Chinese Make Ubuntu That Looks Like Win XP

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Of course, when it's just straight copying and bootlegging, it's more infuriating that flattering.

Rather that continue to do what's been done for ages now – and that would be selling illegal copies of Windows XP, a group of hackers in China have created Ylmf OS, which is based on Ubuntu but looks almost exactly like Windows XP.

While we're sure that Microsoft isn't too pleased at this ripping off of its user interface, it'd be interesting to see how Windows-only users – especially those less computer literate and able to adapt to new OS environments – handle themselves in a Linux-based foundation with familiar looking switches, levers and buttons.

Those of you who can read Chinese can even download an iso file with the preconfigured OS.

Source: Download Squad.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • Thats a technology news !
    Reply
  • OMG, that's just awesome... That's an excellent way to trick your computer-illiterate friends and family into using free, open-source software.
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  • sunflier
    Thats cool but, XP is so last decade. Well, almost.
    Reply
  • tommysch
    Ill stick to pirating MS.
    Reply
  • jonpaul37
    Hacked OS's FTW!
    Reply
  • h83
    I have to say it looks cool and interesting! I´ve been thinking on trying Linux but every time i read about it, it just seems to complicated and strange but with this version of Linux, maybe i will give a (little) try...
    Reply
  • huron
    That is pretty interesting. It's amazing what people use Linux to do.
    Reply
  • ckthecerealkiller
    I'm curious of what microsoft will do about this one. They allow pirated copies of their OS to be updated. I can see how this is different but still....
    Reply
  • ashrafpasha
    It effectively makes Windows the role model for every OS.. Though I like the idea.. I don't like it. Because it cant do what windows can even though it look like one.
    Reply
  • nevertell
    Why do you have to ruin the beautiful gnome/kde desktop environment with this crap ? If a user whines about icons and bars not being where "they're supposed to be", then they haven't really understood the term "different OS", therefore they don't need a different OS.
    Reply