The transition from the Windows environment to the Linux environment can pose a challenge of adaptability and portability of files between the two environments. In this case, the Ubuntu desktop and Ubuntu server have been chosen as the preferred Linux distros. Ubuntu desktop provides a graphical user interface that closely resembles Windows operating system, and the users will intuitively learn to undertake the daily day-to-day tasks with ease as time goes by, including web browsing using popular web browsers known to the users.
Linux supports popular browsers and utility software such as VLC multimedia player. The Linux variants feature striking resemblance to the windows equivalents, and Windows users will have an easy time using them. There are also inbuilt utility applications that can be used to undertake daily activities, such as calculators, multimedia players, GNU paint, and photo viewing software.
The Linux system supports its own office utility suites, which can be used to create and edit different files. For the case of Microsoft Office files created on Windows, the Ubuntu desktop offers the office productivity suite LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice, which are compatible with Microsoft Office file formats such as .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx. Furthermore, there is an application layer on most Linux distros, including Wine and Crossover, which allows the running of popular windows applications on Linux environments, including Microsoft Office. This will help in improving the portability of the Microsoft office files onto the Linux desktop.