Thoughts on ZorinOS?
Thoughts on ZorinOS?
I’m mainly used to Windows but I’m considering moving to Linux for my upcoming build. Initially, I thought Ubuntu was the best choice, but after more research ZorinOS stood out. It offers a nice desktop feel and solid software support. Many reviews highlight its user-friendliness, which is great. Still, keep in mind some common challenges with Linux—like missing Adobe or Microsoft programs and fewer games—but there are no major quirks specific to ZorinOS that I’m aware of.
I haven't tried Zorin directly, but I've heard positive feedback about it. The main drawback I notice is that Zorin lags behind in Linux features since it relies on Ubuntu's LTS releases rather than the latest updates. The current release 15 uses Ubuntu 18.04, which was released more than three years ago. The next version, 16, is still in beta and will use Ubuntu 20.04, released about a year prior. This could mean some Linux applications might be outdated and missing certain capabilities. Additionally, PPAs may not function properly if they're meant for newer Ubuntu versions. That being said, this isn't a problem exclusive to Zorin. Any distribution based on another will naturally be a bit behind. Still, Ubuntu 18.04 remains actively supported, so you should encounter few issues with PPAs and similar matters. Also, because it's built on Ubuntu, you'll have access to a broader selection of software, as developers often prioritize Ubuntu for Linux releases. As long as the software is designed to work with supported Ubuntu versions—including 18.04—it should operate smoothly.
I purchased Zorin OS 15 and tried it for a short time. If you usually run a more traditional Ubuntu LTS experience, like me, then it works well. But I previously used elementaryOS before Zorin and later switched back. My choice depends on personal taste, but I lean toward elementaryOS because of its unique features. Zorin OS is essentially customized tweaks to the standard Ubuntu LTS desktop. On the other hand, elementaryOS offers a distinct advantage through its AppCenter and developer community. For my machines, I rely on apps like Albert, Screen Recorder, Optimizer, Image Burner, Hash It, Hosts Manager, Formatter, Wine Glass, Clipped, and Ideogram. These tools are essential for me, and I can't live without them on Linux. So while Zorin has some value, it doesn’t match the depth of functionality I need. Even though I supported the developers financially, I haven’t felt the urge to return once I reset the system.
Check if Zorin OS supports secure boot. Only Fedora and Linux Mint do. You’ll need to turn it off if you want to run anything else. I haven’t used Zorin OS personally, but reviews mention it feels similar to Ubuntu. It’s aimed at Windows and Mac users. I’m using Fedora 34 Cinnamon Desktop. It’s user-friendly, stable, and keeps up with new releases every six months without needing a full upgrade. You can apply security updates only when ready, and if something fails, you can revert to the previous state via the GRUB menu.
I've used it for about a week and a half, and overall my experience has been good. The only problem I've noticed is with the Bluetooth connection. There were no other major issues, aside from mistakes made by humans, such as attempting to run executable files.
I tried ZorinOS Lite for a few months and found it quite impressive. It appeared polished and functioned smoothly without any issues. The only drawback was occasional freezing that forced a hard restart. These freezes weren’t seen on other Linux distributions. It seems this isn’t a widespread concern with Zorin, since I couldn’t locate anyone else experiencing the same problem. Unfortunately, it made troubleshooting difficult, so I had to move to Linux Mint Mate, which is now my preferred distribution. Hopefully, with a better laptop and future updates to 20.04, I’ll revisit full ZorinOS someday.
Sure, besides a handful of minor issues, it's actually the most dependable option I've used this year, and I've tested it extensively.