Newbie in Zorin Os

General Help
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Hello everyone,

I am totally new to Zorin Os and found out about this distribution on YouTube by watching a review on it.

I admit i am also a bit new to the Linux world. i have been using Linux Mint for a short while but come from Mac and Windows. i am very very interested in Zorin and thinking of switching to it.

The negative point i heard is that it is based on Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu is currently on 24.04.. my question is totally innocent but what does this version difference imply as a "problem" or as a "limit"? i suppose there have been security improvements, hardware optimization etc?

Thank you very much for your help!

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Security patches primarily apply to the Linux Kernel.

Although Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu 22.04, the Kernel in use by Zorin OS is equal to the one in use by Ubuntu 24.04.

Zorin OS is based on LTS (Long Term Support) releases only. This means that it is still supported in updates, patches and security, the kernel notwithstanding.

Generally, there are few problems or limits.
But there can be some. For example, if a user is running the absolute latest hardware available to buy - they may need newer drivers due to how very new that hardware is.

Another sticking point is software. Some users want to install some unusual software that is, itself, limited. This is not common, but there are some software developers that have no interest in providing support for anything other than the latest libraries. This often can be overcome by installing that software using Flatpak, which carries all its own dependencies with it, bypassing things like glibc or other libraries. But, I can only repeat that this is not common.

I have seen a few examples where a user needed software that was updated to reflect new features or changes.
However...
The vast majority of this negativity that you refer to is more a modern trend of a user feeling like they are on the Latest and Greatest rather than there being any actual criticality of being on the Latest possible version.

Coming from Mac or Windows, you already know that the lifetime of one of their distributions is many years longer than on GnuLinux. GnuLinux is fast paced, with users complaining that software or even distros are "too old" after they reach a mature age of.... eight or nine months.
It's almost fanatical.

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Welcome to Zorin OS!

Never forget: people that make a living (or a profit) out of creating content for YouTube or any other similar platform supported by ads, have an incentive to exaggerate everything in the name of higher view counts.

Ubuntu's LTS releases are supported for 5 years, which means that Zorin OS 17 will be supported until 2027, so there's no problem about security in that regard. But it is true that some programs may not be available for download or install at their most recent versions because of this. If you find that certain features are absolutely essential and need them then this will be a problem for you.

However, there is something called "shiny new thing syndrome", and it does have a big impact on people. I encourage you to try Zorin OS without thinking about what version are your programs running on. Chances are you won't even notice anything missing. Make sure that you need the latest before growing desperate because the grass is greener on the other side (supposedly).

Feel free to ask any questions if you have any!

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Welcome to the Forum!

And that is the Thing: Ubuntu 22 is older and not the newest Ubuntu LTS Release. But the People don't understand, that this isn't a Problem. Only because it is an older Version doesn't mean that it is worse.

Of Course on the newer Version, You have newer Packages and a newer Desktop Environment Version. But Ubuntu 22 LTS still gets Security Updates and Bugfixes. So, it is save to use.

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Thank you all for your very complete answers!

You are absolutely right, there is this syndrome that I admit to having, that you have to have the latest updates because it is necessarily better, that there are more features, that it is "more beautiful, cleaner, safer" :slight_smile:

On the other hand, we have rarely seen updates that totally uglify and bug programs :slight_smile:

Afterwards, the simplest thing you will tell me is to try and see if the programs I use work.. which I will do.

But then, you are talking to me about the Flatpak format.. if it must also install all the dependencies, do we not risk, by installing only with this format, to have duplicate, triple or more dependencies? So it would clutter the hard drive?

So, is it better to install the programs only via the Software store? Can we install .deb programs? Is Python 3 also preinstalled?

I ask all these questions because to tell the truth, I use very specific programs..
I am a musician and need to work efficiently on programs like Musescore, GrandOrgue, GoODF, OdfEdit (which uses Python) etc ...

Thanks again for everything!

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Assalamu Alaikum, and hi there! Welcome to Zorin OS!

Kinda, I guess. However, these dependencies aren't usually that big and are necessary for the Flatpak app to run properly.

Yes, that is the safest, easiest, and perhaps the most reliable source to get apps, whether in Snap, Flatpak etc. formats.

Yes, since Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu, which in turn is based on Debian, you can install .deb files without any hassle.

As far as I can remember, Zorin OS and most other Linux distros come with Python 3 pre-installed.

Hope that helps!

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I also had the “shiny new thing syndrome” with Windows 95, 98, XP, 7, 10 and 11. :grin:
I always wanted the latest version. Even replaced a very good hardware with a new one. And what good did it do? Only disappointment. I have now deleted the beautiful new Windows 11 and have been a satisfied Zorin OS 17 Pro user for over 5 months.

Was always a Windows fan but now a big Zorin fan

I also encourage you to try Zorin OS without thinking about what version your programs are running.

I've learned the grass really isn't greener on the other side. :grinning:

As an old Windows fan, I now feel really good and free with Zorin OS :star_struck: :+1: :ok_hand:

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I can think of quite a few examples:

  1. Windows Vista or Windows 8 being two of the biggest ones, as @Dexxa mentions. I would still be using Windows 7, and not Linux, if Microsoft hadn't dropped the ball with those releases...
  2. CCleaner is another iconic example. After Piriform was acquired by Avast, I never updated past version 5.33 — I seem to remember that was the last version released prior to this — before it essentially became malware itself.
  3. Ubuntu 12.04 introduced a new "feature": automatic telemetry to amazon everytime you used the system's search bar. Yes, it was a long time ago, but it would still be there if the community hadn't complained about it.
  4. Mozilla also likes to sneak little "features" like that from time to time. That's why I prefer the ESR which updates at a much slower pace, giving me time to prepare to disable them.
  5. The infamous xz library update that almost crippled the entire Linux ecosystem with an intentional backdoor. Quick as the community was to patch this, Zorin OS was not affected at all precisely because the update wasn't even available to begin with.

The list could probably go for a long while. This isn't to say that updates are bad, of course not. Do keep your system up to date. But upgrade when needed, not because some YouTuber said so.

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No. When You already have a Dependency installed with a Flatpak and You want install another flatpak which uses the same Dependency, it will use the already installed one. So, it will not installed several Times, only one Time and will shared.

Yes, Python3 is preinstalled:

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But here it would depent if the Program what You want to use is fine with this Version Number or need a higher one.

Both is possible. You can install .deb Files outside of the Software Store or the Repo's. Of Course, You should not install blindly something from a random Website like You should not type some random Terminal Commands what you see in the Internet. When you have a .deb File, you could check the Checksum if available. And You could scan it with VirusTotal. That doesn't give 100% Security but it can be good to let it scan for Threads. And you could install ClamAV/ClamTK on Your System to have a Scanner. The Tool isn't the best to say that clear. But it is nice to have. For Rootkit's would be rkhunter and chkrootkit but these are Programs that only run in the Terminal.

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There's a small but significant caveat with this. When a Flaptak package requires a different version of the runtime, where all of the shared dependencies live, it would download it on top of any existing ones.

For example, notice the multiple versions of Gnome Application Platform 43, 44 & 45 in this screenshot:

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Technically, those aren't duplicated. But they are roughly the same libraries installed, only with different versions. It all adds up quickly.

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Yes, that is right. But that is up to the Developer toupdate this. There You can't do much. I'm not entirely sure but the Version's 43, 44 and 45 could be outdated.

Well ... Gnome is Gnome. I mean, you see it with Extensions when a new Gnome Version comes. That have to adjusted, too.

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Actually, it is quite common that getting the latest updates introduces new bugs and regressions.
The difference between Latest (beta or even alpha builds) and Stable is that in Stable; most of the bugs have been located and worked out. Whereas in the beta builds, there has not yet been enough time for bugs to be spotted, reported and fixed.

Others have answered this accurately. Yes, it does add extra clutter to the drive.
With Flatpak packages, same dependencies are shared. But, it is an extra package in the first place, given that Flatpak's are isolated from the system and unable to see the existing dependencies installed by the standard package format: APT.
And even a slight difference in versions with a flatpak will result in having extra dependencies.

I resolve this by not using Flatpaks. Indeed, I remove flatpak entirely so that it is not offered.

Snap packages, unlike Flatpak, do not share dependencies. If you stick to Snap, you will quickly clutter the drive up.

Most of what you list here should work just fine on Zorin OS.
If you use Flatpak sparingly, I would not worry too much about clutter given that our home folders often build up greater amounts of clutter in the form of cat memes.
OdfEdit may require a higher python version. If it does, this falls into the category I mentioned above of some apps Only Supporting The Latest Packages - in this case, python 3.12 over 3.10
I have not confirmed that OdfEdit does, I just suspect it might.

If your needs mean you should use Mint or Ubuntu that comes with a higher package version; even if LTS, then that is likely your best bet.
If you prefer Zorin OS, then actively testing it to see if it meets your needs without too much headache is a good way to find out.

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Well for example, Google's Android Studio for years only officially supported the LTS releases of Java. That meant using Java 8, 11, or 17 for building Android apps. So instead of getting to use new and exciting features of each new Java release, people were stuck using the same old boring LTS for years until the next Java LTS came out. Why?

Well, LTS is guaranteed to be support (ie like security updates) for x many of years (depending on company schedule). Non LTS release is supported for maybe 6 months. Anyone in production wants to use the LTS, for most security and stability and value to their customers. Non LTS releases only for development and testing. So "Long Term Support" releases aren't a bad thing. I often LTS myself, such as when Zorin 18 comes out I'm pretty sure I'll stay on 17 for a couple years while the rest of you work all the bugs out. I don't have the right attitude to be a guinea pig.

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This forum gets as jumpy as a frog with fleas every time a new Zorin Edition is initially released.
For those that do not like troubleshooting - that is the time to crawl into a small dark hole and hide.

You really nailed it in one concise sentence. It's not just that the developmental or experimental builds are less stable - they also are often missing features.
Developers want to know what they can trim out. So late releases often have been trimmed, removing features, functions or tools - and only restored if the Beta testers complain about the missing item.

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Yep it sure does doesn't it? And then we usually get the newbies who magically show up, right after the new version is released, and ask when the new version is going to be released, I'm pretty sure its intentional to annoy us.

I couldn't agree more! I'm so done being a developmental tester guinea pig. I tried doing that for awhile, and all it did was cause me stress that I didn't need, during a rough time in my life, when I was dealing with issues elsewhere.

Yep, I love how @j_luz speaks too.

I prefer LTS releases, I prefer stability over pushing the latest and greatest. Furthermore, you know me well, I don't upgrade my Zorin OS versions every release. When Zorin OS 15 came out, I was still on OS12. Then once Zorin OS 16 came out, I upgraded to that.

When Zorin OS 17 released, I stayed on OS 16, I just didn't see the point. I knew I was on an LTS release, and I knew that I would continue to get support for a couple years yet. And I was right to do so, due to problems with Wayland support in OS 17.

Have you seen the sheer number of people, that we have to recommend, to switch to Xorg? Thats cause Wayland is garbage right now, causes more issues then good. I will wait till Zorin OS 18 is released, and then I will upgrade to that.

I have a family member who has my older computer from 2012, and is running POP OS on it. How was I supposed to know that POP OS, would have this philosophy of pushing the kernal for the latest and greatest, thus causing POP OS to black screen on that old computer?

Shouldn't POP OS be smart enough to know, what hardware is on the computer, and to not make choices, that can cause serious issues? Apparently not! The kernel has to be manually selected on every boot, in order to prevent the newer version from running.

I tried to stop new kernels from being installed, but its a lost cause. I told my family member, once POP OS eventually emplodes on itself again, I am switching them over to Zorin OS. I don't have time for games, when I was to play games. :crazy_face:

And that family member I am talking about, has even less patience for computer problem BS then I do. They are older generation, and give up easily when things don't go right. The vast majority of people have less patience then I do for computer issues. Thats just the norm!

I love Zorin OS, because it doesn't have the philosophy of move fast, and break things. With Zorin OS LTS releases, its all about well tested, make sure it works, don't use its users as guinea pigs. The Zorin devs actually put in the work, and I respect them heavily for it!

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Hello everyone,

I really want to thank you for all your help with my questions.
So I tested (quickly) via the bootable USB key, without installing Zorin. I really liked the interface even if I regret that you have to pay for the Pro version to have other visuals :slight_smile:

For the moment, I was able to test the different programs that I indicated above.
All seem to work, except OdfEdit, which does not want to launch .. Surely some libraries are missing (pillow, lxml, audioplayer and sounddevice), I did not look too much to see if they were present.

On the other hand, I did not find the terminal? Maybe it was in front of my eyes and I did not see anything lol

Another question, does Zorin handle touch screens well?

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It should be in the app menu under Utilities - You also can search in the menu by typing the program name you want into the App Menu and it will narrow the listed software to what you are typing.
Or use the keyboard shortcut ctl+alt+t

Generally, yes - you really can only test it to find out... On my computer that is fully touchscreen, I had zero problems with it. But troubleshooting on the forum, I do occasionally see a thread here or there of someone having some trouble with gestures and the like.

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In respect of OdfEdit, I would advise that you follow the guide on their github page:

It mentions packages that are needed. To do this, install Synaptic Package Manager from Software. Once installed, launch it (you will need to give your login password to elevate you to 'root' (think Administrator). Search for the dependent packages listed on the github page of OdfEdit, select the small box at the side of the package required by right-clicking and selecting 'Mark for installation' then click on 'Apply' button.

You may want to refer to the unofficial manual for Zorin 17 Core I authored from here:

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You are not alone still running Z16. It has been so stable, even regarding Sound, which I had issues, on my very old Zorin laptop.
I hope Z18 is as good out of the box, when it is ultimately released, and will still install in a confined disk space. I will need to revise how to do an installation as it has been so long since I last did that job.
It is just so nice to boot an OS and run apps without first wasting time troubleshooting the system.

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I really dont get why people are complaining. Windows xp whas used for over a decade, only got 3 service packs. People never complained it’s to old. Windows is always lts based (5-10 years of support)

If people want the latest of the latest, use a rolling release and dont use lts.

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