This review I found actually sums up basically a lot of the issues I have with the gnome version of Zorin (specifically Core, but some of it applies to Lite as well).
Zorin OS 17.3 review - Would you pay for your Linux desktop?
Mainly Package management and the software store are big sticking points, and I whole heartedly agree. I have not been pleased with the Software store in any iteration for a long time, and I basically avoid it unless I need a piece of software through Flatpak (and I find it at least easier than manually installing a flatpak through terminal, because some package names are not easily recallable).
I know I can do other software centres (and I've been using Linux for decades enough for these issues to not really apply to me that much), but for others this is a clear issue. As evident by most people not knowing HOW they installed a piece of software when they have questions about it.
4 Likes
I read 2/3 of it and went to the summary. I have to admit they spotted things I was not aware of and it is interesting that he referenced systemd as a cause for delay. This is why I prefer systemd free Operating systems and why PCLOS Debian Plasma is my daily driver. It does have Discover but primarily software installation and system updates are via synaptic or terminal via quick update icon in the system tray. I was intrigued that he thought KDE neon(user) was not useless.
They appear to release updates without proper testing. There was a login bug following one update, then when they updated their base early last year it totally borked my system. Downloaded newer iso and that was fine. Until a few weeks ago, the system is a mish-mash of Ubuntu and Debian. A major update made it into a fully blown Ubuntu Desktop with Gnome. In terms of Windows migrators I believe Q4OS is a good alternative to Zorin, despite it having systemd present. It also has Trinity Desktop Environment in 64-bit and 32-bit versions as well as Plasma and all based on Debian 'bookworm'. I also think Zorin should move to Plasma based on Debian and maintain the choice between X11 and Wayland. In terms of software installation I am sticking with Synaptic Package Manager. On Plasma Apper is a good alternative to discover but needs to be run as 'root' so have to 'su' in terminal on Debian OS based distros.
From the article:
You can use Flatpak or snap (weirdly, the beta version is also shown, separately), but there's no repo version. You cannot exclude these results. This is quite annoying, especially since DOSBox is available in the archives. The triple-source functionality simply adds confusion and inconsistency.
After reading this, I launched a 17.3 .iso using Ventoy and checked.
DOSBox only appears available as Flatpak or Snap.
Yet, on my installed bare metal, in which I remove the snap and flatpak plugin, DOSBox is available from Zorin OS repo according to Software store.
Other users have conveyed similar experiences. While I cannot verify what happens on other user machines, where misunderstandings may come into play: My direct testing above, following the commentary by the Dedoimedo article, was a clear demonstration of Flatpk (and even Snap) not only taking priority - But replacing APT. It Excludes some software packages unless the user removes the Flatpak plugin.
I really do not think that this is my imagination, anymore. And benefit of the doubt is becoming strained.
I will continue testing this, package by package, if I need to.
What do users leave Microsoft to get away from?
3 Likes
I don't think this is limited to Zorin, GNU/Linux, or even that other OS (I remember Chris Titus scathing about Win 10 Store). This is why I now stick with Synaptic or download tarballs or .deb packages. Discover is still not free of glitches in Plasma.
Agreed, nor do I think that the Zorin OS developers have anything to do with this strange action.
I think it stems from a variety of factors, including Gnome.
But.
The ZorinGroup does have the option of reviewing and selecting how package management is done on Zorin OS.
Things like this deserve review and consideration.
3 Likes