Introduction
When I wrote a review about Q4OS last year I was emailed about a package called XPQ4 which makes it possible to make Q4OS look like other versions of Windows such as Windows XP.
I therefore set about reviewing XPQ4 and the results were very good indeed.
Shortly after I had posted my review of the latest version of Q4OS I received another email asking me to take another look of XPQ4 because there had been a number of updates.
If you wish to use a Linux operating system but you want it to look like Windows then XPQ4 is definitely what you are looking for.
How To Get XPQ4
You can get XPQ4 from http://xpq4.sourceforge.net/
There are 2 versions of XPQ4 available:
- Full
- Free
The full version uses proprietary images and icons etc whereas the free version does not. Neither will cost you any money.
The webpage has installation instructions but basically all you have to do is this:
- Click on the download link for the version you wish to install
- Double click on the downloaded file
- When the welcome screen appears click "Next"
- When the license agreement appears make sure the "I Agree" checkbox is ticked and click "Install".
The User Interface
An icon for XPQ4 will appear on the desktop and when clicked the above screen will be displayed.
You can choose between 6 themes:
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP classic
- Windows XP luna
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows 10
The Themes
The screenshots basically speak for themselves:
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| Windows 2000 Theme - XPQ4 |
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| Windows 7 Theme - XPQ4 |
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| Windows 8 Theme - XPQ4 |
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| Windows 10 Theme - XPQ4 |
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| Windows XP Luna Theme - XPQ4e
The Windows XP Luna theme is astounding. I reckon this could fool many people into thinking they are using Windows XP.
Some Linux purists would ask what the point is but I've never claimed to be a purist and I think the work performed by the XPQ4 team is brilliant.
The Windows XP, 2000 and Windows 7 themes are very close to the real thing.
Windows 8 doesn't really look like Windows 8 although an attempt has been made to make it authentic by pulling the menu in from the right and having a search bar in the top right corner. To be honest though how many people really want to use a system like Windows 8. It was horrific.
The Windows 10 theme looks good and although the menu doesn't really look like a Windows 10 menu the theme does make Q4OS look modern.
For pure style the XP Luna theme is my favourite.
Summary
Many Linux distributions over the years have tried to look like Windows including Lindows, to a certain extent Linux Mint and of course Zorin OS.
Q4OS with the XPQ4 theme is definitely the one that has achieved the best results.
Zorin OS looks to be moving in a slightly different direction now and I have just installed version 12 as a dual boot to Q4OS so a review will be coming shortly.
I could have made my experience with XPQ4 better by installing the ttf-mscorefonts-installer package from Synaptic.
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