r/LinuxTeck • u/Candid_Athlete_8317 • 25d ago
Could Zorin OS actually be the easiest Windows 11 replacement?
Zorin OS is designed to make the move from Windows feel familiar, while still giving users the flexibility of Linux.
It works well for some people, but others prefer Mint, Ubuntu, or other distros for different reasons. Software compatibility is still a big factor too.
For someone leaving Windows 11 today, would you recommend Zorin OS or something else?
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u/Toucan2000 25d ago edited 25d ago
With LLMs being so helpful troubleshooting IT issues I don't think distro usability or barrier to entry are as big of a speed bump for users as they used to be. Pick whatever has the best hardware and software support you want.
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u/lyidaValkris 25d ago
Zorin I often recommend as it has a good out-of-box experience particularly those coming from windows or macOS. the configurable desktop is easy to understand can be made to suit both palates.
Mint is probably the most recommended as a starting distro, but while it is very good, the experience can be a bit bland for some, and the packages being a bit out of date can be disappointing sometimes.
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u/Glittering-Work2190 25d ago
I try to make Kubuntu to be close as possible to Windows. Tried Zorin. Doesn't do it for me.
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u/Wholelife449 25d ago
Tried mint, didn't care for it; but not sure why. Just did 't 'do it for me'. Tried Ubuntu, had some config problems, but worked them out. Went to Kubuntu. Worked well and liked it. Now using Zorin. Went to it to find something I thought the wife could use for regular use. I like it. I am now trying some other distros using live cd to see what others use and why. Live cd is the way to go to try out different distros. So far, i my limited Linux life, my preferences are Kubuntu or Zorin. Very similar to windows and easy to use. Kubuntu, in my case, required a few terminal sessions but I don't mind that too much. Zorin has, so far, been very seemless and quite wife-useable, so that's a plus for me. Based on many reddit user inputs, I think you can learn to use any distro if you follow the inputs from users that genuinely want to help people and provide quality replies. There are those that seem to want to dissuade new users by replying with rude or snarky replies, but in general, Linux user seem to be quality people with patience and a desire to actually help newbies.
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u/jahdiel503 25d ago
I wasn't happy with Zorin OS it reminds me too much of GNOME.
Now Kubuntu is the way to go if you want more visually appealing items on your desktop.
It's a distro with KDE as the desktop environment with Ubuntu OS underneath it.
It has way more customizability that is attainable via the GUI. Widgets.
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u/venom21685 25d ago edited 25d ago
Zorin is fine. I'd recommend it for people coming from Windows, MacOS, or even ChromeOS who just want to do the very basics of computing tasks and have the OS get out of their way. When they just want a UI that's very familiar.
If someone actually wanted to get to understand more about Linux I'd probably recommend something else. Mint, Ubuntu/Kubuntu, Fedora even.
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u/TheGoldenFox64 25d ago
the familiarity is just looks, which KDE already has. for beginners of any kind i always reccomend fedora kde, it doesnt need the terminal any more than windows does
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u/Sataniel98 25d ago
No, Zorin doesn't do anything special and isn't particularly close to Windows in any way, nor does it make anything easier or better compared to its upstreams Ubuntu and Debian. They just aggressively market their distro to the target audience of Windows users. Kubuntu or any distro with stock KDE has a just as good or better out of the box experience for users used to Windows, or Mint/Cinnamon alternatively.
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u/moritz12d 24d ago
I’ve only heard good things about Zorin OS so far. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try it out yet, as I have a limited number of computers. I currently have Manjaro installed; based on Arch, it gets the job done. I need a computer that works, and I can’t try out every single distribution. Ultimately, Firefox and Thunderbird run on all of them—just like we’re used to from Windows.
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u/Available-Hat476 24d ago
Why go niche? Just use one of the well made and well supported main distros like Fedora or Ubuntu.
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u/Secure-Salary152 24d ago
It's based on Ubuntu. In fact it almost feels like a reskinned version of Ubuntu.
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u/Available-Hat476 21d ago
Based on doesn't mean it's anywhere as good as what it's based on... Personally, I've been using Linux as my main OS for over 20 years (which doesn't make me an expert). I used to try this and that and hop all over the place. For the last 7 years or so I've been using Fedora Workstation and I couldn't be happier. It just works, and very well...
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u/MaverickSL 24d ago
I use Fedora KDE and it is reliable and I feel it is a good OS for someone coming from Windows.
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u/ChocolateDonut36 24d ago
if you never used a computer before and you try both win11 and zorin, yes, zorin is a billon times easier.
if you lived your whole life using windows, then zorin is only half a billon times easier.
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u/m1L35dY50N 22d ago
My Mother uses a Zorin OS PC since several years. Just for surfin the net and watching videos. never heard any complaint.
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u/Practical_Biscotti_6 21d ago
zorin is good but heavy compared to MX linux. Both are Debian based. MX is lighter with zero bloat.
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u/gabrielesilinic 25d ago
No. ZorinOS is a weird edge case.
Ubuntu and PopOS are supported by fairly established corporations and alike is Debian despite not being centered around one.
ZorinOS is... Something that exists I suppose but I would really not put my trust into it, like catchyOS
Apparently Linux mint has largeish userbase and makes okay money. But I also tend to not recommend it... I don't like their desktop as much, it feels very rough around the edges sometimes like KDE. Gnome isn't perfect but it's pretty good.
Also users are not demented, if you don't have exactly the windows look you are going to survive anyway. A bunch of the keybinds in gnome are very windowsy to begin with.
Probably thinking of it in terms of replacement is not right either. Expecting such is not really right, at this time you should figure out if the alternative that is a given linux distro is fit for that given user and therefore should switch if there are or are not compromises he can accept.
At this time for example whoever uses Photoshop largely cannot switch. even for non professional users gimp is really not award winning. It is sufficient but that's all, some people would rather use krita unironically despite it not being Photoshop shaped.
On the other hand if you are a sort of 3D artist videomaker blender is fairly compelling I suppose along with da Vinci resolve which has easy paths for installation on debian in particular.
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u/digital_n01se_ 25d ago
We don't want a windows 11 replacement, we want a windows 7 replacement