I guess I can't use Zorin 18 - too many mei_me and graphic issues. Debian 13 Gnome and POP OS runs fine so I know it's not a hardware issue. Since this is my daily driver, I don't have time or energy to mess around. Oh, Zorin 17.3 Pro ran fine for the past year . . . so after the bugs get fixed I'll be back.
Check my last post: https://forum.zorin.com/t/zorin-18-display-problem/54123
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For the record, Zorin OS 17 is still supported until 2027.
Given the unfortunate amount of issues people are experiencing with the new release, it seems wise to delay the upgrade.
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Thanks for the info. Yes, I will be installing Zorin 17.3 Pro again until the storm has passed . . .
Because I'm using Zorin OS 16, its already end of life, and I no longer receive support, which is why I was eager for the OS 18 upgrade.
Having said that, following the multitude of issues people have had with OS 18, I'm inclined to agree with you, maybe its best to wait on the upgrade, till the issues get fixed.
It would really be nice if the Zorin team communicated, to keep us in the loop. Its one of their main faults, which in a time like this, is a massive failure in judgment.... IMO
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So if one wants a Zorin type experience, but not Zorin, what do you suggest the regular user use as a distro? I do have an older Nvidia 10xx video card.
Yeah, maybe waiting a little longer was the better move here. Now, it feels like releasing on the Windows 10 EOL deadline was rushed unnecessarily.
If you are looking to upgrade, I still think Zorin OS 17 is a good choice, though.
One thing you could do is install Debian with the Gnome desktop environment, which is what Zorin OS Core uses, and add the theme icons and extensions from Zorin OS. It's important to point out here that there will be a mismatch in the Gnome versions between Debian and Zorin OS, so there's a chance some things won't work 100%, or at all.
If you install Debian with XFCE instead, which doesn't change as quickly, then you'll have a better experience. This will be akin to installing Zorin OS Lite. Here's how that might look like:
But if you prefer something without much fiddling, and still suitable for beginners, then I'd recommend either MX Linux or Linux Mint. I still have a grudge with Linux Mint because I've had to completely re-install two computers after a bad upgrade. Make sure to create snapshots if you are going to use Mint; MX Linux is pretty decent however.
I looked at Mint... before choosing Zorin so shows where my head went, lmao... I've recently seen there are two versions of Mint, which I'd not known about before... which of those two would you go with?
There are three versions of Linux Mint, two with cinnamon desktop (Linux Mint Cinnamon and LMDE which is based on Debian) and Linux Mint XFCE. XFCE is better for older systems. I tested LMDE and LM XFCE and on my old laptop with Nvidia card XFCE ran better and because of this I stayed on XFCE. However, I preferred the appearance of LMDE and the Debian base.
It's best to take a look at the different versions on distrosea.com
I second this. I use Debian 13.2 with XFCE. Works great. Yes, there's no animations and whatever, but everything works. By itself, XFCE can and does look great if configured properly (and with a little taste/style). Highly recommended.
Honestly? I don't think waiting a little longer would've made a difference.
I agree 100%. No question. This is what I've been saying all along.
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Sorry to be a negative Nelly, but ... I just don't see that happening.
Or just switch altogether to a different OS with a different DE. You've got plenty of choices. Linux Mint, Debian (with one of their DEs; although I personally would recommend XFCE), MX Linux (which would be better for beginners), etc ...
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You have the primary Linux Mint which has the Ubuntu Base and you have LMDE wich uses instead of Ubuntu Debian as Base.
What You choose here is at the End a personal Preference. The Experience is not fundamental different. One Point would be Driver Supoort but because You have an older Nvidia Card, this shouldn't be an Issue for You.
You could simply try both.
Hard to believe a million people have downloaded Zorin OS. And no communication from Artyom and Kyrill about the multiple bugs I and others have reported. It's funny. What are "bugs," exactly? Especially to different people. One has to wonder about folks' perception of "bugs" and their personal level of tolerance for what they're willing to accept or reject in whatever OS they use. But when it comes to flickering window animations, app windows appearing in the wrong place, visual bugs galore like the Zorin logo inexplicably getting smaller after disabling an extension, being unable to uninstall apps from the Software Manager (that one astounded me), etc., etc., it's like it gets to a non-negotiable place from an user experience perspective. Will the developers respect our right to an usable, trouble-free OS experience (especially when they offer a paid edition of the same OS)? Honestly, after having tried to exhort them to do "the right thing" and seeing Zorin 18 OS in its state (and being validated by others' remarks on this forum) ... I just don't know anymore. And you know what? You ought to not know anymore, too. Especially when they're asking for $50 for a paid product that's riddled with problems and violates the unspoken compact that exists between producers and consumers - that a product is made with reasonable care and an inherent expectation that consumers can enjoy the product without as many deficiencies as possible. I encourage people to consider things from another perspective; think critically about what all this means. Look past the surface. Are you ready to subsidize the Zorin Group for what's sadly turned out to be a mediocre product? I supported Zorin regardless despite the bugs I saw before because I believed in their story. Their story appealed to me. I share Slavic heritage. I was a fresh Windows former user with next to no knowledge about Linux. Now? I just don't know anymore. So many problems to speak of. A million downloads? Can they all be wrong? Yes, they can. And that's where we've gotta start. Start asking questions. Start looking at the "whys" and "whats" of this and that. Ask "why not?" Make good trouble. Help each other right things. Especially the Zorin Group. In the end, it's 100% a matter of choice. That is to say, our choice if we want to support them. And their choice if they want to listen and show change. Simple as that.
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I would choose the Debian Edition, because I'm pretty fond of Debian and I know it works well. But either version will work fine, as they are designed to be feel and look very similarly, so just go with whichever you like.
Not everyone is experiencing the same issues. This is true for Zorin OS 17 as well, and even for other distributions. I myself have installed it in two separate machines (one of them with an Nvidia card, even) and experienced none of the problems that others have reported. In contrast, on a virtual machine, I have seen those random freezes.
I'm not disputing the fact that this last release is subpar compared to previous ones, but the "it works in my machine" meme is very much based on reality.
Timing the release of Zorin OS 18 with the Windows 10 EOL was a big gamble.
Yes, it's the perfect opportunity to gain a huge number of new users. But, on the other hand, they now have to deal with that many more users filing bugs, asking questions, demanding updates, etc.
Any other year, an extra influx of users wouldn't have made much of a difference even if the release was buggy. But with the end of W10, every little annoyance is amplified by the thousands.
This type of situation can lead to the classic example of failing because of too much success, too quickly.
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Thank you.
Well, at the End these are only Downloads. That doesn't mean that there are 1mio. new Zorin Users. Some might try it, some maybe don't even use it.
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Things were looking extremely promising at first, just coming over from Windows after over 30 yrs and enjoying the new experience. But then the bugs started snowballing and everyday features started failing. With as long as Linux has been around, you'd think certain core aspects would be standardized and reliable by now. I really don't want to have to reinstall Win10 (11 is an absolute no-go), but I'm being forced to consider it.
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I'm sorry to hear that.