Got my grandma a desktop from Free Geek (great org here in Portland, OR). Been running Zorin for many years and I basically gave her no instruction.
Zorin OS 18
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Re: Zorin OS 18
#32>With Zorin OS, your next computer can be the one you already own. It’s designed to be the perfect Windows replacement for everyday users, professionals, and everyone in between.
Sorry for sounding curt, but this is yet another flavor of the week distribution that claims it's the best choice for everyone. It's exactly what everyone has needed for decades.. There's nothing wrong with making yet another distro, but call it what it is: another shade of brown. It will not, ever, evolve itself beyond what hasn't already been delivered by the top distros. Users discard it when they're having issues and the next flavor of the week distribution is popular. Or the rug is pulled and the distro simply rots away. This is the defacto progression for Linux distros. It is nowhere close to a full replacement for everyone, let alone Windows 10.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#33I 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…
IMO KDEs design is actually superior to anything Microsoft is offering. It is a great desktop experience, even with stock settings. Certainly better than everything Ubuntu does.
I haven't used it yet be KDE Linux(still in testing) looks to be promising immutable distro
Re: Zorin OS 18
#34> Zorin OS is the alternative to Windows Keep in mind that Zorin is a Linux-based OS and can't run Windows apps.
>can't run Windows apps. Wine?
For the median Windows user who wants to try something new, running native Windows apps really truly needs to be no fuss and “just work.” This has been, erm, not exactly my experience with Wine.
I don’t mean that as a dig at Wine, I know it’s technically impressive and incredibly valuable. Granted, I haven’t tried to use it in years, and I’m sure it’s improved a lot in that time. But if I set a family member up with a Linux distro, I’d be shocked frankly if they figure out how to use Windows on their own.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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. I think you're correct, but I also think this has already happened. Valve has put large amounts of money and development time into Linux. With a huge success. Gaming on Linux is very close to being as easy as it is on Windows. That removes a b…
> Valve has put large amounts of money and development time into Linux
I was gaming on linux when DXVK was just a library override in WINE before Proton or the Steam Deck existed. It's been fantastic to see how things have changed since then and I count this as a successful example of what's possible with desktop Linux.
If there was a commercial path to fund general purpose desktop computing on Linux, I'm certain that it is techinically feasible to achieve.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#36I have not tried Zorin, but it is near the top of distros I would give to a "set it and forget it" non-techie.
Anybody have a top 5 list for distros in this realm? I'm an Artix / OpenBSD guy these days and I feel like I'm too far down the rabbit hole to know what's good for new folks.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#37I have not tried Zorin, but it is near the top of distros I would give to a "set it and forget it" non-techie. Anybody have a top 5 list for distros in this realm? I'm an Artix / OpenBSD guy these days and I feel like I'm too far down the rabbit hole to know what's good for new folks.
I have installed Zorin on my parent's 10 year old computer. They use it for browsing the internet and some video calls. Zorin works like a charm, and they have not had any major issues.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#38I have not tried Zorin, but it is near the top of distros I would give to a "set it and forget it" non-techie. Anybody have a top 5 list for distros in this realm? I'm an Artix / OpenBSD guy these days and I feel like I'm too far down the rabbit hole to know what's good for new folks.
ArchLinux is the best alternative for yesterday's Windows 10 user
Re: Zorin OS 18
#39I have not tried Zorin, but it is near the top of distros I would give to a "set it and forget it" non-techie. Anybody have a top 5 list for distros in this realm? I'm an Artix / OpenBSD guy these days and I feel like I'm too far down the rabbit hole to know what's good for new folks.
Debian. I’m not trolling, it’s easy to install, very stable, and KDE, while allowing everything to be customized, is awesome out of the box. It’s way more oldschool than what I’m seeing of Zorin there but for the oldschoolers the feeling of owning his computer again has no price. I’ve been a pop!os user too for quite a long time and it’s very polished, but too fisherpricish for a desktop to me.
Re: Zorin OS 18
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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. I think you're correct, but I also think this has already happened. Valve has put large amounts of money and development time into Linux. With a huge success. Gaming on Linux is very close to being as easy as it is on Windows. That removes a b…
I think Valve have been very careful with where they put their efforts (hardware and software), their scope isn't that broad so much as it needs to have a direct link to steam. It's similar to why I don't think we'll have SteamOS released by Valve for generic hardware in the foreseeable future, because they're concentrating on their specific usage on the Deck.
Going broad means they need to support a whole lot more, and they probably can't tell users "go google it" in a similar fashion to how MS can't shrug off windows problems entirely when they happen for their users. The geeks are perfectly content with using a range of existing distros and there's little gain in adding one more, besides those that want the Valve/Steam brand umbrella to cover even more of PC gaming like they own the platform.