Zorin 18 Question
Zorin 18 Question
Hi, I'm weighing my options between Zorin 18 and the latest Linux Mint. I lean toward Zorin for its look, but the menu feels a bit clunky—on Mint it's just a click to expand, whereas on Zorin you have to hover and click. Kubuntu is a middle ground but not quite as smooth. Do you think the menu layout can be adjusted to match Mint's behavior?
Welcome to the discussion board! Consider shifting this conversation to the Linux section for better engagement. It seems you mainly tested on a live-USB setup, but each distribution has its own unique characteristics. You’ll find it challenging to replicate or eliminate these differences across other systems. Choose the distribution that best suits your needs. Both Mint and Zorin are derived from an older Ubuntu version. To fully test compatibility, you’ll need to install both and verify that your hardware and peripherals function properly. This is where differences become most apparent. You can store your home directory on a separate partition to easily switch between distros on your device. In my opinion, Zorin and similar Windows alternatives don’t address the core issues faced by Windows users. They simply create unrealistic expectations and often lead to frustration. These two options also lack fractional scaling. If you’re after that capability—something Windows users enjoyed for years—consider exploring Gnome or KDE environments. My top suggestion is MX Linux KDE, built on Debian 13 and offering numerous GUI tools for tasks that rely heavily on terminal commands in other distros. It resembles W10 visually, but in practice, it simplifies things with its integrated GUI features.
You can also create a graphical interface for the Terminal, similar to what I use, plus several other hidden tools. Simply access the Applications menu and move the icon to your desktop or taskbar, or both if needed. (This is useful when using multiple monitors.) There are also many desktop environments available for most distributions, though some come with a default one—like Kubuntu, which is a version of Ubuntu using KDE or Mint, and another Ubuntu fork with Cinnamon—both of which can be switched.
In Linux you often rely on terminal commands for everyday tasks because many operations don’t require a graphical interface. "MX Tools" in MX Linux helps with some of these challenges. However, most distributions still require you to type commands manually for various functions. The availability of numerous desktop environments adds another layer of complexity for beginners. Each Ubuntu variant (Kubuntu, Mint) didn’t perform well with my setup or hardware—slow performance and compatibility problems were common. My KDE-based distros felt more stable, especially since my system uses older Intel processors. I believe using more than one level above the core Linux distribution (like Debian, Suse, Arch, RHEL) isn’t beneficial. The progression from Debian to Ubuntu to Mint feels like a long chain with no clear advantage. I think sticking to one solid base distribution would be better. If you need an operating system that behaves like Windows, consider using Windows directly. Trying to copy features from several distros into one isn’t practical—it essentially creates a new project. If you desire an OS that mimics Windows exactly, go with Windows instead.