Windows look is never been appealing to meā¦. I came Over to Linux to distance myself from the look and the feeling of M$
2 Likes
Zorin is for beginners people who out from windows to linux. That could be gived Zorin distribution more users also who used or liked DE - kde plasma. It depends somewhere else also creating some discussion if Zorin have a more DE will be better or more working for brothers?
1 Like
Possibly bad
- KDE sacrifices other improvement
- KDE distros exist
- Zorin is unique being Windows-like without KDE
- Increased confusion when considering what to get
- Harder to move forward in terms of development
- QA test cases explosion
- KDE is extremely clunky (my opinion), it looks OK on first sight, but when you get used to it, it is unpolished as software can ever get.
- KDE's code is written in C++, instead of C - exponentially more complicated.
- Most programs use GTK & look foreign on KDE, not limited to CSD vs SSD.
- KDE is a mess to configure, it tends to have different cursors sizes on different windows and loots of quirks.
- KDE can already be installed with a single command for the willing
Possibly good
- Articles will be written and may attract new users
- Some may migrate from other distros
I'm strongly against it, mostly comes down to added complexity and used resources versus shaky gains.
3 Likes
Not sure on these two. You may have a good point on the first, but without giving some examples, it is hard to say.
The second point - many XFCE or Gnome distros exist. I don't really see this as a factor.
This ties into the above. What is increasing what confusion?
On these, I lean more toward agreement. I also find KDE to look nice at first glance and get clunkier the more you use it.
I have often compared the organization within the desktop to be like an explosion in a kitestring factory. Things seem placed not in their logical places, but in places I would never think to look. And worse, components are divided and placed in multiple locations.
I have tried evenly and fairly to give KDE a chance many times and failed on each attempt.
I find this list to be tellingly short. The "possibly bad" list seems unusually long, with bulleted items added that I really easily question them being on the list.
There is a lot of good that can be added to the list:
- User customization and control
- More open development (This comes with a caveat, though and could haave a counter-argument placed on the bad list)
- More highly developed apps that offer more functions and features - often asked about on this forum and evidenced by the proliferation of KDE apps being used on other desktops.
- More similarities to Windows, in regards to this Forum and Distro.
- Steady Developer direction. Users have less concern of the developers suddenly doing a 180 on them.
- More user choices and control over their own machine (Though this also comes with a caveat, not really one of confusion as much as your point above about "QA cases explosions.")
2 Likes
I would like kde plasma, only if it has the zorin layouts as in gnome, and if it doesn't replace ANY of the existing versions...
and this is THE ONLY part I agree with you.
1 Like
For me, when the vote will be finished, lets ping the zoringroup so they see, and they say what they think about it
1 Like
A big part of what makes Zorin Zorin, is it's unique touches on the Gnome DE, and it's easily customizable layouts. However, I do love KDE and would like to see it as an option. Would probably still use the legacy DE though, but always good to have options.
yes, the more options a user have, the most user will use zorin
1 Like
Considering Zorin OS is meant for new users to the Linux world who are looking for a pleasant experience right out of the box, I don't think it's a good idea to add another option here. Firstly because it will add more workload to the developers, and secondly because new users will be confused: "which one should I download, which one is better, what's the difference?".
I think ZorinOS got right what so many other distributions got wrong: the out of the box experience. It's easy, it's familiar, it's intuitive and it's still very much customizable. And I say this after having installed it in friends and relatives' computers who don't know the difference between Google Photos and the Images folder...
1 Like
I agree with @zenzen.
I even changed my vote to "No" a few days ago. Zorin OS is meant for newcomers and right now there are three editions: Core, Lite and Education. You can understand them by just their name. When it comes to a new edition of Zorin OS, it will increase the workload. I mean the devs are too busy to reply to the emails very quickly and how many days later than Zorin 16 Core did Zorin Lite 16 arrive? 4 months? When would Zorin KDE Plama 16 arrive, if it existed? And then obviously, as I had said before, 'more the options harder to choose.' And that is bad for newcomers. KDE Plasma is a great desktop environment and If the devs are thinking of adding it, then they should do it by ditching GNOME (replacing the DE in their Core edition).
I don't agree with this position of wanting a KDE Based Zorin Desktop.
Not only would that require lots of resources by the Zorin OS Team, but also is the GNOME base a lot easier to work with for user-friendly customization options than KDE Plasma is
Why, you say?
simple:
KDE Plasma does have many options and is very powerful, Yes.
BUT that might be overwhelming to most users, especially those which aren't used to being given so much control and power over their Operating System.
Not to mention, FerenOS already exists and is basically Zorin but KDE anyways
2 Likes
The best way what i choose if i am not a corporation like System76 then best idea focus on one project. Idea Zorin is for people who changing windows to simple distribution Zorin. This is idea the @zorink brothers. The distribution could be more confuse? Besides mostly people choose distribution to them preferences.
Totally agree with you
If you dont like a certain Desktop just try something else.
Ive learnt life is to short to argue over something that has a alternative .
2 Likes
This necessitates having an alternative to turn to. 
Currently, we do. Post gtk4, this may change.
1 Like
I'm curious if the Zorin's were to customize the interface for graphics settings to KDE, as they did with Gnome... and since gnome is going the way of the dodo by limiting and even dropping extension support.... it would be more than possible for KDE to be the next Core Zorin version. It is a lot of work, but KDE isn't forcing changes to entire OS's. It may be a lot to change in the beginning, but less maintenance. The only things they will have to consider is if they want to include a new feature and how they represent it.
Essentially, they could include KDE instead of gnome and make it look exactly like Gnome, with less effort. It would be nothing to include the Mac OS, Win 10, Win 11 and Zorin Themes/Env styles. These would but need to be tweaked for Zorin as they already exist. They would also be able to include Widgets for the desktop if they so choose.
They may even be able to adopt their current settings app and mod it for KDE. This would also open the door for access to more software without having to install features or another DE.
While KDE offers more options, a simpler interface can be offered, with access to the advanced for when people are ready. They already do this for Gnome... why shouldn't it be considered for KDE, especially the way Gnome is acting.
2 Likes
I want to clarify: I have not confirmed that Gnome is absolutely planning to do away with extensions.
I strongly believe it plans to.
I have noticed that when Gnome suggests that it will do something, there is a very high probability that it will indeed do it. Theming is one example. LibAdwaita. Pushing Flatpak as the Future. As well as abandoning the Desktop in favor of a Mobile layout. There are examples where Gnome Devs voiced a desire to do something that they have not done (yet) including leaving the Gnu General License and turning to a more proprietary one in order to achieve their "goals."
However, much of this comes straight from the mouth of Tobias Bernard himself.
Not just the reference of calling extension "hacks", but
Every unnecessary variable you eliminate across the stack frees up time and energy, and creates opportunities for features you couldnāt otherwise build.
Shell extensions are always going to be a niche thing
It makes sense. Gnome Developers removed features in order to ensure that Gnome behaves the way that they want it to... Devs putting those removed features back in with extensions must cause ire among the devs that took them out.
Tobias Bernard is very good at the Politics of misleading the reader away from important issues by use of misdirection - In order to convince the reader that his way is the best way, rather than allow undue attention on the actual reasons why he does what he does.
I come across this type of subtle gaslighting quite a lot, sadly. It is easy to spot.
The writing on the wall is quite very clear. It is the purest fallacy in that it is Tobias Bernard who is the one forcing his own personal preferences on every one else, not us users forcing ours as he tries to convince us to believe. Having desktop preferences and options is the exact opposite of such - and his arguments utterly collapse under this realization. He seeks to remove the ability of users to utilize their preferences and therein lies the lie.
In which case his own motives become much more clearly defined.
This is why he is so forceful in his demand that devs should never develop extensions or themes, but instead, contribute directly to Gnome itself: The fallacy of his "Community Power" claim --- Because this then puts him and Gnome in FULL control of what makes it into Gnome and what doesn't. Mislead with Misdirection. Don't look up.
He has openly voiced his distaste for extensions - which he cannot control - and every time he has done this before, he has found a way to put a stop to users taking control of their desktops back.
It is extremely likely that extensions are on the chopping block - but also extremely controversial as extensions are used so widely. Sadly, being controversial does not stop Gnome - as we have seen many times before when users suddenly find essential UI just simply removed without warning.
https://blogs.gnome.org/tbernard/
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29234796
Very well said.
The idea is presented here, openly and as a suggestion.
Whether the ZorinGroup finds appeal in the suggestion or not- they are 100% capable of it fulfilling it if they chose. And it would be an initial effort, I think, followed by less work later to maintain.
KDE is far more long term stable than Gnome is with its stark and sudden changes.
Zorin OS is high on the list of Distros that buck Gnomes trends. By its very reason for existence, Zorin OS must shun Gnomes controls. It's not just a reskinning of Ubuntu and a Distro specific theme we are talking about here. Zorin OS is one of the most customized Linus Distros available, which is what sets it apart giving it fantastic appeal to Windows Users.
2 Likes
Strobel, is that the guy from Solus? He seemed very knowledgeable back in my Solus days.
1 Like
Yes, same guy.
OpenSuse is KDE.