Zorin OS 18
blog.zorin.com
blog.zorin.com
It's a franken debian. Which a lot of Linux users don't like for a variety of reasons but I think that debate is of a wider scope than this one submission.
The main Dev/Maintainer for Linux Mint 'Clem' is also based in Ireland. So these are the only two Linux distros I know of to be associated with the Irish tech scene which is small.
If you're thinking of abandoning Windows, (which, honestly, who isn't these days) Zorin is a good choice.
Zorin Connect is a fork of KDE Connect. If you're on KDE, you can use the standard KDE connect app to the same effect. I haven't tested it recently, but I'm pretty sure the Zorin Connect app will work with normal KDE Connect computers as well.
If you're on Gnome (like default Ubuntu) you could use plain KDE Connect but I find its UI integration rather lacking, as with all KDE applications on Gnome. However, there are re-implementations like good old GSConnect (https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1319/gsconnect/) or Valent (made by the same person who made GSConnect, https://valent.andyholmes.ca/) will replicate most of the Zorin Connect functionality as well.
If you're on something else, pick whatever KDE Connect implementation works best for your desktop, there are plenty of options and most of them work seamlessly!
Really depends on what you'd use the computer for, I don't feel like anything is much "superior" to something else, it all depends on the user and usage.
She didn't need much hand holding at all, just a working browser and shortcuts for what she needed. Setting up Variety and a folder of cute cat/puppy photos to rotate was a pretty big win for her as well.
Anybody have a top 5 list for distros in this realm? I'm an Artix / OpenBSD guy these days and I feel like I'm too far down the rabbit hole to know what's good for new folks.
Zorin in particular was the distro that made me stop using Linux a few years ago, the day I turned on my computer and all of the sudden everything was completely messed up. Took me a long time to recover the DE and get everything back to working condition. Immediately after I went back to Windows for the first time in years, which I don't love, but at least the OS is alway there when I turn the PC on.
How do people give their grandma a Linux pc and never hear from them again? Obviously a catastrophic failure like mine is not normal; and if you need 100% stability for a mission-critical system, I don't doubt you could accomplish it much better with Linux than Windows, but that's not by default. Do you disable automatic updates on grandma's PC?
She mostly used her browser for email (Yahoo) and to order grocery delivery once a week. She emailed and shared pictures with extended family quite a bit.
Nothing really extreme at all, and not really a heavy gamer by any means. Just casual play. Oh, she liked a few of the columns/gems type games as well.
Some themes are free, others (like the IMO rather complete Windows and macOS lookalike themes) require the paid version of the OS. I think that's an excellent way to get financial support for a product like this.
There are also some other nice-to-have integrations, like a pre-installed detection mechanism for certain setup.exes that will suggest Linux alternatives rather than opening them in the pre-installed Wine runtime.
"Zorin forms a plan to destroy his only competition in Silicon Valley by triggering a massive earthquake in the San Andreas Fault at high tide, causing the valley to flood. Such a disaster would effectively wipe out all computer companies competing against Zorin in the world microchip market and leave him as the leading supplier of microchips; it would also kill millions of people."
Keep in mind that Zorin is a Linux-based OS and can't run Windows apps.
Wine?
I don’t mean that as a dig at Wine, I know it’s technically impressive and incredibly valuable. Granted, I haven’t tried to use it in years, and I’m sure it’s improved a lot in that time. But if I set a family member up with a Linux distro, I’d be shocked frankly if they figure out how to use Windows on their own.
I am extremely sceptical that any normal Windows user would have the patience to use WINE to get Windows software working. Sadly this feels like this distro is subject to exactly the problem they claim to solve.
I think the only way desktop Linux will ever approach something an "ordinary" computer user could use is if a corporation puts significant money behind the development effort. Until then, the incentives will simply never align.
Dunno, I used to think that, but between Microsoft putting significant effort into degrading the Windows 11 experience and ever more stuff moving to the web, I'm not so sure about that anymore. My house is nearly full Linux now. The major thing that gets the gaming computer booted into Windows now is VR, and my oldest son is sometimes annoyed by needing to use Windows for some theater tech stuff. So it's not like we don't still have some things Linux can't do. But increasingly at our house it is the Windows-only stuff we find the annoying exception rather than the other way around. It's nowhere near as impossible as it was 15-20 years ago. The falling Windows is getting awfully close to meeting the rising Linux.
I think you're correct, but I also think this has already happened. Valve has put large amounts of money and development time into Linux. With a huge success. Gaming on Linux is very close to being as easy as it is on Windows. That removes a barrier for many home users.
I do wish there was more commercial software. Getting Photoshop ported over would be the last hurdle for me personally. Everything else I can do through Steam, various open source programs like Calibre, Electron apps, and Web.
I was gaming on linux when DXVK was just a library override in WINE before Proton or the Steam Deck existed. It's been fantastic to see how things have changed since then and I count this as a successful example of what's possible with desktop Linux.
If there was a commercial path to fund general purpose desktop computing on Linux, I'm certain that it is techinically feasible to achieve.
Going broad means they need to support a whole lot more, and they probably can't tell users "go google it" in a similar fashion to how MS can't shrug off windows problems entirely when they happen for their users. The geeks are perfectly content with using a range of existing distros and there's little gain in adding one more, besides those that want the Valve/Steam brand umbrella to cover even more of PC gaming like they own the platform.
But at the same time most professional Windows software will not run at all or will only run if you put significant effort into it. The idea of giving any Linux distro to a novice and telling him "he can run Windows applications" will result in server disappoint and frustration.
Sorry for sounding curt, but this is yet another flavor of the week distribution that claims it's the best choice for everyone. It's exactly what everyone has needed for decades.. There's nothing wrong with making yet another distro, but call it what it is: another shade of brown. It will not, ever, evolve itself beyond what hasn't already been delivered by the top distros. Users discard it when they're having issues and the next flavor of the week distribution is popular. Or the rug is pulled and the distro simply rots away. This is the defacto progression for Linux distros. It is nowhere close to a full replacement for everyone, let alone Windows 10.
A LOT of people are just fine with a working browser and maybe Steam for their games. Most people aren't doing a lot of tinkering and in concert breaking things doing so. It's a perfectly reasonable option.
Beyond this, having had catastrophic fails in both Windows and Macs over the years, the typical user isn't equipped to handle them either.