What do you guys have against Zorin OS?
Posted by StepNextX@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 75 comments
I mean it's a perfect newcomer distro and great for people who just want something non-exotic. Except that you guys don't like it. It's at the bottom of nearly every tierlist i saw. I'm seriously wondering why.
Hot-Employ-3399@reddit
Nothing. I ran it in vm for some time to host work related vpn to not taint the main machine. Felt ok, more like just yet another distro to hate or dislike it. I haven't encountered super-puper-duper features, of breaking changes that made it unworkable.. thought it was vm.
githman@reddit
Their regrettable marketing approach that relies mostly on this kind of posts comes to mind first. Then, there is their freemium business model, the lack of advantages over the established free solutions, etc.
Most of these issues would be tolerable when taken alone, but the whole picture makes Zorin a no go. I'm not going to trust my online banking accounts and other private data to an obviously unethical business.
LabResponsible8484@reddit
I don't really see how it is more newcomer friendly than most other Distros.
Also misleading marketing like saying that pro comes with: "Professional-grade creative suite of apps" that can literally just be installed by the user for free.
More misleading stuff from their FAQ: "How much does Zorin OS cost?
You can download and use the Core edition of Zorin OS completely free. For more advanced features, additional apps, and support, you can purchase Zorin OS Pro from here."
What are these supposed "more advanced features"? The entire distro feels like a big cash grab or get rich scheme.
In my opinion this false marketing and trying to extra money out of ignorant users is the exact opposite of what Linux and open source in general stands for.
As others have said just use one of the many other distros that are as good or better and are transparent and honest with their communication.
DankeBrutus@reddit
The one distro I would gently ask people to donate to would be Elementary OS since I like what that team is doing with Pantheon and the pay if you want app store. You can also download the ISO for free by "paying" $0. The project has some steam but it is still regularly updated.
Beyond that I think people should heavily consider donating to their preferred Desktop Environment if that it an option.
1neStat3@reddit
You are serious? Pantheon is the heaviest DE on Linux. It's a buggy resource hog. No one recommends it because it doesn't work.
pantokratorthegreat@reddit
The most perfect newcomer distro is Debian. Amen. Any other distro is just below.
StepNextX@reddit (OP)
can you explain why? Their download page seems confusing and when i'd be a newcomer i would not know what most of the options are while installing.
pantokratorthegreat@reddit
Why not. I was once a newcomer and Debian was my first distro.
So when you enter debian.org there is huge banner DOWNLOAD. It will download most default and practical for 95% of desktop users image. As about installing, mostly click next,next,next and you will have debian installed.
Of course this is fast approach, there will be always people whose wants to dual boot for example which isn't trivial task, but why debian is best for newcomers? Because of those entire huge portion of knowledge which exist on one single page debian.org. I think that no other distro has so many informative pages at least in so easy access. So when I consider newcomer coming to Linux I expect it will learn how to use it, not only install it and open browser and steam. Same is with winsows, when you only open browser and steam, soon or later you will fall in troubles, so it is same with Linux. Maybe not with macos, I don't know, but I can't stand use macos, this is system for people which want to use browser only.
This is my point of view.
Dampfexpress@reddit
Some people seem to hate it because it has a paid version - ZorinOS Pro. Which bundels just some recommended software and delivers more "windows-like" gnome setup.
StepNextX@reddit (OP)
but what is wrong with a windows-like gnome setup?
ingmar_@reddit
There are other, free alternatives.
Flyerone@reddit
Zorin is free. wtf are you on about?
ingmar_@reddit
We were talking about ZorinOS Pro, which is not.
Flyerone@reddit
ZorinOS Pro is ZorinOS core with extra steps which can easily be achieved for free, therefore, it's free.
Anonymo@reddit
Give instructions how to achieve for free, if it's simple.
Flyerone@reddit
Typing out a long list of instructions because you're too lazy to find it yourself is not something I care to do pal.
Anonymo@reddit
I guess it's not so simple then.
Flyerone@reddit
Doing it is, writing it out isn't.
ingmar_@reddit
Yeah, that's not how people perceive it. Many consider this low-key shady, justified or not.
Flyerone@reddit
I see it a service fee for the lazy and have no problem with it.
ingmar_@reddit
Well, OP wanted to know about the dislike in the community... I'm sure that's a large part of it.
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
There's nothing wrong with that, people hate the part that ZorinOS has a paid version.
Spez-is-dick-sucker@reddit
Curious, because free software can be not free as a beer, people has bad used that free only means free as a beer.
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
That sounds like a tongue twister, what do you mean?
Spez-is-dick-sucker@reddit
I mean that, people has get used that free softare = both free as a beer and free as freedom, which the first free, can be not accomplished (you can sell a linux distro as long as you provide source code), people got used to this and now every distro has to be free as a beer unless they want to get hated
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
It can work that way but most people would rather prefer donations than buying a FOSS software. And many people can just not pay them and use the software since they've got the source code. You need to trust your customers for that kind of business model.
Spez-is-dick-sucker@reddit
The beauty of foss software is that you can buy the iso, license and watheber, and you can then use it as how you wamt to, that includes making copies and selling it, this is only a problem if you want to make tons of money on a short time.
zekezander@reddit
I don't think people hate Zorin
This is just a case of a vocal minority being loud
The kind of person that would post about Linux on Linux forums and spaces, isn't the kind of person that would enjoy Zorin
It's like PC enthusiast vs console enjoyer. We're all gamers. We just come at it from different angles
I'm a hardware enthusiast. I like to tinker.
Consoles are aren't for me because they're for people that just want to game
Which is why I don't go to Xbox and PlayStation spaces telling them how stupid consoles are and they should just buy a PC.
Linux enthusiasts aren't enthusiastic about a distro made for Linux newbs
It's not bad. It's just not interesting
MelioraXI@reddit
Might as well just get Kubuntu at that point if "windows-style" is important to you.
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
But it's misleading. People hate it without actually knowing what it's about. ZorinOS Pro is just the normal ZorinOS but installed with softwares like Gimp, LibreOffice, etc. which can be installed even on the normal ZorinOS. There's not actual difference, ZorinOS Pro is a form of donation to the company.
ingmar_@reddit
... and which come pre-installed on most distros. What's pro about that? If you're looking for donations, just say so.
rg-atte@reddit
Some countries have very strict laws about collecting donations so selling something rather useless is often a way to bypass that. Of course I don't know if thats the case in Ireland but I'd imagine it could have something to do with it.
darth_chewbacca@reddit
TL;DR there is an important semantic difference between paying for something and donating to something. I appreciate a project that wants you to -pay- for it, and is up-front about that.
I'm on the other side of the fence here. I don't know anything about Zorin. I've never used it, never met anyone that has, but I "pay" for Gnome (IE. I donate about $300/year to Gnome) and other open source software. I have done this for quite a few years now, and Gnome is by far the most expensive software I have ever purchased.
I pay for gnome because I need Gnome.
I hate that I have to clarify to others that I am "donating" to Gnome, when I really mean that I pay for it. I am not giving money to the Gnome foundation out of the goodness of my heart. I use Linux professionally, and while I can jump between distros easily, I have a VERY hard time jumping to KDE or other desktop managers. Cosmic is looking promising, but it has too many bugs and sharp edges for me to use that desktop professionally. Once Cosmic squashes those bugs and polishes the rough edges, they can expect the payments once flowing to Gnome.
If Gnome breaks my workflow, I get angry, $300/year justifiably angry.
I have "donated" to SPI intended for Arch and Debian, I have "donated" to Firefox (side note: I should start paying for firefox, as I cannot switch to chromium based browsers now and maintain productivity while working). I "donate" as I want those projects to succeed, but I do not need them, hence it's a donation, not a payment.
I have made one-time payments on github for small projects that I find essential (specifically fixes to pop-shell extension and iron_robin's maintenance of arch on the ARM based lenovo x13s). These were not donations, these were payments for bugfixes/work that I need.
I get at least $25 worth of value per month from Gnome, and as such I pay to ensure I keep getting that value.
Side Note: If pop-shell breaks upon upgrade to gnome 50, whomever fixes (and merges back to the main repo) can expect $50CAD from me.
Dampfexpress@reddit
Yes it is. Yet people seem to hate it.
Happy_Phantom@reddit
Great title to start a flame war
DoubleOwl7777@reddit
Its not more beginner friendly than lets say mint while having a scummy business model. like advertising "professional grade" apps (all of which are foss btw and not made by them). i get paying for support but this is just scamming people.
vanGrau@reddit
My impression is that some people express their dislike for this or that operating system to illustrate their own superiority as nerds or power users. And because they feel their authority is undermined whenever a new, easy-to-use Linux distribution comes out. Because every new, user-friendly Linux distribution diminishes their aura of being part of a secretive IT guild.
I use Zorin OS because it's easy to use, stable, looks good, and because it lets me do everything I want to do as a regular user.
NotQuiteLoona@reddit
I personally see no reason in using it over Kubuntu. Also paid features. Nothing else.
Glad-Weight1754@reddit
Only linux user can complain about paid features. This utopian view doesn't cease to amaze me.
NotQuiteLoona@reddit
Yeah, we are kinda "communists" there. We built everything for everyone to use, and so far it proves to be successful enough. I'm yet to see anything not highly specific that I can't do on Linux with FLOSS. As it's used by that many developers, Linux is wonderful in having everything possible.
BortGreen@reddit
If you use Kubuntu, what about Ubuntu Pro? It's optional but so it Zorin paid features (if they can even be called that)
MelioraXI@reddit
Are we comparing Ubuntu Pro, which provides software updates for a longer period for LTS, to a distro having questionable marketing to get people to pay 50 bucks for software and themes that is free already?
Maybe I'm missing your point.
NotQuiteLoona@reddit
I don't use Kubuntu, I use Arch. Anyways, Ubuntu Pro only gives a highly limited set of features that you, a user, would never want, but they are really useful for enterprises, or other people making money. Zorin, on the other hand, blocks something actually useful for non-commercial uses.
Glad-Weight1754@reddit
OK.
stormdelta@reddit
It's more about how it's framed. Nobody really complains that RHEL has paid features for example, because it's understood those are actual support contracts for organizations rather than misleading users into paying for things that they didn't need to.
Usual_Cucumber5145@reddit
In this case, I feel like it's more about ambiguous advertising. Zorin claims to provide "5000$ worth" of software in their paid version, or was it an equivalent to 5k? Anyway many people believe that to be misleading, and I can't fault them for it.
Glad-Weight1754@reddit
All advertisement is ambiguous.
KrasnalM@reddit
This. Kubuntu already provides Windows-like experience and both Mint and Zorin feel somewhat superfluous.
choochoomthfka@reddit
As someone coming from Mac, it's the best distro out there. And I'm very computer savvy and have been compiling Linux kernels since the early 2000s. But Zorin is just so smooth.
johncate73@reddit
Do yourself a favor and ignore those "tierlists" and just use what works best for you. Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.
oln@reddit
It's really really slow to update to the latest Ubuntu LTS base. It's fair enough to take a little time to update the ubuntu base to wait for kinks to be ironed out and sort out stuff but Zorin lags behind by 1.5 years unlike e.g mint that only takes a few months. The kernel, mesa and desktop env is going to be very outdated which causes issues if one has new hardware. It's enough of an issue with Ubuntu LTS/mint already but zorin makes it even worse by lagging so far behind on even that.
bubblegumpuma@reddit
I dislike the fact that they rebrand software as their own, seemingly without any credit, like KDE Connect. They don't offer anything unique, really.
Interesting_Goal_711@reddit
Honestly... some Linux users are so far up there that they can't see beyond their own intergluteal cleft. Zorin OS, in my opinion, is one of the best distros for newbies AND for people who want a distro that just works. I think it's even more user friendly than Mint (although Mint's pretty darn user friendly as well). I've distrohopped like a madman, and I've landed on using Fedora and Zorin on my machines. The point of an OS, especially for basic Windows or Apple refugees, is for it to simply work and get out of their way. The goal is not endless fixing of broken systems. Leave the Arches and the Gentoos to the experts. For the people who want to use a computer without hassle, Zorin OS is a great option.
I've never once used the paid Zorin version. I started on Linux with Zorin way back in the day when the desktop looked Star Treky (2011 or so?). I figured out pretty fast that all of the software is available in the repositories of the free version. They don't restrict it on the free version. Nearly everything you get on the free version can be installed and configured on the free version. I think the only thing they hold back are desktop configurations designed by them?
Not everyone wants to endlessly configure and tweak and rice their desktops, etc. To endlessly break and fix things. Some people have lives beyond their desktop.
*P.S. Zorin doesn't force Snaps on you without your consent, either.*
TerribleReason4195@reddit
It is kinda bloat. Just use Debian with gnome or some kind of Ubuntu at that point.
Jo_Dude32357@reddit
imo for me its the business thing — like the docs r free why r u paying for basic support when u can search that up? esp for like a consumer desktop os, i can see an argument for server business type os e.g. what rhel is doing but for simple desktop os where a lot of ppl r just going to be browsing the web, writing documents, and play the occasional game, i think mint or basic vanilla debian should be very much sufficient — great community, large repos etc… plus, u get the added bonus of learning how actually to do things, which is really what made linux fun for me, so you can fix future issues if there r any, experiment with things you want to try (which zorin seems pretty inflexible on that front as there’s only the default Gnome desktop environment from what i’ve saw)
and i know that zorin offers a free version but like i said the whole making a business out of free software feels so much like a scam when everything u r offering in the paid version is literally pretty much a google search away
Apprehensive_Milk520@reddit
Zorin what? lol
Been using GNU/Linux in one flavor or another for decades, desktop and CLI alike... know of no one using Zorin, business or personal use. I eyeballed the info about Zorin back when it first came out. Raised an eyebrow and that was the extent of it. Have never had any interest in distros designed to lure users away from Windows. I have never had to pay for anything GNU/Linux, business or otherwise, but I'm sure there might be some scenarios which necessitates this tact. Different strokes, after all - do not care if more people use GNU/Linux or not. The majority of Windows users that I know or have known are far too self-destructive to be trusted with GNU/Linux - and those who have tried to switch ran everything as root. Need I say more? And why should anyone care who uses what operating system? Freedom of choice means just that - for the conscientious as well as the self-destructive, alike...
dosplatos225@reddit
Business model. I don’t mind that they charge for a pro flavor, but certain things about a Linux distro should not be paywalled.
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
There's nothing paywalled. ZorinOS Pro is a donation. The only thing it does for you is add softwares like Gimp, LibreOffice, etc. which can be installed in the free ZorinOS too.
dosplatos225@reddit
You’re missing some the main points though. You know you can install these pieces of software. What about brand new users to Linux? They don’t know. This is why it’s a grift.
They should be charging for support. That’s a more winning model. If that was the main driver, I would absolutely suggest this to new users.
For example, my uncle who is 60+ wanted to move to Linux. Even though I am an Arch power user, guess where I sent him? Fedora.
MelioraXI@reddit
Themes are paywalled no? Isn't that one the main selling points with Zorin?
ArsenicPolaris@reddit
You can customize the free version of Zorin to be exactly like Zorin Pro so there isn't really anything you get by paying except that they install it for you instead of you installing things yourself.
sf-keto@reddit
Zorin is aimed at small businesses that need affordable support & device management. It’s fine, giving people the choice between a Windows-like desktop & a Mac-like desktop.
MelioraXI@reddit
Is it? I was under the impression it's for people moving from windows. Not business.
sf-keto@reddit
The only people I know who run it are small businesses, like florists & single proprietor clothing stores.
I think your impression is mistaken.
MelioraXI@reddit
It's the first time hearing about it. Most small businesses i know that has moved has gone to Ubuntu. Anyway, more people to Linux is a win.
ronaldtrip@reddit
Nothing against Zorin. I even looked at it recently in a VM, but to me it was yet another distribution and nothing really stood out. Good if you like it, but I don't see why I should sing its praises.
I am pretty happy where I am at with Fedora at the moment.
Cr0w_town@reddit
it pay walls something that is supposed to be free and also you can just install something like mint and get a similar experience
Dampfexpress@reddit
It doesnt paywall anything. It bundles themes and apps for an easier start. you can still download and setup everything like in the pro version..
ViruliferousBadger@reddit
I haven't even heard of it in more than a passing sentence.
It has a silly "Bond villain from the 80's" -name and now I read from the comments that it has a paid version - so even less interested.
Don't get me wrong, paid Linux has a spot - we used to have RHELs at work, but after paying six digit license fees compared to free Ubuntu it kind of got stale.
zekezander@reddit
I don't have a strong opinion either way. I'm not the target audience
I don't know enough about Zorin to say what's good or not
All I've heard is it's similar to Windows and makes it easier for Windows users to switch. If something's claim to fame is how similar it is to Windows, I'm not super interested. I use Linux because it's not Windows and I can do things on Linux I can't on Windows.
I'm 100% for making the transition easier and if Zorin is that thing that helps move Windows users away, that's great. Honestly, I love that something like that exists
It's just not for me
I've been using Linux in some form since 2007. I don't need a Linux distro that's easy for Windows converts
If someone enjoys Zorin, I'm not going to try to dissuade them.
I might point them at kubuntu, but only so they can make an informed decision
Heyla_Doria@reddit
Je préfère que les gros projets soient communautaires et gratuit d'accès, je n'aime pas l'enfermement et les orientation capitaliste des soit disant "partenaires commerciaux", et l'histoire me donne raison
Ne fais pas semblant de pas comprendre, tu sais tres bien ce qui dérange les gens et c'est exactement la raison pour laquelle tu semble très énervé
MelioraXI@reddit
I'm probably going to get downvoted, I'm not a fan of how they market their "pro" version. I'm not against and encourage people to donate to distributions or desktop environments, but market it so aggressively that your average Joe thinks they must get Pro to not miss out on features I feel is little too much.
It gets extra muddy when you look into what pro gives you, email support that allegedly is not on an acceptable level or response time, is not lifelong so you have to pay the 50 bucks or how much it is each major release.
parnmatt@reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/s/s7uU0TF2Yo
meskobalazs@reddit
I don't particularly care about it (neither positively, nor negatively), but basically every distro, which is basically just a patched version of another is F tier for me.
jsomby@reddit
Nothing? It just doesn't tickle me like other choices do.