Ubuntu Kylin, a Linux Distribution with a Microsoft Windows Experience

Ubuntu Kylin is an open-source Linux distribution based on Ubuntu since 2013,mainly developed by a Chinese team alongside dozens of Linux developers allover the world. It contains the basic features you would expect from Ubuntu, plusfeatures a desktop environment and applications. As far as we know, Ubuntu Kylin isone of the most suitable Linux distributions for users who are farmiliarwith Microsoft Windows, including its desktop environment, office suite andvarious applications.

The first release, Ubuntu Kylin 13.04, was distributed April 25, 2013, thesame day asUbuntu13.04.The 9th release of Ubuntu Kylin, our latest version 17.04, was released onApril 13, 2017. A highlight feature in Ubuntu Kylin 17.04, which is shown inFigure 1, is adesktop environment similar to Microsoft Windows called UKUI (Ubuntu Kylin UserInterface). It provides a simpler and moreenjoyable experience for browsing, searching and managing your computer.

Figure 1. Ubuntu Kylin's UKUI Desktop Environment

UKUI is a powerful graphical interface with all the features you'd expectfrom a modern operating system desktop. At first glance, you might think it'sWindows 7. Icons located in the upper-left corner represent the commonly usedsystem functions. When you click the right mouse button on the desktop, a menupops up. You even can double-click and select an item to execute it. The taskbaris located on the bottom of the desktop just like classic Microsoft Windows. Thethree icons on the left side of the taskbar are the Start Menu, FileManager and Firefox browser. The icons on the right are network,speakers, battery power, input method and so on. After you execute several programs,their icons emerge in the middle of the taskbar. If you want to see a certainprogram displayed on the top of the desktop, just click the corresponding icon inthe task bar.

A Chinese landscape painting is used as the default wallpaper, but you easily can set up your favorite desktop theme and wallpaper throughthe Control Center.

WPS Office is integrated in Ubuntu Kylin as the default office suite (likeMicrosoft Office in Windows). WPS Office is made up of three primary components:WPS Writer, WPS Presentation and WPS Spreadsheet, which correspond withMicrosoft's Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Itsuser interfaceis compatible withMicrosoft Office products, and most important of all, itsupports Microsoft document formats besides native WPS formats. For example, aMicrosoft Word document (.DOC or. DOCX) in Windows can be edited seamlessly by WPSWriter in Ubuntu Kylin. A Microsoft Powerpoint document (.PPT or .PPTX) or anExcel document (.XLS or .XLSX) also works well in WPS Presentation or WPSSpreadsheet and vice versa.

Figure 2. WPS Office Suite

In 17.04, Ubuntu Kylin also is equipped with Wendun Foxit Reader, which is a PDF viewerbased on Linux's version of Foxit Reader. For most users, it is easier to installand utilize. In Wendun Foxit Reader, not only is PDF viewing provided, butbookmarks, comments, printing and more are also well supported.

Figure 3. Wendun Foxit Reader

Ubuntu Kylin 17.04's Peony file manager, similar to Windows Explorer,displays the hierarchical structure of files, folders, disk partitions and networkneighborhood on the computer. Using Peony, you can copy, move, rename and searchfiles and folders. For example, you can open a folder that contains a file youwant to copy or move, and then drag the file to another folder. You can open a fileautomatically by double clicking it.

Figure 4 shows how easy it is to find things in the Desktop, Trashand Recent folders. From the personal home directory, you can view and work with files andfolders to store documents, graphics, music, videos, downloads or other files youwant to access quickly. You also can view "Network", which lists other computersthat are connected to your local area network.

Figure 4. File Manager

Ubuntu Kylin provides multiple tools for system management, such as the Control Centerand Youker Assistant.

Just like the Control Panel in Windows, Ubuntu Kylin's Control Center allows users to viewand configure hardware and software. You can set time and date, add and removeuser accounts, customize personal options and so on. Hardware, such as network,keyboard, mouse, printer, sound card, monitor and power, also can be configured viathe management tool.

Figure 5. Control Center

Youker Assistant is apowerful system management and configuration tool developed for Linux users. Itcan show system information, clean up system garbage and beautify systemcustomization. It makes your desktop more streamlined, user-friendly andenriched with personality.

Figure 6. Youker Assistant

For Chinese users, Ubuntu Kylin integrates a lot of software with Chinesecharacteristics. These areas cover system management, daily life, internet leisureand other aspects. Thus, you can use it for work and entertainment.

The Sogou Input Method, which is co-developed by the Ubuntu Kylin team and SogouCorp., is used to input Chinese characters.It's based on the Fcitx frameworkand supports the same user experience as with its Windows version.

Figure 7. Sogou Input Method

Besides Youker Assistant, a series of Youker tools also has been supplied forUbuntu Kylin 17.04 users. Youker Weather broadcasts weather information providedby the China Meteorological Administration.The Youker Chinese Calendar provides an easy method for querying traditionalholidays, solar terms of the Chinese calendar and the Gregorian calendar.

WeChat and QQ, two famous social-media apps in China, also are availablein Ubuntu Kylin. They provide text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging,broadcast(one-to-many) messaging, video conferencing, video games, sharing of photographsand videos, and GPS location sharing.

In addition, Ubuntu Kylin can be used to achieve Baidu maps, Taobaoshopping, bank payments, ticket inquiries and purchases, and more, through the Firefox orChromium browsers.

Ubuntu Kylin is an official Ubuntu flavor with a featured desktop environment andapplications. It resembles Microsoft Windows with UKUI, WPS suite, YoukerAssitant and more, and it's especially suitable for users familiar withMicrosoft Windows.