Review : Zorin OS 16 is exactly what a Linux desktop distribution should be

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[Alex5723]

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/zorinos-16-is-exactly-what-a-linux-desktop-distribution-should-be/

Jack Wallen gives the latest version of Zorin OS a go and comes away with his mind sufficiently blown and a different opinion on what Linux distributions should be…

Who is Zorin OS 16 for?
Anyone. Period. That’s how good Zorin OS 16 is. It doesn’t matter what level of skill you have, Zorin OS 16 is ready to help make your desktop experience a delightful romp through the world of Linux. Since it’s based on Ubuntu 20.04.3, it includes all the usual Ubuntu user-friendliness under the hood. But don’t worry, if you are new to Linux, you shouldn’t have to bother with things like the command-line interface, as the Zorin OS 16 desktop UI will hold your hand just enough to keep you from getting lost in the muck and mire better suited to the Linux devotees.

Zorin OS 16 is as good a desktop operating system as you’ll find. That might sound like hyperbole, but I honestly cannot think of a desktop OS that is as beautiful as it is functional and usable. If you’re looking for a new desktop distribution to challenge what you think Linux is, give Zorin OS 16 a try and see if it doesn’t very quickly win you over.

On August 25 Linux celebrated 30 years.

• This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Alex5723.

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FurryFennec, Cybertooth

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Zorin OS was the first Linux distribution that I tried out when I saw the Microsoft handwriting on the wall with Windows 8. It was an interesting way to try to move off Windows while keeping some things familiar.

However, Zorin’s “grainy” look (shared by most Linux distros) was off-putting. It was as if the Linux folks somehow couldn’t quite get the hang of visual smoothness… or didn’t care. Then I discovered Kubuntu with the KDE desktop, which suffers much less from this graininess, and that’s been my sole Linux preference for the last 5-8 years.

Other distros featuring the KDE/Plasma desktop would probably be similarly appealing.

 

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Alex5723

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I thought I entered this post already (2 days ago), but I guess I didn’t!

I agree with your choice of KDE Plasma, but I don’t get what you mean by “graininess.”

Alex5723 wrote:

“That might sound like hyperbole, but I honestly cannot think of a desktop OS that is as beautiful as it is functional and usable.”

The thing the author of the article is so taken with isn’t even one of the important bits. Function is beauty. Aesthetics that don’t aid in the mission of usability are of no use, and those that get in the way of usability (as they often do) are counterproductive, and that’s not beautiful at all when you are talking about a tool to get things done. Just like an attractive human gets less attractive if you learn they’ve got a nasty personality, or a less attractive one becomes attractive when you like the personality, an “ugly” UI that works becomes beautiful as you come to appreciate its ability to facilitate your work. The reverse case is true as well.

I don’t know if KDE Plasma is “beautiful” to the author of the original piece. I know it’s powerful and functional, and that makes it beautiful to me, while I am completely immune to the charms of even the most gorgeous implementation of GNOME 3. It’s still a UI designed around the assumption that the user is an imbecile, no matter how pretty it may be.

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/32GB & GTX1660ti, Kubuntu 24.04
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, Kubuntu 24.04 (and Win 11)

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