New paid Zorin Editions for IT people

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1

Hey guys,
Would it be bad idea to have different edition for IT pros?
I installed Zorin 18 on my work laptop and home PC and had no issues with it. Everything I need works, but I know most Linux distros well.
In one month I moved more than 20 basic users to Zorin as they usually only need Internet browser and LibreOffice.

I would buy PRO to support devs, but CORE edition is just much better for me.

My suggestions is to create Zorin Edition with professional tools preinstalled like: putty, xterm, WinSCP, network IP scanners, Wireshark, hypervisors, VM converters, DB tools, Docker, Git, Nmap, Clonezilla, File manager, Rustdesk, Keepass, Truecrypt, Bottles, Wine, Winboat, and Steam.

I am sure community here would create a great list of useful software.
Such edition could cost more than PRO as its not for everyone.

There should also be gaming edition with lower cost, with Steam starting in big picture (console mode), and preconfigured Uplay, Epic, GoG and others.

We could figure out such new editions together to have better options and help make Zorin better. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers.

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Excellent suggestions. I will say that Zorin OS, is more of a do it all OS, for Windows users migrating to Linux. That, is where the OS shines, and where the goal is.

Typically, each release of Zorin OS, has had a Core, Lite, Education, & PRO. They are made by only a 2 person dev team, and its been painfully clear, that they have overloaded themselves, trying to do too much.

For this very reason, is why they said after they release Zorin OS 18 Lite, they will no longer be producing Lite versions, and will go back to Core, Pro, & Education. Due to this, I think its highly unlikely, that the dev team will be receptive, to putting out an IT version.

Also, technically, the PRO version is the gamers OS. There are other distro's out there, that prioritize gaming as central focus of the OS, those are POP OS, and Bazite. Again, Zorin OS, is a do it all OS.

I consider it a miracle at all, that Italy replaced their entire education system computers, to Zorin OS. When you understand how difficult it is, to get people to take a leap away from their comfort zone using Windows, you will understand, why that is such a big deal in itself.

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There have been a number of people asking for something similar to core with with a price to support Zorin. The usual response is to use core, and then donate, which is possible here: About - Zorin

As to various editions, in the past Zorin has had special editions. I haven't been around long enough to know why they quit doing that as I started using Zorin at 17.1, but it used to be something they at least flirted with. Personally though, I'd much rather see them add support for more desktop environments than more software I can easily install myself.

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I have become more interested in a DE that is more familiar in its functionality to Windows, so they are all Debian based with Plasma 5.27. I am disappointed with any version above Plasma 5.27 and above 'bookworm', Debian 12 based Distros. Additionally less bloatware, so systemd free. Also let's not have 32-bit functional machines go to e-waste when Antix, Devuan, MX-Linux, Q4OS produce 32-bit isos. Q4OS is the only provider of 64-bit and 32-bit Triniy Desktop Environment. Only Devuan and PCLOS Debian offer a wide range of DE's, Devuan offers xfce as it's default DE at point of install but others can replace or be added to it. With PCLOS Debian you choose which DE you want to Download. In respect of VM software I only recommend one, virt-manager. I successfully converted vbox .vhd to .qcow format without loss of data.
Mustn't forget Artix, systemdfree and in addition to different DE's, multiple different init choices without systemd.

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Good idea from the first post, however, the world of Linux distributions is so varied that the general public is already lost in it.
distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=popularity

In the meantime, for a GNU/Linux oriented towards computer professionals and easy to install: www.opensuse.org

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As IT admin I have some experience with mostly Windows users.
If we want to convince people that Linux is fine we need to convince tech people first. They will install Zorin on laptops and PCs for most users when they will know this system, and feel in control.

Zorin is popular now because many things work out of the box, not because we can install or configure things easily. I choose Zorin Core for most users because I didn’t really have to do anything.

I know that devs are very busy, but this idea is very low effort if community would help. It's just list of preinstalled and well configured software on IT version, and Steam in Big Screen mode on startup for gamers which they can control like console. This works very well right now, its just configs.

I can tell you that people don't like this take that PRO version has 5k$ worth in software alternatives. Other version - "we made an effort and configured this special edition and many useful tools for you in our free Linux system" would be much better.
These are just my observations, I can be very wrong.

I believe such IT version could bring some revenues for devs with very little time spent on it. There is a reason Kali Linux or Ubuntu Studio are so popular.
Opensuse and Fedora are also great but not for everybody.

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I think you have a point. And I also think that people dont like the feeling to pay for free software. Maybe it really is just the wording, as you say.

What do you think about leave the three versions as they are (CORE, EDUCATION, PRO) but add in the (pro-)installer the option to download and preinstall specific software after the setup is complete.

In this case the normal user would just skip this setup-screen, the iso-installer-file stays at the same minimum-size but specific groups can immediatley start their specific worfklow.

(I know: If this would be also an option in the core-version this would somewhat undermine the app selection of the Pro version. However, this would be ideal for the specific end user who needs that software and for the average user who can see what is possible.)

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In the very far past, Zorin Pro was named 'Zorin Ultimate. In addition to this the also offered Zorin Business, Zorin Multimedia for artists and musicians, and even Zorin Gaming. This was at a time when they had more devs on board and they decided to concentrate on Core, Lite, and Ultimate.

I should not think it impossible for some users to take Zorin Core, strip out unneeded Software, add the necessary packages from Synaptic Package Manager and enable multiverse then create a snapshot.

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Well, since a while (= long time) there is the idea of Zorin Grid - Manage all of your computers. As easily as one. a network (admin) solution for ZorinOS. Maybe this goes in your direction of a "IT developer" version of the distribution.

But, as @StarTreker wrote already ... they are somewhat overloaded.

Maybe having the ZorinOS-PRO as the base and during installation integrate the possibility to select a package, depending on the user needs.

  1. gaming profile
  2. IT developer
  3. graphic designer
  4. whatever profile

These package will download and install additional software bundels.
EDIT: should have read to the end @nickname1 created already a good looking picture of the very same idea which I had in mind.

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THIS!
Let's go!
No idea, how to do it, but you have my mental support.