In many ways Ubuntu is very close to the way Windows 8 operates when it comes to how files are arranged. The appearance is a lot different however.
The image above is the Ubuntu desktop, The one right about this text is Windows 8. Ubuntu does not have click-able desktop icons in the middle of the screen like Windows. With Ubuntu you can click files, that icon is the storage folder icon, it also shows the computer and other libraries like Windows. I will Include some more pictures to show the similarities and differences between Windows 8 and Ubuntu.
Both control panels look very similair except that Ubuntu calls their control panel system settings. To get to Windows 8 control panel go to the start menu and type control panel. For Ubuntu just click the gear icon with tools.
Here are the folder libraries. They both have very similar setups except Ubuntu has the recycle bin it its libraries. From both Ubuntu and Windows you can navigate by clicking icons for which file you want to open.