I thought some of my experience in installing Zorin and the resolution of some issues in that process.
I installed Zorin on a separate laptop HDD, which was a 5400 RPM device. This was sub-optimal, as it resulted in Zorin starting up and running very slowly. The resolution was buying a SSD and cloning my new Zorin install to that - super speedy now!
I had some Windows apps that were necessary for my electronic design work, and one in particular would not run under Wine - it would not even install. Resolution - install VirtualBox, and then make a W10 virtual machine. With the old HDD, the VM was dog-slow, but with the SSD, it is pretty fast! One thing I did not realize (I'm a fairly ignorant Linux user) was that I had to add permissions to the Linux system to access things like other HD's on my system, and USB ports. I ended up using a terminal a lot more than I had anticipated.
Cloning the HDD caused some problems. Running from my W11 SSD on the same machine, Balena Etcher and another recommended software package, EaseUS Disk Copy both took about 3 hours for the process, and each failed with multiple (dozens!) of sector read errors. Just for fun, I tried my free download of Macrium Reflect, and it took about 40 minutes to clone my HDD to the SSD with no errors, and now I have fast boots and fast app startups. I have used Balena Etcher many times for other projects, and don't know why it stumbled on this particular cloning.
Now, my Zorin system runs fast, I can access my other HD's and my OneDrive folders, and I have a VM that lets me run the Windows apps that don't like Wine, but I find myself right back to where I have been in other Linux distro "tryouts": my Windows 11 runs great, it is fast, all my apps are happy with it, so why should I run Linux? I have disabled pretty much all of the "reporting" stuff in W11, and watching network traffic seems to confirm that no data are being sent out, so - what is the advantage? I have certainly learned some useful stuff about Linux, and I would certainly recommend Zorin to anyone who was interested in trying Linux and did not have a lot of legacy Windows apps and/or data to deal with, so overall, it has been a good experience.
I am interested in others' thoughts on this, but please no nasty remarks or trolls - I'm not interested in arguing, I'm just wondering why others who have moved from Windows have dealt with some of the same things I have, and why they choose to stay with Linux. Merry Christmas to all!
I am very happy to hear that things worked out for you! Before I provide some feedback, a bit about me:
My first computer was a "hand me down" - an Apple II.
My second computer was a Windows 3.0 machine, purchased for me in 1990. I used this extensively for homework (WordPerfect for the win!) and for gaming (in DOS, not Windows). I have used Windows ever since.
Here are some issues I have with Windows 11:
Windows has poor quality software updates that suffer from a lack of testing. Recent Windows Updates have: (1) Made the sign-in password icon invisible (LINK), caused File Explorer in dark mode to 'flashbang' users running in dark mode (LINK), and made File Explorer even slower and memory hungry (LINK). These are only recent issues...there are many more.
Windows has poor or broken Windows Search functionality. Searching for files has gotten worse in Windows; searching from the top-right of a window takes a long time. This makes using Windows Search an exercise in frustration, especially if you have many files and subfolders.
Windows has poor or broken file copy/move functionality (in File Explorer). The performance of File Explorer, across all types of disks, is slow and buggy.
Windows does not respect user choice. User settings are frequently ignored. A classic example - the user opts NOT allow OneDrive to back up files to the Internet...only to have the OneDrive backups start in the background anyway, without user consent. Microsoft claims this is a bug, but I have seen it happen multiple times and in different scenarios (LINK).
Windows is adding AI to EVERYTHING. Microsoft is on-record as saying that they are turning Windows into an "Agentic OS" (LINK), that is to say - an Operating System with AI built-in & enabled. This means: Your data will be sent to services online, all the time and without your express consent. Not surprisingly, security issues have already popped up (LINK).
My Linux experience so far:
First deployment at work: Caldera OpenLinux (1998).
First deployment at home: Mandrake Linux (1998).
I have been using Linux on my secondary PCs since that time.
Currently, I like the following about Zorin 17.3:
Zorin OS does not force AI into anything. I am free to visit ChatGPT, Claude (Anthropic), etc on my own and engage with AI on my terms. My data goes nowhere unless I share it.
Zorin OS has good software update quality and reliability. My old PC (Gateway FX6800 from 2009) runs Zorin and 90% of my Steam collection with no issues. That PC has 24GB of RAM and a first-generation Intel i7-920 CPU. The PC is updated regularly, and just works. No strange regressions or hidden interface elements.
Zorin OS has solid file management tools out of the box. Files (Nautilus) has powerful abilities and again, just works. More advanced file managers area available and can be downloaded if needed (Thunar, Dolphin, etc).
Zorin OS respects user choice. I have yet to see it override one of my user settings (okay...a recent printer update caused a minor issue.
And:
UI/UX consistency. I have settled on GNOME as my Desktop Environment of choice. Most applications (system packages & flatpacks) feel at home and part of the bigger whole ("the system").
Flexibility. I can install alternate Desktop Environments (and their associated software) easily. This lets me experience of the best of GNOME, XFCE, KDE, etc...without requiring a system rebuild / redeployment.
FREEDOM. I am not tied to a multi-trillion dollar company, who wants to do things their way. I am free to explore the world of open-source and FOSS products...Nextcloud (for offsite backups), LibreOffice (for office work), and more!
I hope this is coherent and make sense.
Al the best and Merry Christmas & Seasons Greetings to all!
RobinDP,
That was an excellent summary! What is interesting is realizing how different users have different criteria as to why they prefer one O/S to another. In my case, I don't do a lot of "office" stuff, but if that was primarily what I did, then I think that Linux and Libre Office would do just fine. However I have a number of applications that are very specific to particular types of external hardware systems that (at least so far) have not played well with Linux. Since I would have to use a Windows VM to use them, it seems kind of pointless to fire up Linux, then start a VM, then have to deal with issues related to that. I did uninstall copilot, and turned off as many reporting widgets I could, and my network traffic is almost zero when just idling. While writing this reply, the only app that is generating any network traffic my Brave browser.
I do use Explorer to copy & move files, and so far, I have not seen any noticeable speed difference between it and the Zorin file manager. What I have seen is that I can go seamlessly between any of my drives and my OneDrive cloud storage, whereas Zorin makes it more complicated.
At any rate, I was pleased to see that someone responded with a well thought out reason for what they like/dislike, and I still have my Zorin OS on a fast SSD, and may return occasionally if new data support using Linux.
BTW, I also have a Mac Mini, and have similar issues with my Windows Apps, and even more difficulty with Windows OneDrive. May you have a wonderful blessed Christmas, and a happy and prosperous New Year!
I want to add my experience and view.
I consider Micro$oft evil. I've started in computers using DOS and then moved to Windows 3.1 then Windows 98/ 98SE - Windows XP and on my job the 7, 10 and now 11.
In parallel.. since '93 I dealt with Unix and Linux and after the 2000s when Linux started having nice desktop environments I started to use many distros.
I liked a lot Bodhi but its interface is not for Window converts so when my wife was given a new Lenovo laotp 8-9 years ago I installed Zorin for her (she had 0 Linux experience) and after many initial complaints for a few years she's still using now that laptop. I used Zorin occasionally way before that and seemed a nice OS.. for sure the best one for Windows converts.
Windows seems more and more complex, with less and less options available for the user. The last OS from Micro$oft that I found acceptable was Windows 98SE.. after that any choice was almost non-existant. Now it just feels overly complex with no added benefit and not optimized at all with many unnecessary processes running. It's like they are trying to shove on your throat a lot of garbage software while trying to get as many info on you as possible.
Zorin on the other hand:
has many more options for customization;
it's a free software OS that respect the privacy of users,
it's much more frugal and therefore efficient;
it's more safe
has nicer users with a nice community
So basically you'd have to choose between the Evil Empire and the Rebels , the profiteers vs the free contributors the jail vs the freedom.
Given your need I'd advise you to dual-boot Zorin and W11 and not bother with a VM and try to stay on the bright side (not dark side) the longest possible. You could try to search for alternatives for your needs.. maybe you'll find something good enough that runs under Linux.
For me there's no comparison between the 2 choices (Linux vs Windows). I only use Windows at work where I have to.. but it's such a bad experience (on a fairly strong/recent laptop).
My story is similar to @RobinDP's; I started before Windows. My first Windows was 3.11 and my first Linux was Mandrake in 1998. I've always hated Windows' habit of installing a lot of useless stuff with questionable functionality, not allowing uninstallation, rapid system degradation with reduced efficiency, and endless bugs that aren't fixed. Despite this, I recognize many qualities of the system for average users. Therefore, the choice largely depends on an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing one or the other.
Very interesting commentary! What seems to be a common "thread" is complaints about problems with Windows and/or security issues. I have used Windows since it first came out (Yes, I actually Windows V1 for a bit!). I liked W2K, XP, and W7. W11 has rarely given me trouble, other than the most recent issue with losing USB functionality in the recovery mode, but that really has only been a problem one time for me.
I would like to reply to Kerri's comment: "There is no game or app that is so important to keep people enslaved to Microsoft at home, especially now." I have two critical apps - one is a schematic editor, and the other is PCB layout program, and neither has a native Linux option. In addition, I have decades of design files that are not compatible with any Linux-based alternatives. Having a dual-boot may seem like a good idea, but, all my other computer-based functions already work well in Windows (except for "New Outlook", it still has some bugs) so I find no real reason to use Linux. I still have an SSD with my Zorin system, but after spending so many hours trying to get my critical Windows apps to work, and finally installing a Windows VM in Zorin, I decided that it is a lot less hassle to just run Windows. I also have turned off all the reporting widgets I could find, and uninstalled Copilot, so I don't have to deal with those.
Thanks to all of you for the great commentary. I can't add much: have 17.3 Pro and Win 11 dual booted and have only gone into Windows about once in the last month.
I have one website that I use about once a month which won't let me access my account in Zorin due to Captcha issues and I also need windows for the HR Block tax software I will run in the next couple of months (they don't have a Linux compatible version yet).
I really like Zorin 17.3 though I'm holding off on going to 18 for a few more months.
Yeah, I've found ways to deal with Windows too. I support others on it, and have done so since '06. But I've moved my workstation to Zorin 18. (Gradually, over time.) Still have a Windows box for a couple specific needs, but only those.
You bring up a good point - "why should I leave Windows."
For me it's philosophical. I want Linux in my future, and my children's future. There is a fundamental difference between those who use people to gain resources, and those who use their resources to benefit people. Most of us fall somewhere in between. But Windows more and more is exlusively in the first camp, whereas Linux is almost entirely in the second. It troubles me that increasingly Microsoft seeks above all to exploit the user for maximum financial gain. When I say user, I don't picture enthusiasts like you; it's regular non-technical folks who need to shop, or bank, or check the weather, or email someone. Access to these services has long since become a utility, not a luxury.
If enough of us who are technically "literate" leave Windows behind, and become comfortable with Linux, then our friends and neighbors and relatives - everyone within our influence and especially whom we support, will very likely do the same. The word will spread and momentum will build. These people will truly benefit from the change. You and I will join the many others who have and who continue to devote their resources - of knowledge, experience, influence, and time - to benefit other people. That's why I think you should leave Windows.
Only reason I have booted into my windows install is to run quick assist. I have an elderly friend who needed me to uninstall some malware. I doubt I could get him to install anything else so I could help him from linux. Zorin has easily replaced windows for me. Very happy.
I haven't tried remmina yet. Do you ever support anyone remotely from linux to windows like you can do with quick assist? What do you use?
I've never used quick assist in Windows, because the company I work for (now as a w9) has provided me with Logmein Rescue since 2006. I've used it to support our offices and for family and friends as well. Sadly, It was aquired by an equity firm in 2020, after which quality and support began to degrade (no surprise there). While I could use it on LInux via the web browser interface, the desktop is more robust, and that is Windows only (and maybe Mac). That will all soon be moot however, since we are looking to make a change. The biggest problem lately is a frequent huge cpu overhead on the client machine, to the point that it just crawls.
So far a company called "Splashtop" and a program called "Splashtop Remote Support" is looking very good. It runs natively on Ubuntu 24.04, which means it is completely compatible with Zorin 18. Client machines download a streaming applet, to connect. I tested it over a one week period (free) and was pleased at the speed, stability, and the light client footprint it presents.
My supervisor is looking it over. He's definitely interested, because while Logmein charges $1,300 per year for 1 seat. Splashtop charges $259 per year for 3 seats!
with a nice community