I think that distros with “perfect mirror” DEs could make a big difference in bringing about TYotLD.
Lots of DEs are vaguely Windows-like, but this isn’t enough for non-technical users. It’s still different, and this adds enough friction that anybody who might’ve been interested quickly loses interest.
On the other hand, if a distro could be sold as “Windows but better” (using a modern Win10 like DE) or “like Windows in the good old days” (using a Win2K/XP/7 DE), it’s significantly more compelling. Add in something that’s like Proton but more intelligent and automatic (e.g. it sees you’re trying to install X version of MS Office, and so configures everything to work correctly automatically) and it’s even more interesting.
I know that Lindows used to be a thing, but it made a few critical errors: selling the product (opening them to litigation), not throughly duplicating the Windows desktop well enough, and the integrated WINE not being mature enough. All of that is avoidable now.
Lots of DEs are vaguely Windows-like, but this isn’t enough for non-technical users. It’s still different, and this adds enough friction that anybody who might’ve been interested quickly loses interest.
On the other hand, if a distro could be sold as “Windows but better” (using a modern Win10 like DE) or “like Windows in the good old days” (using a Win2K/XP/7 DE), it’s significantly more compelling. Add in something that’s like Proton but more intelligent and automatic (e.g. it sees you’re trying to install X version of MS Office, and so configures everything to work correctly automatically) and it’s even more interesting.
I know that Lindows used to be a thing, but it made a few critical errors: selling the product (opening them to litigation), not throughly duplicating the Windows desktop well enough, and the integrated WINE not being mature enough. All of that is avoidable now.