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A Windows 10 Alternative: Ubuntu-Based Zorin OS Linux Distro (betanews.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the GUI-goodness dept.

"With a click of a button, you can change the desktop layout to match that of Windows versions and Gnome 3. The Ultimate edition...also features Ubuntu, Gnome 2 and macOS-like layouts." BrianFagioli shares an article about a Linux-based operating system "designed for Windows-switchers." While the company does charge for an "Ultimate" version, the "Core" edition of Zorin OS 12 is entirely free... "As Zorin OS 12 is based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, it will be supported with security updates until April 2021. This makes Zorin OS 12 the ideal choice for large deployments in businesses, governments, schools and organisations", says The Zorin OS Team"... Zorin OS features some really great features, such as Google Drive integration with the file browser.
Although unlike Windows 10, its default browser is Chromium.

4 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. layout == replacement? by iggymanz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Making a desktop look like Windows 10 is hardly the requirement for a replacement. Can it run Windows software, or replacements for them in a way no other linux distro could? I think we know the answer, hell no.

    1. Re:layout == replacement? by DarkVader · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No kidding. It's a cancer that's affected all operating systems. Linux has gotten some of the worst of it, but Apple is suffering too. Somebody needs to pull out Apple's old Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines and read it.

      And MicroSloth never got it anywhere close to right to start with.

  2. Loved the pros and cons in the comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Pros: It's not Windows 10
    Cons: It's trying to look like Windows 10"

  3. Desktop uncanny valley - Re:layout == replacement? by caseih · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No I don't think you will have happy customers. In fact making Linux look exactly like any other operating system like Windows or Mac is a recipe for disaster. I think of it as the uncanny valley of desktops. At first users may be comforted seeing something familiar. But as they use it, subtle differences will lead to a jarring experience. And sooner or later, as the GP said, users will try to install some cool program they found that won't work when they download it.

    In my experience moving people from Windows to Linux, having a look and feel that closely resembles Windows is not at all important. It's not helpful at all. Most Linux desktops function similarly enough to Windows to be nearly immediately usable to most users. Having a look and feel that's different from Windows reinforces the idea that they aren't using Windows anymore, but something different, though it works on the same principles. I have never changed program icons to "Excel" or "Word" as that also would be harmful when they encounter differences (as soon as they open the application... LibreOffice looks and acts very differently from current versions of Office). Instead I make shortcuts entitled "Word Processor" or "Spreadsheet." Often I just leave them as they were.

    Really none of this theming nonsense is necessary and it's not helpful to Linux adoption. In fact it may actually be harmful in the long run. Linux desktops have to stand on their own or we're doomed to failure.