Serious question, I’m a basic linux user (commandline and shell scripting, crontab, python…) what would I see/feel as different if I switched to Zorin OS?
If you feel comfortable in Mint, there’s not a lot of reason to switch to Zorin. Under the hood they are quite similar. Similar tools, both based on Ubuntu, all quite similar.
The main benefit of Zorin is that it looks and feels a lot like Windows, so it’s easier for someone switching from Windows. If you aren’t switching from Windows, no need to use Zorin.
Funny when I was a noob, I DEF stayed away from Distro’s that were like Window. I left MS for a reason & one of them was a ridged thene design. The Linux “noob” distros, are a FAD & are setting people up for failure. It’s not Windows and that’s the beauty of it. It’s something we deserve as a highly evolved technologically advanced society. Anything else is stagnant and holding us back as a species.
Not everyone is the same. You might have left Windows because you want to theme and style your desktop. That’s totally valid.
But there are other people who left for other reasons (hardware support, spying, cost, AI being forced onto them, Win11 design being too different, …). And for those people using a system that looks, feels and works similar to what they are used to can be very beneficial.
Not everyone is the same and what works for one person might not work for another and vice versa.
That’s not my only Reason. I’m a power user, gaming, p2p automated server. I use AI for coding, also BTW I use arch 💯 I just think coming to Linux, to have windows pc, is defeating the purpose of leaving. ALSO i love customizing too. but that the least!
This sounds similar to the debate surrounding meat substitutes. Most people don’t give up meat because they don’t like the taste of it, but because of animal suffering or the environmental impact. The same is likely true here. The problem isn’t the Windows UI, but Microsoft’s behavior as a company. For most people, the purpose of switching is likely to be things like greater freedom, privacy, independence, or a general rejection of proprietary software and big tech. Plus, there’s the large group of people that Microsoft is trying to force into throwing away their perfectly functional PCs. In very few cases are these users likely to think that they dislike Windows itself. If Zorin’s look and feel helps them achieve the switch, then that’s great.
Same as a lot of people would be very happy with a perfect meat-free replica of a wagyu steak, a lot of people would be happy with an open-source, privacy-respecting Windows that runs on old hardware.
Imo, the fact you know what crontab is indicates your a bit more than a ‘basic’ user. You can give yourself more credit than that ;).
Anyway, like the other commenter said, depends where your switching from but Zorin is pretty much making Linux as easy to use as possible. They even have a wrapper for bottles that makes installing windows apps with wine easier. I quite like it and would be what I’d suggest to someone who wants a general purpose computer. It’s not great for gaming though as they don’t use super up-to-date packages so performance is lacking. That being said, it looks great and makes things as easy as possible for noobies
theyre fairly similar as far as i can tell. they both use gnome-terminal so you wouldnt notice any difference there.
mint seems more like a windows 7 style desktop, as in its more compact and meant to be used with a keyboard and mouse. zorin is more like windows 11 where there is more space around everything, which is ideal if you are also using a touchscreen some of the time
im definitely more of a zorin fan anyway. i have it installed on 2 computers, and i have mint on an old computer that i never use, just cos
Generally, I would advise vibe checking with a Ventoy USB and a live .iso. See if you find your marks, and can do basic stuff. Ventoy will allow you to try different distros in relatively quick succession
Serious question, I’m a basic linux user (commandline and shell scripting, crontab, python…) what would I see/feel as different if I switched to Zorin OS?
Edit from mint
Not much,
If you feel comfortable in Mint, there’s not a lot of reason to switch to Zorin. Under the hood they are quite similar. Similar tools, both based on Ubuntu, all quite similar.
The main benefit of Zorin is that it looks and feels a lot like Windows, so it’s easier for someone switching from Windows. If you aren’t switching from Windows, no need to use Zorin.
Funny when I was a noob, I DEF stayed away from Distro’s that were like Window. I left MS for a reason & one of them was a ridged thene design. The Linux “noob” distros, are a FAD & are setting people up for failure. It’s not Windows and that’s the beauty of it. It’s something we deserve as a highly evolved technologically advanced society. Anything else is stagnant and holding us back as a species.
Not everyone is the same. You might have left Windows because you want to theme and style your desktop. That’s totally valid.
But there are other people who left for other reasons (hardware support, spying, cost, AI being forced onto them, Win11 design being too different, …). And for those people using a system that looks, feels and works similar to what they are used to can be very beneficial.
Not everyone is the same and what works for one person might not work for another and vice versa.
That’s not my only Reason. I’m a power user, gaming, p2p automated server. I use AI for coding, also BTW I use arch 💯 I just think coming to Linux, to have windows pc, is defeating the purpose of leaving. ALSO i love customizing too. but that the least!
This sounds similar to the debate surrounding meat substitutes. Most people don’t give up meat because they don’t like the taste of it, but because of animal suffering or the environmental impact. The same is likely true here. The problem isn’t the Windows UI, but Microsoft’s behavior as a company. For most people, the purpose of switching is likely to be things like greater freedom, privacy, independence, or a general rejection of proprietary software and big tech. Plus, there’s the large group of people that Microsoft is trying to force into throwing away their perfectly functional PCs. In very few cases are these users likely to think that they dislike Windows itself. If Zorin’s look and feel helps them achieve the switch, then that’s great.
This is it.
Same as a lot of people would be very happy with a perfect meat-free replica of a wagyu steak, a lot of people would be happy with an open-source, privacy-respecting Windows that runs on old hardware.
No
Imo, the fact you know what crontab is indicates your a bit more than a ‘basic’ user. You can give yourself more credit than that ;).
Anyway, like the other commenter said, depends where your switching from but Zorin is pretty much making Linux as easy to use as possible. They even have a wrapper for bottles that makes installing windows apps with wine easier. I quite like it and would be what I’d suggest to someone who wants a general purpose computer. It’s not great for gaming though as they don’t use super up-to-date packages so performance is lacking. That being said, it looks great and makes things as easy as possible for noobies
theyre fairly similar as far as i can tell. they both use gnome-terminal so you wouldnt notice any difference there.
mint seems more like a windows 7 style desktop, as in its more compact and meant to be used with a keyboard and mouse. zorin is more like windows 11 where there is more space around everything, which is ideal if you are also using a touchscreen some of the time
im definitely more of a zorin fan anyway. i have it installed on 2 computers, and i have mint on an old computer that i never use, just cos
Thanks!
As an old XP-liker I’ll probably stay on Mint then 😁
From what OS, and for which activities?
Generally, I would advise vibe checking with a Ventoy USB and a live .iso. See if you find your marks, and can do basic stuff. Ventoy will allow you to try different distros in relatively quick succession
I’m an idiot, from Mint.