A Linux distro can be “for beginners” because it includes reasonable defaults and tools that make it easier to use. But it will never really be “only” for beginners.

Every Linux distro uses basically the same kernel. They all offer a console to access the command line. So, as an expert, what can I not do in basically any version of Linux?

With things like Distrobox, I can even get any other version of Linux on my version of Linux.

I could be installing applications from the AUR 15 minutes after installing ZorinOS. I could be running containers, compiling code, deploying cloud infrastructure, doing offensive cybersecurity, playing games in Steam, transcoding video, or running AI agents the console. What exactly can I not do on Zorin that need an “expert” distro for?

People are a bit too elitist sometimes.

Not a Zorin user by the way.

It looks and feels a bit like windows with the theming it has out of the box. So it’s probably an easier on ramp and possibly recommended in “what Linux is most like windows” google searches and the like.

I think it's just a really good Windows-like. It uses a modified GNOME that looks pretty good. Though as a KDE fangirl, I probably wouldn't be able to see it as anything other than GNOME. (◕દ◕)

It's based on Ubuntu, so I'm sure support is good and breakage is infrequent.

It also looks like you can pay $50 and get access to the pro version, which can mimic any of the major desktops and also lets you use their exclusive creative suite. If that's any good, it's no wonder people are flocking to it. Linux is still kinda mid for creatives.

Kinda seems like the new Mint, not that Mint is going anywhere.

Which is weird right? Who is recommending this distro for it to surge? Is this actually a lot of downloads when compared to other distros? I've never seen it listed once in any of the many "which distro should I switch to?" posts.

Just try it.

I did and I was pretty impressed. The way they modified the Gnome desktop with extensions is the way Gnome should've been in the first place. It's actually usable.

Hi, I just switched my home PC to Zorin. I picked it thinking that it would be the simplest version of Linux for my family members to start using, given its similarity to Windows. So far no issues with them using it but it is noticably slower to load programs.

I use will continue using Mint on my personal devices despite my dislike for using the terminal, having grown up doing everything through the Windows GUI.

I saw a comment stating that it charges 45$ for Zorin OS Pro, which is basically the normal OS but with some open-source software installed on it (Blender, Kdenlive, Audacity, etc.)

Well Zorin is ubuntu based, so i feel like that's a win for Ubuntu (and debian)

They have UIs that look just like Windows out of the box. A lot of their marketing is to cater to Windows refugees as "we're the easiest ones to get used to".

It still exists as Linspire

I personally like Zorin better than Mint. Mint is very dated looking, while Zorin feels more in line with a modern OS. They also try to create an easy experience for non-techie people to use Linux. They need some model to keep themselves going though. The money for pro also unlocks some features they’ve added to the OS and the free software is still free, they just make it easy to acquire it for non-techie people who don’t want to spend time trying to do their own research, or don’t know how to.

ZorinOS is a decent stepping stone for those coming from windows. It was my first Linux daily driver when I made the switch. It got me comfortable enough with Linux to dive in and start learning before I started distro hopping. I ended up on Mint and now just recommend that, but Zorin got me over the hump to become a full time Linux user.

Might be fun to make a live USB and see how much it's changed in the last ten years. I've got a 4 day weekend coming up.... might have to try that.

It is Ubuntu with some attention to the UI and UX, and just like Ubuntu the "pro" version has a price. Which you pay a premium to have things preinstalled.

The Zorin prices are donations to help pay the distro maintainers. You can choose 0 dollars, or atleast you used to be able to

for non-techie users that want to switch it's great. Yes the updates are slow and few/far between but I mean if you go the paid route you get tech support and a few other software packages/themes.

I think for people who just want to keep older machines going and simply want to do work and browse/stream it's fine. beyond that? good luck. I've heard that upgrading it is worse than Ubuntu and it's based on Ubuntu so...

But Zorin has pretty good PR so that's what's going for them. Honestly though if you want a new user on linux that isn't comfortable with it just yet I feel there are better options that "just work" like Bazzite or Mint.

It's good for people who are use to windows and aren't comfortable with linux yet, it was the first distro I used when I switched to Linux but now I've been on Fedora for the past four years or so

Zorin has been around for a long time. See distrowatch.

Remember when Covid happened, and suddenly every normie was using Zoom, instead of existing, well-established platforms?