Hi to all. Some quick feedback for the Zorin Group re: the next version of Zorin:
Remove Snaps and make it so that Zorin OS uses .DEBs and Flatpaks only.
Switch to pure Debian only. No more using Ubuntu as the base. If this is not ideal in the Zorin Group's view, at least follow the path that Linux Mint and Pop!_OS have taken (e.g., stripping out the "bad" parts about Ubuntu like Snaps).
If Snaps are left in, at least commit to packaging (or carrying) .DEB versions of applications like Thunderbird, Firefox, etc. And create Zorin-only repositories for them so that users don't download "transitional" .DEBs that install Snaps when they're not wanted. Transitional .DEBs are annoying to deal with.
Please institute a better Q&A process before release. I have said this, and I will say it again. There were too many bugs with Zorin OS 18 that it soured Zorin on me (and others) big time. Please do not make the same mistake next time.
I believe that's all. I know it's probably too early for the next version, but ... yeah.
The early bird gets the worm after all, doesn't it? Thanks to all. @AZorin@zorink
The moves to Snap/Flatpak over apt (including reported sneaky redirects) has been one of the primary reasons I have stayed with Z17.3 Core.
As I had Firefox pre Z17.2 running as default browser (not Brave), I now have both Firefox and Thunderbird as apt's via mozzillatream ppa, without the drama.
I hope Z19 will revert to a more traditional, perhaps fairer, app packaging choice for users, without the need of external ppa's. Particularly for mainstream Browser or Email apps. There should be a bit more choice than just Brave out of the box.