this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2025
394 points (98.5% liked)
Linux
66128 readers
256 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 7 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Is zorin-os that good? I don't really like its model of bundling a whole lot of free software together and then charging money for it.
Although you can just get the free version.
for non-techie users that want to switch it's great. Yes the updates are slow and few/far between but I mean if you go the paid route you get tech support and a few other software packages/themes.
I think for people who just want to keep older machines going and simply want to do work and browse/stream it's fine. beyond that? good luck. I've heard that upgrading it is worse than Ubuntu and it's based on Ubuntu so...
But Zorin has pretty good PR so that's what's going for them. Honestly though if you want a new user on linux that isn't comfortable with it just yet I feel there are better options that "just work" like Bazzite or Mint.
Zorin is less about it just works and more that its feel is closer to windows for people looking to switch but arent ready to dive head first into unfamiliar waters. I used Zorin at my first distro for about a year as I got comfortable then just switched to Ubuntu and installed dash to panel and arc menu myself. It was a good OS for getting used to things
If it lessens the impact of switching operating systems, and holds them in long enough to get comfortable with Linux, alternatively provides just enough Windows-like veneer to be comfortable enough then it is still a win.
So essentially, a bunch of them are going to try this and be disappointed and then go on to shit all over Linux as a whole...
Or perhaps dip their toes enough to look into distro-hopping.
Some of them might. But I wouldn't put too much faith in them, though.
What level of faith do you require from people trying out the OS? What damage is done?
That's not my point. My point is, they try Zorin, they don't like it, and now they go on about how much Linux sucks as they run back to Windows. I highly doubt many of them will bother distro-hopping. As far as must users will be concerned, they tried Linux and it sucked. They're almost definitely not going to want to spend more time redoing their system a bunch until they find one they like, nor are they going to want to spend the time with dotfiles getting it the way they want.
If they did research on other distros before installing Zorin, they probably wouldn't have gone with Zorin...
They're riding a bandwagon, not setting their own path.
I agree. If Zorin lowers the bar for entry enough that some will continue on and perhaps hop to another distro if they outgrow Zorin, then it’s a win. Desktop Linux isn’t going to win everyone over - Apple will pick up some and most will stay on Windows either way.
There will always be a lot of people trying a product out, figuring it’s not for them for whatever reason, and revert back. I don’t see a solution that will retain those people. Change is difficult for a lot of people.
For the Zorin org, even those who shelled out for the Pro edition and jump back to Windows, that income still goes to devs that are working to maintain the Linux ecosystem.
It is Ubuntu with some attention to the UI and UX, and just like Ubuntu the "pro" version has a price. Which you pay a premium to have things preinstalled.
The Zorin prices are donations to help pay the distro maintainers. You can choose 0 dollars, or atleast you used to be able to
ZorinOS is a decent stepping stone for those coming from windows. It was my first Linux daily driver when I made the switch. It got me comfortable enough with Linux to dive in and start learning before I started distro hopping. I ended up on Mint and now just recommend that, but Zorin got me over the hump to become a full time Linux user.
Might be fun to make a live USB and see how much it's changed in the last ten years. I've got a 4 day weekend coming up.... might have to try that.
It's good for people who are use to windows and aren't comfortable with linux yet, it was the first distro I used when I switched to Linux but now I've been on Fedora for the past four years or so