this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
204 points (97.7% liked)

Linux

48143 readers
779 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 47 points 10 months ago (23 children)

Does anyone use this? I've yet to find a defining feature list of why anyone should use it aside from cosmetic differences. Does it even have a defining feature set?

[–] EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world 43 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I mean, you literally described 99,999% of distros tbf.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Sure, but that's what I'm asking about. Why should people try this one?

[–] Lemonparty@lemm.ee 9 points 10 months ago (3 children)

A better question might be why shouldn't they? I'm not being pedantic (at least not intentionally) but if their defining characteristic is that they're nothing special, just a simple Linux distro that does the basic shit easily enough and looks nice - that has major appeal to people unfamiliar with Linux looking to leave other OS's behind. The vast majority of people that use an OS really have very little idea how it works or why. They just want some basic level of understanding and control over it.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Corgana@startrek.website 39 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I use it. It's great. I've tried Linux many times over the past decade but it never stuck until Zorin. If you're coming from Windows it's a very friendly (and polished) way of being welcomed to Linux while also showing off Linux's strengths, things that are often hidden to the user unless they want to explore the terminal.

For Mac users who are Linux-curious I would recommend Ubuntu because it's much similar, whereas Zorin seems clearly designed with people who liked Windows 10 but not Windows 11.

[–] ChiefSinner@lemm.ee 12 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you want something like Mac, use elementary os.

[–] tigerjerusalem@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I disagree: elementary is quite limited with really basic desktop features out of the box, limited personalization, weird interface decisions with some ugly panels, and pretty behind on updates, relying heavily on their own walled gard-

You know what? You're right.

[–] ChiefSinner@lemm.ee 6 points 10 months ago
[–] Roopappy@lemmy.ml 7 points 10 months ago

Kinda. I'm using Elementary OS right now, and I think of it more like a Chromebook... with more options to expand it.

[–] bartolomeo@suppo.fi 11 points 10 months ago

Zorin was, at least a few years ago, tailored to be easy to adapt to for people switching from Windows. This new version looks beautiful, I'm going to take it for a spin!

[–] UprisingVoltage@feddit.it 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Tbh I see it as "prettier linux mint". Good distro for beginners but nothing more

[–] NOOBMASTER@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago
[–] GustavoM@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

No, but I used this back when I was a little penguin and I had to "see" something working on Linux.

[–] Moonrise2473@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Xrdp server enabled with a toggle instead of messing with the terminal for 1 hour seems unique

[–] russjr08@bitforged.space 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That's not exclusive to Zorin however, that's just a Gnome 42 feature (unless the base gnome implementation is the one you're referring to that needs configuring in the terminal).

[–] Moonrise2473@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago

Ah. The way they wrote that seemed an exclusive...

Nice for gnome, so, when I wanted to set xrdp on debian a couple years ago I cried and almost gave up.

load more comments (17 replies)
[–] Lime66@lemmy.world 23 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

So let me get this straight, they have a windows look by default, but using GNOME for whatever reason, then they give you the option to switch to something more vanilla GNOME but disable all of the gestures and workspaces, and then they advertise it like they invented gestures when they decide to stop disabling all of them

[–] jackpot@lemmy.ml 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] Lime66@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago

Nothing, I use gnome, but if you want a windows look by default then plasma is made for that

[–] sturlabragason@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Is it me or does most of this look like Gnome? 🤔

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] sturlabragason@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Well I guess that explains it 😅

[–] azvasKvklenko@sh.itjust.works 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So basically Ubuntu-based GNOME-skin OS, advertising GNOME’s new features as their own?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] pokexpert30@lemmy.pussthecat.org 12 points 10 months ago

Not much of a progress this time.

Still waiting for zorin grid.

[–] bartolomeo@suppo.fi 12 points 10 months ago

This looks beautiful, congrats to Zorin contributors!

[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 8 points 10 months ago (6 children)

We need fewer distros and more focus on things that matter.

[–] corrupts_absolutely@sh.itjust.works 43 points 10 months ago

you are free to not make distros

[–] ExLisper@linux.community 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You're right. I will start a new distro that focuses on the the things that matter.

[–] Cwilliams@beehaw.org 5 points 10 months ago

Man, I laughed so hard at this one

[–] PixxlMan@lemmy.world 36 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Damn, those silly volunteers are doing the wrong things in their free time!

[–] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago (9 children)

I think a unified package manager/app store model that is vetted by all contributing distros would go a long way. SteamOS/Steam deck is bringing gamers to linux and that's great. But it would be easier to bring on a lot more desktop users if there was an app store that every distro could visit. Flatpak is close, snaps however I think are too polarizing.

load more comments (9 replies)
[–] TheOneCurly@lemmy.theonecurly.page 5 points 10 months ago (4 children)

I disagree. Each distro is a user of a thousand different open source systems. When a distro developer integrates gnome, systemd, bluez, or whatever other system they're finding, reporting, and possibly fixing bugs that end users might miss. Other than arch users, who else is compiling these things from scratch and really digging into the documentation?

[–] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Us weird debian testing users.

[–] khorovodoved@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

Gentoo users? Void users?

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

All the shit I hate about windows packed into a Linux environment... I guess maybe it will help Windows users switch over?

[–] jackpot@lemmy.ml 5 points 10 months ago (6 children)
load more comments (6 replies)
[–] mlg@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

mfw when entire distros are advertising UI features of gnome that came standard on every DE like 15+ years ago, including gnome.

Seriously, Compiz is from 2006.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Distributions nowadays are defined by their desktop bling :(

It used to be that you could just install whatever desktop you fancied on pretty much any distro.

[–] Polyester6435@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 10 months ago (2 children)
load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›