Thoughts on Zorin OS linux distro

Ok, so I'm going to be making the big switch to Linux this weekend, but I'm still trying to settle on which distro to use. The two that have been recommended to me are Debian, and Ubuntu. If I recall correctly (it's been a while since I was on the Tek Linux YT channel as there hasn't been new content on there) Logan is using Debian. My retired dad has suggested debian or ubuntu as a starting point in his opinion as a former software engineer and I've also been looking into Zorin (based on the Ubuntu distro) as it apparently has a very windows-esque GUI which appeals to me (being a first time linux adopter).

My question is simply this... Has anyone here on the forums had a play with Zorin, and if so, would you recommend it over the other two recommendations? Reasons for your choice would be useful as well so that I can better understand what to expect. Replies like "get X because Y is garbage" don't really help anyone, although I don't expect much, if any of that from the Tek Syndicate community - I'd like to think you folks are above that :)

I don't check the forums every day but I'll do my level best to reply to any constructive and topic appropriate posts in the thread.

Thanks in advance for your assistance folks.

MrCaptainA

I haven't played around with Zorin yet, just read up a bit about it. On a somewhat irrelevant note, Linux Mint is my personal favorite distro at the moment, and its very Windows XP'ish in it's interface. I think Mint would be another great starting point as well.

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I've used Zorin for a while, I'd personally go with Mint with Cinnamon. Mint is just cleaner and has fewer bugs.

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Zorin is a decent distro, but its meant for people who really needs something that looks as close to windows as possible. Its mostly for old people.

If you want a windowsish style GUI, then I highly recommend linux mint 17.3. Its basically ubuntu with a windows theme. However unlike zorin it gives you a lot of configuration tools and is just a better experience in general.

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So Mint is another variation on the ubuntu distro? I'm starting to notice a trend here.

I can kind of see why alot of folks are intimidated by the prospect of switching. I will not be deterred however.

I have played arround with Zorin OS aswell.
And what can i say about it sofar..... it just works. ☺
The time i used it, i could not realy find any major issues with it sofar.
Windows interface looked pretty good, and worked fine.

I think that the UI of Zorin OS is pretty good, very polished, and you get enough customization options.

Since its based on Ubuntu, there is allot of support to find on the net wenn needed.

You are being a bit too presumptuous.

I will speak for myself here, but I have a feeling a lot of people will have similar stories.

I used to change distros once a month at least. Sometimes I was blowing through a distro a week. I have tried debian, ubuntu, and damn near all its derivatives. So trust me when I say I am not adverse to change.

Lets get a few things straight. Lets pretend that Ubuntu is vanilla ice cream. Ubuntu is nothing more than a special linux kernel with various bits of software thrown together.

The UI that you use is called a desktop environment. This is where you get your windows-esque look from. These are the toppings.

What zorin, linux mint, elementary OS, ubuntu gnome, kubuntu, xubuntu, and 30 other distros did is they just added different toppings.

When you say zorin, you need to understand that you are not getting zorin flavored ice cream. You are getting plain old vanilla with raisins.

All we are telling you to do is fuck the sprinkles, and go straight for the hot fudge which in this case is linux mint.

And ultimately I do not care if you want to go to zorin. Please be my guest. I can promise you it will bore you out of your skull in 30 minutes or less and you will be begging to use any other distro.

And lastly, we are only recommending linux mint because you like a windows style desktop.

If YOU are willing to change, why not give elementary OS a try? Or ubuntu gnome? Or hell even plain ubuntu?

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It's a fresh perspective and valid points you raise. I'm more than willing to get my hands dirty by trying different distributions, I was asking about Zorin in particular as it's a distro that I'd not even heard about until I was beginning to look at what was available. I figured I'd be able to get some insight from a community that has more experience than myself when it comes to things linux related.

I think that something with a familiar aesthetic will help me build the confidence to dig around and become more familiar with the platform. A kiddie pool if you will. I'm a quick study however and if you think Zorin will bore me, what would you suggest as an alternative?

I would say, just install Virtualbox and try some distro´s out.
What everyones says is based on their own personal preferences and opinnions.
The best way to find the most ideal distro for you, is just to start and play with them.
Basicly you can download a bunge of difrent distro´s install them in a vm, and start to play.

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To be honest, for the moment it really do not matter what you install.

As long as you get a desktop environment that you like, with a stable base, you will be happy. That is why everyone is recommending linux mint. It literally fits your needs perfectly right now.

Once you get into the terminal a bit and you feel more comfortable, then you can start distro hopping and do all sorts of cool and fun customization.

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Great OS for those starting out, or people that want an out-of-the-box, ready to go, OS

People here will say Zorin is fine to use, and that's ok to say, but when I teach someone linux I try to get them to think the way that linux thinks. I can say to my mom "That's a windows application it won't run" all I want but she will still try to install AVG or Juno Email.

If you want to start Zorin just to see what it is go ahead, no problems there, but I would do a distro like Ubuntu Mate. The interface is intuitive and flexible and the distro fork itself is managed by the users, much like Arch linux is handeled. I like that a lot more than a distro coming from a company. It feels more..... I dunno, authentic? It works like the users want and is easy to fix if something breaks (not to say Unity / base ubuntu isn't, but I can't do shit if Unity breaks. More often than not I have had to fix one or two bugs in Mate myself and the fixes were never circulated).

Past your starting point look at other distro's if you want. As a long time user I can say going from distro to distro and Desktop Environment to the next is going to be on your mind. Something will not work with you quite right and will get annoying. Maybe you'll like one package manager over another because you can untar and compile inside of that package manager (like pacman in arch) rather than untaring and compiling separate from the PM and fetching repository files with the PM only (like debian or ubuntu). It's addictive, it really is.

Good luck though.

This.

Although I will say if unity breaks, you can cry about it on the ubuntu forums and someone will generally bail you out.

Which in all honesty is kind of nice. You can just sit back and let someone else fuss over it.

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Mate is fixable and I also use AwesomeWM, which is made in lua :| Read one or two logs, stare at lua for 5-10 minutes, type type, Awesome is fixed!

Zorin is a fine OS. It works fine and it is ubuntu based so you inherit a lot of good stuff from there. Its very good for people coming from windows in terms of familiarity. Another similar choice would be Linux Mint. Better imo for out-of-the-box experience.

Debian is brilliant but is it not so easy for new users to set up correctly. Lots of customization and lot of stuff to add to your liking. But if you have your father to help you for the start it might be a fine choice. You can learn a lot using debian.

Captain,

Tjj226 is totaly right here, they are all basically the same. I and I think that he even says later on doesn't really matter what you install. Which is also true.

Bottom line is going to be fine, until isnt. (I know that doesn't sound helpful) What I mean is if all you hardware is open source friendly and all the program you want to use are supported at the verison you want on your distro it is all good.

But if you need to things that are a little bit outside the box, you may find that a smaller distro doesn't have the depth of user or developers have a solution for you.

So i recommend choose a distro with a big and active communit, that has a IRC that is manned so if you have a problem you can jump on a get a quick solution. So if Zoran has that go for it

I have tried it and seen someone else use it. If you want a windows like UI on Linux then it's good, nothing wrong with it as the UI is built off GNOME, distro is Ubuntu based, etc. Expect everything to be GUI based, no learning curve, abstracts everything from you, and basically treats you like a windows user.

Personally I don't like it, I left Windows for a reason why would I want it on Linux? So if I was to use a 'easy' or 'beginner' distro I'd recommend Linux Mint or Linux Lite instead. These are what I recommend and set up for new linux users and they have had no problem using or getting used to either one

Well I'd still like the freedom to tinker, so I guess that answers it for me. Gonna grab Mint 1.7.3 and see how I get on with it. Tomorrow is the big day, so no doubt I'll be back with asinine questions about stuff you'll no doubt find trivial in scope. Thanks for all of the advice folks. I think my trust in the community is well founded.