Hey Guys
Today YouTube pushed a video from Michael Horn about ZorinOS vs Ubuntu to me (https://youtu.be/27O31t94w0Y?si=P0v9PkIRBqaZ_ZRT).
The video itself is not the interesting thing.
I was surprised by a shift in the comments. Usually a "Beginners Distro" video is followed by pages of comments saying how easy Mint is or how great Arch is. Which is no surprise considering Mint is ranked 1 in Distro Watch and Zorin being 11 out of 297 distros (DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.)
When I looked. There was a large percentage of comments saying how much they love Zorin or they recommend to friends/family etc.
It seems like ZorinOS is one of the most underrated distros out there. With people using and enjoying it but just quietly going about their business.
I am curious as to whether others have noticed any change in online opinions.
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I haven't noticed it as such, but it's great to hear the tone shift.
Opinions can move like waves, veering one side or another - and often influenced by the existing surrounding opinions.
I do think Zorin OS has been steadily getting more reviews and attention over time.
But I still see plenty of remarks about it offering a paid version and being a "noob" distro, too.
I feel like anyone with that attitude should be tasked with getting Gentoo running without the instructions. Everyone has things they're ready for and things they aren't.
That said, I feel like traffic here is up a fair bit over last year, and people don't typically come to a help forum if they're not having problems, so I imagine there's significantly more content Zorin users this year as well.
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I've found both - which isn't surprising I guess. Some like the one Thing, some an other. A While ago posted a german Linux Youtuber a Video about Zorin and wasn't so positive - but he is even more a Linux Mint Guy.
At the End: Use what works for You and what You like. Doesn't matter if it is Zorin, Mint, Fedora, Arch or whatever. And so like You decide what You want, have the Respect for the Decisions of the Others. Unfortunate the Last is missing from Time to Time.
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I've used Arch, Mint, and Zorin, so I understand the discussions. Zorin is actually most user friendly and fun Linux distro for beginners and anyone that wants to relax. Very intuitive setup, sleek and few compatibility issues since we have rock star developers and community. Mint is definitely up there with its lightweight and simple Cinnamon desktop. Arch is incredibly customizable and functions like a race car, but definitely not for the faint of heart.
To compare it to vehicles:
Zorin: Tesla Model 3
Mint: Honda Civic
Arch: Custom built race car
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As an automotive person, I balk at this comparison. I am not sure how I feel about it.
Yet...
I must admit to it being surprisingly accurate in many ways which made me quite literally laugh out loud.
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Oh I've more then noticed it, the whole thing sticks out like a bulging black eye! This is the reason why I have 0 respect for Distro Watch, they list OS's based on kickbacks instead of truth.
If anyone did any real research at all, they would realize that Zorin OS, is the best OS for Windows users, migrating over to Linux, as well as best for beginners. Its not rocket science.
Back when I was on Windows, I first heard about Linux early 2000's. When I saw a top panel, I was immediately put off by it. We used MAC computers in school which had the top bar, and I always hated it.
Eventually Mac's added a dock I hated even more in OS 9. I always loved the bottom bar of Windows so much more, and its what I was used to. Zorin OS just makes complete sense for Windows migrators.
If I was running Distro Watch, I wouldn't be corrupt hoping for kickbacks for favorable reviews and slot positions. Zorin OS would be #1 on the list, because it is to me.
Also we have evidence of all the newcomers who choose Zorin OS, because its best for them, as they are migrating over. Mint is only #1 because DW says it is, I completely disagree with DW.
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Do you have a link to show kickbacks?
Distrowatch does not have a ranking based on UserBase since there is no way of them knowing how many users are using each distro and they are quite open about the ranking and what it means.
It is based on how often a distros distrowatch page is independently viewed.
DistroWatch is a very helpful resource for checking distro package inclusions and versions. I reference it often, in order to gain this information at a glance. That is its primary function and purpose - not to Rank Distros.
That was merely an assumption, based on the observation, of what I perceived as corruption. We live in dark times, where reviewers, are typically paid for reviews, for which a company authorizes, what is said about their products.
Its been going on forever, which is why a person can't trust many online & Amazon reviews. Lots of reviews are bogus on YouTube as well. For example, Linus loves to boast about how great OLED screens are for every single video he does, (to increase company sales to inflate his sponsorship's) but always neglects to admit the 3 year max panel life!
I take ratings with a grain of salt, as I'm sure you do as well. If DistroWatch is rankings based only on how many page views, its nothing credible I could use.
I never knew about the package inclusions and versions thing, thats news to me. We have had this conversation about DW before on the forum, I'm not a fan of it. At least you can get some use out of it though.
I agree that ratings, reviews, news and general information found on the web needs Fact Checking.
As readers, we must be discerning.
The interesting thing about DistroWatch ranking is that people are more likely to look up information on distros that they are not using - since if they were using it, they would already know the package versions and other information.
So it reveals what users are looking up; not using.
It may show what users are curious about or interested in.
This information can be useful as "What is getting attention currently" not as "What are users actively using".
Developers can use this to fine tune what is trending. Not to see where their distro stands as used.
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Me too. Living where I do with gear shift (stick-shift US?) I would replace Tesla with a non-electric car with Renauult Twingo c. 2015
I watched said video yesterday and read through quite a few comments and got the same impression you did, instead of the usual chorus of "Mint is better" (no it isn't, either for beginners or experienced users) I was pleasantly surprised at the positivity in the comments section.
I only occasionally look at comments on vids so I don't get tempted to start an EVIL google account to comment and end up wasting my valuable time arguing with idiots, know all know nothings and trolls.
Deutsch sounding user name and picks an extremely pedestrian French car(?) 
I absolutely can tell you're not a "Car person"
Zorin = Porsche 911 Carrera S ... can be comfortably used as a daily driver yet has so much more to give if wanted.
Mint = 1968 VW, gets you from A to B but is extremely dated
Arch = Ferrari, you need 2, 1 to drive while the other is being repaired.
Zorin: VW Golf
Mint: Mazda MX5
Arch: self-built Caterham
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My Twingo (actually a Smart Car with a Renault Badge) is a 0.9 TCE Turbo beast that outgunned a Mercedes C20 when the stop light turned green. I'm English, not Deutsch, and my moniker is one I constructed myself! Can a Porsche do 50+ mpg at 65 mph? I don't think so! And if anyone wishes to donate me $3 M I'd spend it on a Koenigsegg over Tesla any day.
Yeah I watched the video and read the comments. There is a lot more positivity about Zorin, which makes me really happy. But of course there are always some who immediately need to bring Mint to the conversation, even though it's not in the topic being discussed.
I recently started working at a company where one employee was complaining about Windows (Recall etc) and wanted to switch to Linux, so I gave him some pointers about gaming. He said he researched and it seemed to him Mint is the best for beginners. I recommended Zorin instead, but told him it's up for him to decide in the end. At least I spread the word😁
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This thread topic is about users enjoying seeing positive feedback.
It is completely possible to say positive things about a preferred distro without needing to create a diss track of other distros.
So let's not turn this thread into one into the very kind of discussion that the O.P. was expressing gratitude of seeing less of.
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I hate to burst your bubble however ... Whilst you "floored it" and "raced" off from the lights the Mercedes took off like a normal person and scratched their head and laughed
Can your Teengo do a 1,000 kms on a single tank? My Porsche can.
Back to the topic ... Zorin good, MS evil ... switch to Zorin 
Maybe not but at least I don't need to do a 3-point turn when caught in a jam, U-turns permitted.
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