I'm from India and I've been using Zorin OS for 2 months now after completely deleting Windows 10. After this experience, I want to share why I will never go back to Windows.
Why I left Windows 10:
Privacy Issues: Windows was stealing too much of my data.
Forced Updates: I was tired of those annoying forced updates every other day.
Why I love Zorin OS:
Super Smooth: Even on my PC (i5 processor, 8GB RAM), it runs like a dream. [cite: 2025-12-16, 2025-12-23]
Perfect for India: It handles Hindi typing perfectly, and all my daily apps like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook run smoothly.
Stability: Unlike Windows, it doesn't crash or slow down.
The Only Problem: The only challenge I face here in India is that some Windows-specific applications (.exe) do not run directly on Zorin. This is the only area where I struggle.
I'm very proud to be a Zorin user. It’s the best decision I’ve made for my computer!"
"Hi @Aravisian, thank you for these suggestions. To be honest, as a new user, setting up WINE or a Virtual Machine feels a bit too complicated and difficult for me.
Also, I have heard that many Windows apps still don't work perfectly even with these tools. For now, I am trying to find Linux alternatives for my work, but I appreciate your help!"
In addition to the options @Aravisian suggests, here's one I chose:
I wanted to make the switch to Zorin 18 as my everyday driver, but still had to find a way to run two Windows-only programs. Don't like emulators, and didn't want the extra overhead of a virtual environment, so I set up a separate refirbished Windows 11 box just for those 2 programs. In order to remove Windows bloat and optimise performance, and in order to block feature updates yet still get security updates, I made use of WinUtil*, an open-source PowerShell utility for Windows by Chris Titus Tech.
Am very happy with this arrangement!
*Under the Tweaks tab, I chose the "Essential" option, to uninstall pre-installed Microsoft apps like Candy Crush, disable telemetry services, and strip unnecessary Start menu items and scheduled tasks. It took care of bloat across apps, privacy trackers, and background processes without affecting core functionality.
The Updates tab lets you manage Windows Update settings with simple presets. Select the "Security (Recommended) Settings" option, which disables regular feature updates while allowing security updates (delayed by 4 days for stability)
The program can be run directly from the server via Windows Powershell (as admin) with the following script: irm "https://christitus.com/win" | iex
It is open-source under the MIT license and available at no cost via the official GitHub repository.
Your solution of having a separate PC is interesting, but for me in India, computer prices have become very high, so buying another one is not an option right now. Also, my 4-month-old PC doesn't support Windows 11.
I switched to Zorin OS after Windows 10 support ended, and honestly, even with the challenge of running .exe apps, I prefer the privacy and smoothness of Zorin. I am happy to learn more about Linux alternatives instead of going back to Windows bloat!"
"Thanks @Aravisian! That website (WineHQ) is very helpful. I will check my apps there first to see if they are compatible. I am ready to learn slowly!"