Zorin OS 17 Review - The BEST Linux Alternative for Windows?

A Review of Zorin OS 17. Just released with a new MODERN GNOME 43 Desktop. This might be the best alternative to Windows for users and they even offer a new Windows 11 Layout with the PRO edition. This release of Zorin OS 17 makes for a Great Linux distro.

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[mdd]

I tinkered with Zorin 6-7 years ago, and was impressed even back then; will look to give this another test spin, as a possible OS to recommend for my 10 year old grandson on his inherited 7 year old HP laptop!

[dragonballjiujitsu]

Good vid but I disagree with you about the release cycle. Distros and all operating systems need to get back to releasing the OS when its ready instead of releasing a half-baked OS on a "cycle" I've been using Zorin on one computer or another since version 15 and its only gotten better. It has no glaring weaknesses. Very user friendly, can install ALL software from anywhere (it doesn't try to force you into snaps) Auto detects hardware and offers to install correct drivers, its beautiful and consistently themed, snappy, comes loaded with sane defaults, stable, installs very easily. Whats not to love? At this point it might even dethrone Linux Mint as the number one user friendly Linux distro.

[germanklenner]

Congratulations on the video.
I have been using Zorin Os pro as my main distro for a while now with very good results.
Zorin Os 17 looks very promising, I can't wait for the stable version to be released so I can start using it on my computers.
I agree with you that they have to shorten the release times. It is noticeable that the project, led by the Zorin brothers, has become more complex and demanding, so it would be good if they consider including more developers in it, as it happens with Linux Mint.
I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024.

[VinylRescue]

I used Zorin 12 a few years back and liked it. Then I tried Linux Mint and like it also. Now I'm back to Zorin 17 since I'm trying to do everything I do in Windows to make videos for my channel and I can. It took some research and a few days to get it right, but I did it. My biggest challenge was play music from my turntables through my USB interfaces and then through my DAC connected to my computer. After finally getting Firewire installed and setup using Coppwr I finally got it playing my vinyl! I have it installed on a WD Elements SSD via USB 3.0 and it's pretty zippy! I tried Mint a second time, but couldn't manage to get my music to play, so back to Zorin I went.

[MinaSchloch]

I think what Zorin does is a great idea! Not as opinionated as Gnome but actually very user friendly! And very stable probably, because GNOME LTS.

[kychemclass]

Zorin 17 looks fantastic. Although I bought $35 Zorin 16, and being a Linux Mint lover, Zorin 17 looks effortless that I'm going to put it on one or two of my other machines after beta.. Thanks for the review.

[outtheredude]

Just started with Zorin 17.1, using an 8GB DDR2 Q9650 2GB GDDR5 750 Ti based system, dual booting between Zorin and XP/8.1.

As I live in the UK, I use the UK ISO keyboard layout. However, the Zorin installer has a nasty habit of switching back to the US ANSI layout, even when you initially set the keyboard layout to UK. This messes up things like initial password entry, where using special characters to make the password more secure results in a mismatch between what you think you're typing in vs. what Zorin actually stores internally. So when you enter your password later using the UK keyboard layout, it keeps coming up as being incorrect.

I've found that when I delete all other keyboard layouts but the UK one on initial load off the Zorin Try/Install DVD/USB, it keeps the keyboard layout consistent.

This can completely catch newbies unawares, as it initially did me, and may put people off as a result.

One thing I would like to see with Zorin going forward is a choice of integrated screensavers in settings. Not everyone wants a boring blank screen when the system's been idle for a little while.

There are screensavers you can install later, but they're clunky.

[DarkGT]

Zorin 16 has been very stable for me. Major issues to report. I only worry that the newer kernel won't be happy with my old hardware.

[raimg]

like 3 days on 17 beta average 8+ h day, use case light programming, web development and some everyday things browsing & you tube no problems. Have experienced 2 bugs (1 - weather app place holder when using 2 laptop + monitor for some reason shows somewhere between monitors. 2 - one time after restart did not see ssd ) Why Zorin? after 3 years + in Linux lot of learning lot of tinkering im just tired build Os to my needs and likeing , and Zorin do great job doing it for me so i can Focus only on Job. Software is Not problem since all can be flatpak or snap. All weird and specific things ppl who will need them will know how get newer versions

[xymaryai]

grew up with Ubuntu since 2012, daily driving Zorin now to escape the Snappening and get gentler rehab from Windows (it got me for a while) and better Wine and game support

i am somewhat frustrated with the release cycle, GCC not being updated seems excessive, but i will keep it around to be my cozy space, i'll dual boot with EndeavourOS (we don't talk about the Windows partition)

[jakobw]

How can a distro that is based on GNOME, give you the appearance of KDE?

[researcher]

My last comment I made a mistake by posting a web address. Sorry.

In short of what I said in my last comment, I switched to Linux and wasn't disappointed at all.

I felt the switch was needed to regain some trust in computing.

I'm very happy with switching over.

[LONEWOLF-gcdv]

Ok, great, but the available community support is going to be very limited, so if you are coming from Windows, and aren't familiar with Linux, this could be a DISASTER!

[omw]

I'm new to this OS version, does it come with playstore? windowsstore? or any other way to download programs such as adobe, photoshop, cinema4d, chief architecture x14? twinmotion? after effects? excel?

[woodsmn]

II still have some questions which I will answer by putting a trial copy of Zorin on a sacrificial laptop and just trying the things I'm curious about ...but so far I'm very impressed

[jakobw]

How does Zorin compare to Fedora and Debian?

Can any Linux distro, like Fedora or Debian, download and use the various themes of Zorin, like the rotating 3D desktop feature?

[adalbertred]

I am a long user of Debian. Curious for the star distro that can single handle Windows, Apple and other Linus distros, I installed 17 core on an i7 with 16 gb ram and 200 gb ssd, exactly like my grandma would do. the first step was to install chrome. at the end of the installation, got an error that it doesn’t have the right to add a shortcut. “meh”, I said. then, i installed vs code and github desktop (same lack of rights for creating shortcuts). then, the system said that it needs some updates. I proceeded with the first. after one hour i was bored enough to see the same “installing” screen frozen on the display, so i restarted the computer. of course, the update failed. then, i tried to open the chrome - refused to do anything; the system tried something (apparent from the spinner) then decided to ignore me. is this the Windows breaker? the most friendly Linux distro? perfect in the way it works? i am still laughing.

[trashyaudiophile]

I would be patient with the release schedule. I would rather have a working product that is not buggy, like say Ubuntu vs. Zorin. While I havent purchased Zorin Pro, I am compelled to since it is a very refined and chiseled OS.

[bartez]

Does Zorin or other linux distros have auto-updates like windows?

[mohamadzx]

Hey Nick Which Desktop Environments Do you Recommend for The Hp Stream 11 laptop Users because I'm one of them I tried Ubuntu Unity but I'm don't want to use it forever I hope you help later