So this happened in real life a couple days ago. I went to this local coffeehouse. I happened to be wearing one of my Linux shirts. This guy came up to me and started talking about how he was a sysadmin for this local outfit. He asked me what distro I used, and I told him "Debian." Long story short, he mentioned Zorin OS, and I was like, "yeah, I used Zorin before; I didn't like it because it's full of bugs, and I don't like how the developers charge $50 for a 'pro' version while leaving so many bugs unattended," and he was like, "Yeah! That's why I stopped using it! Exactly!" I said, "yeah, sadly it's a scam," and he went, "yeah! I agree completely." (True story.) So, I was glad to see some real-life feedback out in the community (in person) that matched with my impressions of Zorin OS. Anyway, it was a pleasant chance encounter, and was very nice to see another Linux user (he told me he used Arch, too, but stopped - I told him about the recent DDOS attacks, and he was glad he doesn't use it anymore). Yup. EDIT: And again, this is a true story.
It is not a Scam. You don't have to pay if You not want. No one gets tricked.
It isn't a "scam". Look up what that word means in a dictionary before posting non-factual slurs.
As a new user (about 2 months) I'm in no position to say whether the few challenges I've had (mostly overcome) were bugs or my lack of knowledge, but equally as a new user I can say with absolute certainty that Zorin 18 is the first distro that I've tried in the last 10 years (probably more) that I've found usable. Of course I'm also incentivised by escaping from W11, but I wouldn't stick with Zorin if I didn't think I was going to be successful long-term, which I do. This talk of "scam" is libellous nonsense.
I'm curious, if you use Debian why are you on Zorin forum?
I use Debian too, but I am still here. Let's get back to basics:
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Hardware was built for that other OS and no manufacturer of mainstream Desktops and Notebooks (Dell being the exception) is going to waste time (time = money) on non-mainstream OS's.
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Some hardware works better than others so it would be good if Zorin users who are sailing along nicely could share rheir hardware details in a Feedback Post.
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I do think 18 was rushed a bit, or it could be that there were issues with Gnome. I was looking at posts on some issues on here that Ubuntu 24.04 had a deleterious affect on someone's piece of hardware that had been working flawlessly in Ubuntu 22.04.
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No GNU/Linux OS developers have the money to buy different pieces of hardware to check that it will run (with the exception of Canonical which has a hardware compatibility wiki).
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I have stated in the Unofficial Manuals that I have authored for Core versions 12, 15, 17 and 18 that I would hope that users once they become proficient in Zorin that they can move on to other distributions. For me this has led me to systemd free alternatives and also no pulse audio. And where PipeWire exists, it is still not as good as ALSA.
I would add to this that using Zorin OS as a gateway or stepping stone certainly serves a purpose.
However, given that Zorin OS is particular as a distro in that the ZorinGroup does not integrate it's distro specifics in - that they leave the base Zorin OS fully configurable without lock in - is a good reason to modify and keep using Zorin OS, too.
The ZorinGroup has historically avoided hard-coding. Even Mint hardcodes quite a bit and most distros aimed at new users hard code more heavily - some go as far as to be immutable.
This one key difference is what makes Zorin OS a good stepping stone for a new user, but also a good base for an advanced user.
And they have adhered to this almost dogmatically since inception. I am not honestly sure if this is a principled dogma of the ZorinGroup - or a happy coincidental accident.
They have not outright said that they intentionally do this.
But in using many other distro's, I often hit a distro-specific wall in making configuration modifications that I never encounter on Zorin OS. And the one time that I did - when I mentioned it to Artyom Zorin - he immediately corrected it to be dynamic.
It can be easy to get caught up in chasing the issues and bugs, the questions about transparency or the direction of Zorin OS; but this One Thing is so fundamental, user friendly, FOSS friendly and Open that... It is like a bright shiny star guiding your way lost at sea at night.
I get it. This is a thread that gives rather critical feedback that the ZorinGroup can benefit from.
But... I am not adverse to being a rebel.
And injecting the positive review into a critical one.
Here is the good. Zorin OS is far more fixable, configurable as a base and free of any advertising or questionable interests than a large number of options.
It's not going to please everyone - but it can please even die hard rebels like me.
I can replace Gnome - easily. And yes, it is part of their problem.
I can replace systemD on it. Without breaking it. I can replace the Software Store, without breaking the OS. I can replace just about any component - without breaking it while on every other distro I try, somethin's gonna break.
Now you did post about replacing systemd on Lite if memory serves. Do that on Core (or attempt to) and the OS goes south for more than just the Winter season!
Fair point... But not due to Zorin OS lock in but Gnome extensively utilizing so much of SystemD.
You call me out on that correctly - I tend to forget that since I get rid of Microsoft Gnome first thing, not everyone does.