Given the positioning as an alternative to Windows 11 (and presumably macOS), I would have hoped that it didn’t chase the latest GUI design fashions.
Zorin OS 18
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Re: Zorin OS 18
#12I don't use Zorin anymore, (I'm a dirty Ubuntu plebian) but I used to use it and it's great. The only thing I liked about Windows 11 was it's slick UI, and Zorin is basically the only Linux distro that replicates that without a ton of hassle. Zorin Connect is also awesome if you use your PC to watch TV on your TV. If you're thinking of abandoning Windows, (which, honestly, who isn't these days) Zorin is a good choice…
> Zorin Connect is also awesome if you use your PC to watch TV on your TV
Zorin Connect is a fork of KDE Connect. If you're on KDE, you can use the standard KDE connect app to the same effect. I haven't tested it recently, but I'm pretty sure the Zorin Connect app will work with normal KDE Connect computers as well.
If you're on Gnome (like default Ubuntu) you could use plain KDE Connect but I find its UI integration rather lacking, as with all KDE applications on Gnome. However, there are re-implementations like good old GSConnect (https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1319/gsconnect/) or Valent (made by the same person who made GSConnect, https://valent.andyholmes.ca/) will replicate most of the Zorin Connect functionality as well.
If you're on something else, pick whatever KDE Connect implementation works best for your desktop, there are plenty of options and most of them work seamlessly!
Re: Zorin OS 18
#13Given the positioning as an alternative to Windows 11 (and presumably macOS), I would have hoped that it didn’t chase the latest GUI design fashions.
Well the latest gui design fashion is chasing Windows 7’s Aero look…
Re: Zorin OS 18
#14I'm a little confused: does it have its own DE, or is it just a heavily modified Gnome?
It's Gnome.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Improved support for Windows software: Windows App Support includes significant improvements that allow you to run even more Windows-native apps and games than ever before. It’s now powered by the latest WINE version 10. You can learn more about the Windows App Support feature here.
> Linux-based operating systems were generally built for engineers by engineers, with little consideration for regular users. We decided to fix this. [0] I am extremely sceptical that any normal Windows user would have the patience to use WINE to get Windows software working. Sadly this feels like this distro is subject to exactly the problem they claim to solve. I think the only way desktop Linux will ever approach…
"I think the only way desktop Linux will ever approach something an "ordinary" computer user could use is if a corporation puts significant money behind the development effort."
Dunno, I used to think that, but between Microsoft putting significant effort into degrading the Windows 11 experience and ever more stuff moving to the web, I'm not so sure about that anymore. My house is nearly full Linux now. The major thing that gets the gaming computer booted into Windows now is VR, and my oldest son is sometimes annoyed by needing to use Windows for some theater tech stuff. So it's not like we don't still have some things Linux can't do. But increasingly at our house it is the Windows-only stuff we find the annoying exception rather than the other way around. It's nowhere near as impossible as it was 15-20 years ago. The falling Windows is getting awfully close to meeting the rising Linux.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#16I'm a little confused: does it have its own DE, or is it just a heavily modified Gnome?
It's a heavily themed Gnome distro with extra extensions and branded apps to supplement the experience.
Some themes are free, others (like the IMO rather complete Windows and macOS lookalike themes) require the paid version of the OS. I think that's an excellent way to get financial support for a product like this.
There are also some other nice-to-have integrations, like a pre-installed detection mechanism for certain setup.exes that will suggest Linux alternatives rather than opening them in the pre-installed Wine runtime.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#17My favorite set-and-forget distro. I've migrated several non-techie family members off Windows onto Zorin and they've had zero issues. The elderly folks in particularly seem to find the UI easier than Windows, mainly because I switch them to the "windows-95" like desktop arrangement.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#18Given the positioning as an alternative to Windows 11 (and presumably macOS), I would have hoped that it didn’t chase the latest GUI design fashions.
it actually has all the themes even win95, not sure if they still maintain it tho.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#19Re: Zorin OS 18
#20Zorin 18 is greeeaaat! Been a long time user.