• Does anyone use this? I’ve yet to find a defining feature list of why anyone should use it aside from cosmetic differences. Does it even have a defining feature set?

        • @Lemonparty@lemm.ee
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          111 year ago

          A better question might be why shouldn’t they? I’m not being pedantic (at least not intentionally) but if their defining characteristic is that they’re nothing special, just a simple Linux distro that does the basic shit easily enough and looks nice - that has major appeal to people unfamiliar with Linux looking to leave other OS’s behind. The vast majority of people that use an OS really have very little idea how it works or why. They just want some basic level of understanding and control over it.

          • Fedora
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            01 year ago

            Let’s use Ubuntu for comparison.

            • Ubuntu is more up-to-date than its spin-offs.
            • Ubuntu will outlive Ubuntu spin-offs, including Zorin.
            • Ubuntu offers paid support, whereas Zorin doesn’t.
            • Ubuntu community is bigger than Zorin. More resources, tutorials, etc.

            Zorin adds only the following value:

            • More themes, primarily lookalikes, which is arguably a bad thing.

            When people see Windows, they expect Windows. Installers, package managers, peripherals like printers, etc. are different from Windows. Pretending to be Windows makes people feel at ease for a moment at the expense of fundamentally misunderstanding what operating system their computer runs on, and it’ll trip them up eventually, probably sooner rather than later.

            See macOS: It looks and feels different. People don’t mistake macOS for Windows. People who use Windows don’t expect macOS to behave like Windows, and vice-versa. But hey, let’s make macOS look and feel like Windows at first glance. Why can’t I run that .exe? What do you mean, I must use an app store? What is HDCP, and why does it prevent me from connecting this laptop to the projector?

            For iOS that’d be questions like: Where is the Play Store? Why can’t I install that (Android-only) app? I think you get my point.

            This is one of the reasons why branding exists. Yet many Linux distros would like to believe they can replicate the Windows experience through a miracle, and fool themselves into thinking that’s a good thing for Linux newcomers. It’s especially bad for people who don’t know they use Linux, like when they use computers at the office, library, etc. with a distro like Zorin.

            • @TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world
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              21 year ago

              I mean, most DEs copy Windows (KDE does, Cinnamon does, etc).

              • Taskbar along the bottom that shows opened programs

              • Start button that opens a small start menu in the bottom left

              • Clock in the bottom right

              • System tray in the bottom right

              • Frequently have menu bars at the top of apps

              • Minimise, maximise, close at the top right of each app

              • etc

              So tbh it seems harsh to criticise Zorin for copying Windows when it seems, with the exception of Gnome, that all actual up to date DEs have copied Windows. And if they went with vanilla Gnome they’d not really be offering anything different at all.

              • Fedora
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                11 year ago

                Definitely count these other DEs into my criticism. They’re part of the problem.

        • @EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Tbh I used it few months ago and it’s a pretty decent noob distro but I had some annoying graphical issues caused by snaps, which zorin use(d?) even by default so I can’t recommend it because of that. It also doesn’t allow much customization but that’s GNOME for you.

          spoiler

          Also, this is just a me thing and not the distro’s fault, but I couldn’t stand having Zs everywhere even if it is a pure coincidence and I actually know the volunteers stand with Ukraine.

          It’s a good distro for those who want an easy introduction to Linux, I just think Linux Mint or Pop_OS are better, but there’s many who use it and swear by it.

    • Corgana
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      411 year ago

      I use it. It’s great. I’ve tried Linux many times over the past decade but it never stuck until Zorin. If you’re coming from Windows it’s a very friendly (and polished) way of being welcomed to Linux while also showing off Linux’s strengths, things that are often hidden to the user unless they want to explore the terminal.

      For Mac users who are Linux-curious I would recommend Ubuntu because it’s much similar, whereas Zorin seems clearly designed with people who liked Windows 10 but not Windows 11.

        • Tiger Jerusalem
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          1 year ago

          I disagree: elementary is quite limited with really basic desktop features out of the box, limited personalization, weird interface decisions with some ugly panels, and pretty behind on updates, relying heavily on their own walled gard-

          You know what? You’re right.

        • @Roopappy@lemmy.ml
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          71 year ago

          Kinda. I’m using Elementary OS right now, and I think of it more like a Chromebook… with more options to expand it.

    • @bartolomeo@suppo.fi
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      121 year ago

      Zorin was, at least a few years ago, tailored to be easy to adapt to for people switching from Windows. This new version looks beautiful, I’m going to take it for a spin!

    • HubertManne
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      91 year ago

      oh yeah. its an out of the box for folks (like myself) who like that. Lots of apps preinstalled including play on linux. So I can install and start using without adding any additional software. Its not the only oob distro but combining that with the look feel emulation is great and I have never seen an oob that sets up wine so well to use immediately. So its a bit like a combo of a gaming distro with oob and then the lookNfeel thing.

    • @GustavoM@lemmy.world
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      51 year ago

      No, but I used this back when I was a little penguin and I had to “see” something working on Linux.

      • Russ
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        71 year ago

        That’s not exclusive to Zorin however, that’s just a Gnome 42 feature (unless the base gnome implementation is the one you’re referring to that needs configuring in the terminal).

        • @Moonrise2473@lemmy.ml
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          31 year ago

          Ah. The way they wrote that seemed an exclusive…

          Nice for gnome, so, when I wanted to set xrdp on debian a couple years ago I cried and almost gave up.

    • @burgersc12@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      It seems ok, guess I should try the free version before making judgements, realized the pro is ONLY $50 and completely optional. Sorry

      at minimum Seems they charge a shitton for “bonus” software like they’re a wannabe windows or some fuckin shit. Avoid this if you have any respect for yourself or open source software

      • Tekhne
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        101 year ago

        Personally, I would say Richard Stallman has respect for open source software: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html.

        Having respect for free (as in “libre”) software means caring if the software can sustain its own development, and not just caring if you get it free (as in “gratis”). It’s not always viable to support a project on donations and free time the way GNU is. https://xkcd.com/2347/

        • @burgersc12@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          $2,000 for autocad? Misunderstood what the site was saying Doesn’t sound like the kind of thing a linux distro should be selling. When was the last time Debian tried to get you to spend thousands of dollars on it??

          • They are just showing you that you don’t need to spend $2000 on Autocad and other listed software, because Zorin has all these open source tools bundled in it.

            Though tbh replacing Autocad or office365 with FOSS alternatives are bold claims because these alternatives just aren’t viable in a commercial environment.

      • @Moonrise2473@lemmy.ml
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        51 year ago

        It’s just support, for people that can afford it or want it. The bonus software is all free or foss, the rest are wallpapers or other gnome themes that can be get otherwise

      • HubertManne
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        51 year ago

        I use the free version. its fine. if you have to have it look like a mac then yeah you can pay or configure it yourself like you would with any linux.