The problem is that they hide the desktop menu that I actually want behind a paywall. I'm happy to pay for that feature, but expecting us to pay $80 (Canadian) every 2 years is a bit much for a feature like that. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that they offer the free version, but they should be a little more generous to those of us who actually want to support them. It just doesn't feel right.
1 Like
Well, you have already been a Pro user.
Maybe we can help you to configure that one feature. Are you referring to a Layout?
1 Like
Yes. I like using the single column, Windows 7 (I think) layout. It's the third from last on the list. I just find it the cleanest look out of all the options.
I don't mean to derail this thread completey, but i agree with this statement. I will for this reason not be renewing my pro license. I will say, I've been happy with Zorin for the last few years but this is just a horrendous pricing model. Its really bad.
There's a slim chance I'll give another distro a try, something free lol. I guess I'll still pop by here once in a while regardless.
3 Likes
I have my own opinions. I believe that we get what we pay for and with GnuLinux, the "Free cost" model emulates Google, Facebook, etc - where if we are not paying, then who is?
Corporate interests can pay - and we become the product.
With Zorin OS - you see zero advertising.
None on the webpage.
None on the forum.
None included in the Operating System ( I am looking at you, Canonical, and your advertising deal with Amazon...)
For me, however, this would carry more weight if Zorin OS resisted the other corporate interests in Gnome and Red hat - which they do not. Instead, they support it fully and integrate that into Zorin OS.
6 Likes
To quote an old iPhone 4 song... "if you don't want Zorin Pro, don't buy it".
Anyone who understands that good products require people with good skills, and acquiring good skills is never free, thus also understands that good products are expected to come at an equal cost of equal value.
Personally I believe Zorin is worth more, and I'm glad to give them the little they ask for. I've already bought Zorin Pro (even though there is no upgrade path from 17 as of yet).
I've seen to many "free" products that were here yesterday, and are nowhere to be found today simply because it wasn't worth the Devs time to maintain the project. I would like Zorin to succeed, and this means it needs to make sense as far as a time commitment and cost to the Devs.
Things in this world cost money, and custom crafted things cost more. With Zorin, you are not paying for ubuntu, gnome, etc, you are paying for the know how to make a custom Desktop Environment experience.
You can make Zorin Core the same as pro if you know what you are doing in Gnome, and know what extensions to install (with a little digging), so you don't have to upgrade.
You can put your own time into making Gnome into what Zorin Pro offers, or you can pay the Devs for their "time / skills / know how" to do if for you.
If you don't want Zorin Pro, don't buy it!
7 Likes
I agree completely! I started with Zorin 17, chose one of the free layouts, and tweaked it to get it to look exactly as I wanted (like one of the Pro layouts). After a month or so of using it, I paid for Zorin Pro anyway! Why? Because nothing is free. People work hard on Zorin and they deserve to be supported. The tiny amount of money they ask for every couple years is the least I can do to ensure that Zorin is around for the long haul.
I have already paid for Zorin 18 Pro, without even seeing it. Now I am going to eagerly wait for the upgrade to come though!! Zorin is worth it!!
5 Likes
I think the ideal solution, although possibly a little difficult for Zorin to implement, would be a sliding scale of discounts for upgrading to the next major release. It's reasonable to pay full price for the Pro OS any time during the release cycle, because the user may intend to use the current release indefinitely, or at least for the several years remaining in the LTS cycle. However, it's entirely reasonable for a customer to be upset upon learning one month after purchasing Pro that the next major release is out and would cost full or nearly full price to acquire. There should be a grace period (a month or two) during which a user can upgrade for free, and then perhaps a couple of tiers after than, sliding down to a maximum of say 80% of the cost a first-time user would pay. Who could complain about that? It supports Zorin, and if you don't want to do it, stick with Core.
3 Likes
I agree. It's really not reasonable at all to charge full price for every new release when it happens every two years. That's literally 2-3 times more expensive than Windows (when considering the life-cycle of Windows). I'm all for supporting the development team, but not at the expensive of my own finances. I simply can't afford to pay $80 (CDN) every two years for the new version, so this forces me to go back to the core version with less features. It's so unnecessary.
- Keep in mind that I'm not promoting Windows in any way, but let's do a bit of math here. It costs $140 (CDN) to buy a copy of Windows, which typically has a lifecycle of 8-10 years (more or less). In that same amount of time, I would have to pay Zorin $320-400 (CDN) for the same amount of support (4-5 cycles of two years each). Once again I am very grateful for the free version, but you have to admit that's a bit much to ask for the pro version.
1 Like
The current Price of Zorin OS (and the ZorinGroup might want to slap my upside of the head for saying this) is due to it being combined Core and Lite.
It used to be that you saw the independently listed price for choosing Pro Gnome or Pro XFCE.
In Zorin OS 15 or 16, they combined the two into one package and the price combined too, doubling it.
So for that combined price, you got the package including Gnome or XFCE which you would choose which to use at install.
Now, they have opted to drop XFCE entirely.
Which means that price stands at the charge for creating Lite; which will no longer be included.
This is like a cereal company charging you five dollars for a box that weighs 16 ounces, then putting in only eight ounces but keeping the price the same.
3 Likes
You could try the ArcMenu Gnome Extension if they offer the Menu Layout You want.
And You pay with Your Data.
You don't need to directly switch after 2 Years. You can use it to the End of the Support Circle. When You now have Zorin 17, You can use it until 2027.
2 Likes
I have just purchased 18Pro, but when I open my Zorin Upgrade app, it says that I am on the latest version and shows 17.3 Pro. Any ideas?
The current Direct Upgrade path using Zorin Upgrader is awaiting the ZorinGroup to release the files for Direct Upgrade.
According to the Zorin Blog:
Direct upgrades from Zorin OS 17 to 18 will be available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to our newsletter to be among the first to know when you can upgrade.
4 Likes
That trick is called shrinkflation over here.
2 Likes
You're right, nothing is free. This is not what i am saying at all. Developers deserves to get paid for their work, but im not going to pay another $80 every time there is a new major release.
As @joelandsonja said above, it is not reasonable at all. In the end, you're paying a lot more than just $80.
So in other words, the pro version has a few selective features behind a paywall.
The Zorin group has done everything right, as @Aravisian said earlier:
Its a really good approach, but the pricing model needs changing. Surely I'm not the only one seeing this greed?
My experience, that support is pretty much useless. All they did for me was keep reiterating things that were already in the installation instructions and never came up with any ideas that worked. You guys on the forum were way more knowledgeable and helpful.
The original release announcement from Tuesday said to watch your email in the coming weeks. (for the option to directly upgrade)
Having bought 17 Pro a couple of months ago, I do think they should give a discount on 18 Pro as a goodwill gesture but 17 Pro was less than $50 and if 18 Pro is the similar that's OK for me. Windows and all the microsoft stuff costs at least that much every year and they still steal all your data and try to screenshot what you are doing every few seconds.
1 Like
Don't forget that in windows you probably pay for Office365 every year and an expensive security suite of programs too.
1 Like
IMO, they could probably charge $50 for first copy of Pro and then half-price for each major version. This would build loyalty. That being said, a person could really stay on same version for 4 years and skip a version and just pay for upgrade every other version. I am happy with 17.3 Core and not sure if 18 is a significant enough improvement over 17.3. I am on the fence but definitely waiting until 18 is made available via OS Updater.
1 Like