What do you expect in the next version of the Zorin operating system?
An operating system based on the Debian distribution
Using KDE Plasma as a second DE
Or perhaps newer extensions that further personalize the Zorin operating system?
I think it is more of wishful thinking than expecting but I had suggested a move to Debian in the old forum. And for me Plasma would be much better.
Why not cosmic ? Or budgie 
I switched from PopOS! Several years ago because of CosmicDE, but I guess the new version worth a try. I am glad that I found ZorinOS
I think the only real choice is new extensions.
Debian based would be nice, but it suffers from what a lot of people perceive as a big problem: lack of up-to-date packages. Which is true and very much intentional, and something that a lot people, like myself, prefer due to the many benefits of running a stable system.
But I suspect that the intended audience for Zorin OS wants a little more than just that. People expect to buy reasonably modern hardware and have it work flawlessly, or being able to install the latest versions of software available — not to mention modern graphics drivers. I've seen the reaction of many when they first learn about this "problem" and immediately qualify Zorin OS as obsolete because of it.
Debian Testing might seem like a good option to address that, but as the name suggests: it requires testing, hence more work. At that point, might as well continue using Ubuntu as the base, who has already walked down that road.
Other desktop environments? As far as I'm aware, the only reason multiple desktop environments were offered in the first place was to provide support for older hardware, and not to provide variety. Having announced the drop for Zorin OS Lite, I doubt there's any interest right now in delving into other alternatives at the moment.
I think Cosmic is a great choice that will eventually replace Gnome in a lot of places. But it's not even out yet; too soon to consider it.
Which brings us to extensions, the only option that does not require the developers to invest any extra effort in learning a complete new ecosystem of tools and processes, nor maintain extra repositories just to keep things running. It's basically what Zorin OS is build upon and there's no reason for them to stop doing this. If anything, with Lite out of the way, this seems like the perfect timing to double down on this in order to address many feature requests that people ask for.
A Debian Base I think is more something for the Future and not for the next Version. Maybe the Zorin crew sit already on it, who know's.
KDE Plasma ... I think this would be a too big Change. Something like Budgie what is more near to the Gnome Look and the GTK Base could theoretically be an Alternative. But then all the Work on the Gnome Customization's would be obsolete.
New Extensions and Improvements of existing One's seems for me to be the most realistic Thing. I have already suggests a Function for customizing the Login Screen. When this would come as an Extension and not build in in Zorin Appearance, I could live with that too.
You could compensate it a bit with the by default activated Debian Backports like SpiralLinux have that.
A some kind of built-in Tool for Kernel Management could help, too. I mean something like the Mainline Tool only as System Tool. Similar to the One from Linux Mint. But it could be at the same Time a bit tricky and risky when People play with it and then break the System.
I voted based on what I actually expect as the poll states.
Actually...
Zorin OS has seen a lot of experimentation, including Limited edition and Zorin Gaming editions.
And being LTS is a more recent thing. Zorin OS used to base on even Intermediate releases like 15.10, for example, nonLTS.
Multiple desktops were offered for variety and later also for older hardware support.
And they used LXDE, not XFCE.
As the Zorin Brothers aged, their personally founded company began to look to higher sources.
Rather than thinking strictly in terms of appeal to the users, they began thinking of Business Enterprise.
This is why Gnome and Wayland and Flatpak are high on their list.
This is why "Ultimate" was dropped in favor of "Pro" as they transition from being seen as a Daily Users Operating System and a Professional Operating System that would appeal to a... customer with deeper pockets.
Zorin dropped the Ultimate Games inclusion with the Introduction of Pro in 16, but you could still install them with the apt command for "premium-games".
As of 17, that was dropped entirely, without announcement.
And Zorin Grid as well as why it is so long in development.
We... are helping them... to drop us.
Look backward in time and follow along and you can follow that direct line from about five years ago to now. Each seemingly innocuous decision that is justified in that moment all leads to Big Corporate.
Regardless of what new extension Zorin uses in OS18, its got to be better then straight Gnome, or even straight Ubuntu. Zorin bros have shown time and time again, that they take whats vanilla, and they improve upon it. I have faith they will make us proud.
I'm glad to learn a little bit more about Zorin OS! I only discovered it when it was at version 15, so not too long ago. Based on what I saw then and thereafter, I was under the impression that Lite existed only to support older hardware.
Well, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing on its own; maybe because I haven't been around Zorin OS for long enough to see what I've missed. But I also don't see this happening any time soon. If anything, I think there's an opportunity to appeal to smaller organizations rather than big ones, who are much slower in terms of switching technologies and have more demanding requirements that a small company might be able to provide. That would be a good niche for Zorin OS: something that appeals to end-users and small businesses alike.
This is a valid point and my view may be pessimistic due to the gravity of the Gnome, Wayland, Flatpak defaults.
I'm not thrilled with those technologies as of late, either. I would definitely like to see some change in the defaults used by Zorin OS. But all things considered, I'll take however many new Linux users there are today thanks to Zorin OS. Only time will tell the rest.
See.. sheer numbers... do not impress me.
They only get impressive where money gets involved.
Microsoft dominates the market. So, if you want a popularity contest or numbers, we need to switch to Windows.
Whether a bunch of other people switch from Windows OS to GnuLinux now does not really have any strong effect. They would need to pile in in droves.
No matter how deliciously lip-smackin' good a GnuLinux distro is... the droves won't happen.
People may complain about MS and spyware and Apple and iPhones and their expense... They will complain about Blizzard. They will complain about the nickel and dime transition in gaming with pay-to-win and dlc...
And they will stick with them. Very few leave.
The ones that leave, are those of us that resist that mentality.
And that mentality, getting sway over our bastion of freedom, that directly affects us. Us few that did.
The Microsoft decree that came with Win 11: It introduced a handful of new people to Linux. That was a Big Deal.
And they came over in a trickle.
The reality is, looking at people that come over from Windows: It is not determined by Windows and it is not determined by Zorin OS.
And the Win11 fiasco was a camel back breaking straw.
Those migrants were already on edge, already looking for One More Reason.
And most of them, the majority...
Are still on Windows.
Complaining to deaf ears.
What matters is those of us on GnuLinux. We are the ones who put in the effort. Tackled the learning curve. Braved the unknown.
Contributed to it.
Supported it.
Stating 15.10 I assume you were referring to the Ubuntu release of 15.10? Zorin has always had increments. I think the last intermediate release was Zorin 11. LTS releases started with Zorin 6. LTS releases were differentiated in 3’s so Zorin 6, Zorin 9, Zorin 12, and lastly, Zorin 15. At this point all LTS releases (Core) went up by single increments, 16, 17 etc. Due to the negative impact of Zorin 17.2 release and how it has affected tweaks and customisations, I can imagine extensions will be Gnome's next target for removal. Isn't it better to have an OS with separate customisations, like Plasma?
Yes, Zorin OS 11 had Ubuntu 15.10 as a base.
Zorin OS 8 based on Ubuntu 13.10.
Zorin OS 3 was based on 10.04 LTS and LTS releases were peppered in with the decision to adhere to LTS only made by Zorin OS 12.
Correct.
Yeah, I voted strictly on what I think would be likely and easiest to implement, which would be new extensions (or possible changes to existing extensions, who knows). Personally I think they could accomplish what they need to do with their desktop by using strictly XFCE. I understand the desire of KDE, but they've already got an existing DE (for now, at least...) that functions almost identically to their main desktop.
I feel if they eventually came to the conclusion that Gnome wasn't the way forward, putting more efforts into the already available XFCE version would be more likely. But maybe that's just me talking. It's also definitely not happening, since they've already said they're getting rid of it (le sad).
I meant this in a more optimistic perspective that Zorin OS remains a positive force for Linux in general. Looking back to my first attempts at Linux using Ubuntu and Mint, it was quite frustrating, and I've heard the same from people that tried them on my account.
Zorin OS does a much better job at easing the learning curve. I just think that the developers deserve the benefit of the doubt when making unpopular decision like retiring Lite. Of course, it's easy for me to say as I've mostly used Core, but still...
I believe in Benefit of the Doubt. One needs to in order to moderate.
I believe, too, in not ignoring a repeated line of warning signs.
So far, in my life, they tend to be more accurate than my hopes and wishes.
*sweats nervously and glances at his Diablo 4 expansion pre-order and mobile game spending*
