wanderers who crave Microsoft aesthetics on Linux’s open-source playground.

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Who Is This For?​

Ah, the perennial question for quirky tech projects. Wubuntu might appeal to:

• Windows Refugees: People looking to ease into the Linux world without abandoning familiar UI aesthetics.
• Tinkerers: Fans of KDE Plasma who enjoy stretching the limits of theming.
• Curiosity-Seekers: If nothing else, it’s a neat gimmick.

If you’re already comfortable with Linux or don’t need heavy Windows mimicry, you might be better off sticking with more polished distros like Linux Mint, Zorin OS, or good ol’ Ubuntu. After all, you can always add many of Wubuntu’s features—WINE, themes, or better Microsoft alternatives—to your system.

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Final Thoughts: A Clever Experiment, But Not a Serious Contender​

While Wubuntu is interesting from a conceptual standpoint, it’s not ready for widespread adoption, especially not when legal uncertainties cloud its future. The themes are familiar, but familiarity can’t disguise the Frankenstein patchwork beneath. Ultimately, it’s KDE Plasma with costumes and props—fun for some, frustrating for others.
Our advice? If you’re intrigued, tinker with it in a virtual machine first. For a reliable day-to-day setup, consider well-established Linux distributions that carry fewer legal red flags and more cohesive user experiences.
Would you try Wubuntu for yourself, or does it seem like too much trouble for just a Windows-esque skin? Let’s hear your thoughts in the forum below!

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Source: The Register Wubuntu: The lovechild of Windows and Linux nobody asked for