Upgrading from Windows XP to Lubuntu? This XP-style theme should make the switch easier, resembling Microsoft's aged OS in almost every area. While the vast majority of those will be upgrading to newer versions of Windows on shiny new PCs, or finding themselves lured in by $99 Chromebook offers, a number will be forgoing the expense and keeping their existing computer running ? but powering it up with Linux.

As we wrote about recently, our top tip for people looking to switch to Linux is Lubuntu. Being both light enough to run on the sort of older hardware that Windows XP would?ve shipped on and using a desktop layout similar to that used on Windows, it makes an ideal compromise between the old and the new.