I know some who went to Linux and a few who moved to Mac. But no one is seeing Win11 and saying “oh man, I gotta get in on that”.
In wake of Windows 10 retirement, over 780,000 Windows users skip Win 11 for Linux, says Zorin OS developers — distro hits unprecedented 1 million downloads in five weeks
Submitted 2 weeks ago by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
sidelove@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I jumped in to the beta and really liked it, they finally got most of the control panel into the new settings architecture and I never once had to dig deep into things to adjust something small, a lot of stuff that took finagling just worked.
And now I fucking hate it. The release version is jammed full of bullshit features and useless AI junk that it is an active hindrance to whatever I’m trying to do. And more and more stupid fucking bugs bubble up in to the desktop and never get addressed, all while I get pop up after pop up urging me to try some bullshit new feature.
I already had one fit into Linux but kept this because it was a Surface and nice at some point, but my next buy has to be a Linux 2-in-1, I can’t deal with Microsoft’s horseshit any longer.
Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
In case you weren’t aware there’s an ongoing project adding Surface hardware support to Linux kernel. It’s in a pretty mature state, with most of the features already implemented and working (here is a full breakdown per device). I’ve been using it on my SP6 for a few years with zero issues.
It might be worth a look until you get to buying new hardware.
st3ph3n@midwest.social 2 weeks ago
I finally committed to the switch last weekend. My desktop PC was the last holdout still on Windows in my fleet, because of Adobe Lightroom. I decided to just force myself to learn Darktable, and nuked the Win 11 install and replaced it with Fedora 43.
Fun side note, some of my games run way better than they did on Windows, despite not having native Linux builds. lol.
Scotty_Trees@lemmy.world [bot] 2 weeks ago
I left Windows for Linux in the early 2010s. Windows was shit then, but this is a new level of shit. I don’t know how anyone does it. After discovering the freedom Linux can provide I could never go back to Microsoft.
Starfish@piefed.social 2 weeks ago
did you try the ltsc version? i heard it comes without all these unnecessary “features” and feature updates.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I know some people who shoot and hunt their own venison. Some people moved over to butcher shops. But no one is finding roadkill and saying “oh man, I gotta get in on that”
mr_account@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
When I was a kid I visited my cousin in backwoods Missouri, and we heard on the radio that there was an uptick in leprosy because of people eating roadkill armadillo. It was a real wtf moment in my life
faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
But no one is finding roadkill and saying “oh man, I gotta get in on that”
Fun fact, there was enough public outcry in '16 for the state of Washington to amend it’s laws and make it legal to harvest roadkill for food.
Fondots@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
It’s actually not terribly uncommon for people to take roadkill if it’s fresh and in decent shape.
In my state (PA) you’re supposed to report it to the game commission within 24 hours, and you’re supposed to surrender the hide and antlers to them unless you pay for a separate permit.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 weeks ago
Gotta make fresh roadkill, then it’s edible sure.
Mertn33@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I have two win 11 licensed for older Dell computers. I shudder at the thought of ever needing them.
mlg@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Bruh ain’t no way people are choosing Zorin OS over all the available options.
If this is a result of people searching “best windows like distro”, they’re profiting off of a windows theme for GNOME, not even a full DE.
You can achieve the same thing with zero effort on any distro because DEs and themes aren’t tied to a distro.
Anivia@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
You can achieve the same thing with zero effort on any distro because DEs and themes aren’t tied to a distro
No, YOU can. But for the average Windows user this is far from “zero effort”. Just the fact that Zorin OS will automatically run Windows executables through wine without the user having to set it up is a huge deal for people coming from Windows who want their PC to “just work” without fiddling around
fondue@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Bringo. I started trying to learn how computers compute in my 40’s, after using them essentially since childhood. Still a dumbfuck. There is a huge class of users who are genuinely interested in… Having a computer - they are neat. The percentage of those people who also want to not be product-fucked on the regular by unimaginably powerful companies is pretty substantial.
It’s odd to look at Linux and open source communities that shame others, and diminish the possible entry point of a user hoping to escape the purgatory of Microsoft’s/apple etc. whims. What’s the goal? Many people are stupid; I’m pretty stupid. Help us more smarter.
What are some experiments I can do to learn grep a little? How do I internalize the file system in this OS better? How do I know I fucked something up, rather than found a loose nut in the software?
Rtfm. Hahah cheers
mlg@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yeah except I have never seen anyone actually suggest Zorin OS for this purpose due to its controversial pro edition.
There are other distros that achieve the same thing. My point is that Zorin is making money off of something I could do with zero effort, which implies its not even worth making a pay to use distro when one of the inherent benefits of linux is that its free.
I could understand if Zorin provided some groundbreaking software like Crossover, which for a long time had some serious advantages over wine and proton (yes I know irony that all are based on wine). But as other people have pointed out, most of this OS is just a reskin + preinstalled app combo. Might as well just use Nobara, which GE made in his spare time with some lazy scripts for Fedora.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
marketing is important. more important than a good product even.
Ashiette@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Zorin is the best distro when you come from Windows. It works almost similarly so it’s easy to grasp for those who don’t want to tinker / learn a new DE.
Default_Defect@anarchist.nexus 2 weeks ago
Zorin uses gnome? I would not have guessed that based on the couple of screenshots I saw.
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Contrary to what many people thing, Gnome is extremely modular and customisable. It’s just not really exposed in the base Desktop Environment itself.
You can do literally anything with the extension system. It’s very powerful.
That does however mean that you can easily break things, which is why by default Gnome marks extensions as unsupported when a new Gnome versions come out, until the maintainer adds a text string inside the extension that flags their extension as being validated for the new version.
You can disable the version checks, of course, and just risk it. But usually I find you don’t need to. By the time a new release comes out, the Gnome beta has been available for over a month, and the extensions have already been updated in advance.
MrBungle@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Even if most of those trying it out eventually go back to Windows, this is still great for Linux?
Sxan@piefed.zip 2 weeks ago
I was thinking the same. Even if many switch to Mac, or even back to Windows, now they have exposure. Even if it’s not perfect, or even if they don’t like it, they’ve been there, and I believe it increases the chances they’ll try it again when without 11, they may never have.
don@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that a freshly cut rose is your favorite flower.
TheBat@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I was binking be same. Even if many switch to Mac, or even back to Windows, now bey have exposure. Even if it’s not perfect, or even if bey don’t like it, bey’ve been bere, and I believe it increases be chances bey’ll try it again when wibout 11, bey may never have.
Aljernon@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
My machine was once VERY capable. It’s not a top of the line gaming box but it’s still capable and shows no signs of crapping out yet. Can’t run windows 11 but it’s not worth throwing away my computer over.
Fondots@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Same boat, my computer is basically the computer my wife built probably about 12 years ago before we got together, it was pretty beefy for its time. I basically stuck her old components in a new box (and also stuck a newer graphics card in it because I got a really good deal on a used 2060)
Still manages to run most games out there on acceptable (to me) settings.
Made the switch to Linux about a week ago, no major issues, some things are arguably running better now. It’s not without its hiccups but so far things have gone pretty smoothly.
Glitchvid@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’ve got an Intel 6900K 8-core X99 system. Also not compatible with W11, but serving me well.
The issue is even if I wanted to upgrade, that market segment is effectively dead; X299 and X399 (AMD) were the last real HEDT platforms. The only thing now is workstation tier boards, which are about $1K and processors to match
HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 2 weeks ago
My desktop (that runs guix) is from 2009. At the time I built it for gaming. I upgraded it to 16 gig ram and replaced the graphics card (old one died), no other mods made. Now I use it for much more mundane stuff and it’s still completely usable.
vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org 2 weeks ago
I’ve been using a PC with C2D till it died. And I’m still having thoughts of checking whether it’s solvable with a bit of soldering, perhaps replacing power.
It’s enough for music, text editing, a little bit of web browsing and old games. Old games here includes a lot of goodness, but even World of Tanks worked under Wine on it back when I used it. Slow, but playable (when you have friends and it’s a social event, alone kinda sad).
tym@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Can’t wait for the “FOSS enables the bad guys to download 2 marijuanas” headlines from MSM.
Tattorack@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Pff, amateurs. I can download 8 marijuanas simultaneously.
banazir@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
Dude, you have a serious problem, man. That’s way too much marijuanas.
0x0@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
I can haz a torrent of marijuanas.
BD89@lemmy.sdf.org 2 weeks ago
My cousin downloaded Linux and died from injecting 3 Marijuana’s at once.
It was Arch btw.
Soapbox@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
I’m far more bothered by them making Brave the built-in default browser, than I am by them charging for themes & tech support.
AppearanceBoring9229@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Charging for themes and tech support seems fine to me. As long as it’s possible to do it yourself.
They need to make money, to continue the development and that seems a good compromise
semperverus@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
The themes and tech support are totally fine to charge for (as long as they’re original themes that the zorinOS developers made or contracted someone to make).
Brave browser as default is borderline as bad as just sticking to windows if the point of you getting away from windows is to dodge the shady stuff Microsoft has started doing.
Evotech@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Just installed CachyOS. It just works.
Never going back
ConstantPain@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Use Cachy for a while. Not a single issue so far. Very good distro for people who want the OS out of the way. The perfect compatibility with Nvidia is a plus!
Evotech@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yeah I waited till I had a new gpu, got amd.
But yeah, reinstalled all the are stuff I had on windows and other services as podman services, got steam, played a few games. Some Linux native. Some Proton.
Transfered all my stuff then formatted my ntfs disks did btrfs
Never felt like anything pushed back on what I wanted. Was silky smooth.
iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com 2 weeks ago
I just installed Linux Mint on my dad’s old laptop. He asked me to do it!
I checked and it could run Windows 11 with a RAM upgrade. But he wasn’t interested in that.
He was surprised at all of the software installed by default. And mostly just uses the browser to read his Outlook mail…
87Six@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Same dude!
I got games to run too, using Lutris. I can give you a few tips if you want. I put it on a thinkpad T470p.
I can probably run pretty much anything using Lutris. It can read any iso file and presumably even .exe files though I haven’t tried it with exe’s.
Still, most of what we need is available just in a browser or from open source, like Libreoffice.
iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com 2 weeks ago
Thanks for the offer! But I’ve been running Linux only since 2002 or so, currently with Arch on my laptop, because I’m not yet brave enough to try Nyx. 😄
MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Penguin sounds intensify
Batmorous@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
More!! More! Everybody get others into Linux Mint and Pop OS Cosmic as well!! I am doing my part if we want better we must grow the community
Pxtl@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
I tried Mint and it’s just too buggy to use.
olympicyes@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
What video card do you have? Do you plan to use the machine for gaming?
daggermoon@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Mint and Pop OS really aren’t usable for cutting edge GPU’s tho.
Silar@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
Zorin would t be my first choice. But happy to see those numbers.
InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’m happy to see people enter as a gateway. Ubuntu has, and still does, serve that purpose as well.
verdantOrange@reddthat.com 2 weeks ago
I would use it if Samba sharing actually worked.
UnfairUtan@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Any other recommendations for non tech savvy people coming from windows?
Scrollone@feddit.it 2 weeks ago
Linux Mint it’s the mvp now. ElementaryOS is also nice, but more like macOS.
0x0@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
I install Linux Mint on friends’ a family’s.
daslfc@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
When i switched from windows i used mint im currently on fedora and manjaro i had no real trouble with either one of those. But im mostly using my browser and some applications i need for coding. I dont know what your use cases are but you can make a bootable usb with any one of those distros and test it out befor you actually install it anywhere. If you have an old laptop ore something like this i would strongly reccomend testing on that and see what you like. Also save all the data you need/want to keep before you mess with anything
deleted@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’m gonna make it 780,001 today.
SomethingBurger@jlai.lu 2 weeks ago
How many computers do you have ?!
deleted@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Well, a grand total of one.
DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I am a macOS user for work and had windows mostly for games on my personal computer, when I got a new laptop last year it came with win 11… it was so annoying to need to skip literally ads for Microsoft services… that even being my “leisure” computer… I spent the time getting Linux Mint, deal with Nvidia drivers on Linux just to have steam there
The games I am playing recently are working great on Linux and my computer feels faster now.
This particular laptop had a problem with WiFi drivers and Nvidia drivers, but getting past this first setup, I must say Linux Destop is easier and fast to use.
MBech@feddit.dk 2 weeks ago
I keep hearing about adds on computers, smart tvs, fridges and shit, is that solely an american thing? I’m in Europe and never get any of that shit. Sure, Microsoft will tell me at installation that they’d like to “personalize” some adds for me, but I have never actually had a single one. Did the EU block them or something?
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You definitely get more in the US, but Europe isn’t free from ads.
Windows still shoves OneDrive, office, and other things in your face in Europe. They still have featured news stories and the like. They still have recommendations in the start menu and such.
These are all ads, though we’ve been conditioned into thinking MS plastering OneDrive and OneDrive recommendations all over their OS isn’t advertising. It very much is.
If you have an Android TV in Europe, 1/3 of the home screen by default is an ad banner, just like in the US. Etc.
We are not free from ads. We just have it slightly better than the US.
stebator@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Someday Microsoft might realize that Windows should be rolling‑based, like CahyOS. It will be too late for them to catch up and bring everyone back to Windows.
axh@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I downloaded Mint last week and started the installation but got cold feet when it came to drive formatting. I still want to keep my win10 operational in case I won’t be able to run something on Linux.
I never actually used Linux before… I installed it 3 times before and always quickly went back to windows due to some compatibility or driver issues, but…
<Rant mode=“venting”> I am NOT switching to win11… It’s enough that I am forced to use it at work. That system is so fuckin stupid… They took a lot of minor elements and just made each of them worse… I get that the sales department told you to shove OneDrive and Copilot everywhere, it’s stupid and annoying but I get it, it’s just plain old greed, but why can’t the Calendar show the whole month and don’t work on the second monitor?!? (Are you planning to add it as a paid subscription later?!?) </Rant>
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
orioler25@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I really hope these people don’t accept that it’s normal to charge for different desktop environments.
WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
Fuh door uh!
Fuh door uh!
Fuh door uh!
0ndead@infosec.pub 2 weeks ago
Says some distro nobody’s ever heard of
Electricd@lemmybefree.net 2 weeks ago
Pretty sure 80% of them are just people distro hopping, we know the Linux community 😂
FosterMolasses@leminal.space 2 weeks ago
Alternatively, just… keeps Windows 10.
Am I crazy? Like, I would legitimately reinstall Windows 95 were it relatively feasible.
Is it really that ill-advised to rely on outside providers for additional security features?
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
also because w11 is filled with glitches and bugs to the brim.
EtAl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
I switched from Windows 10 to Mint. While there is a steep learning curve with basic things like adding an icons to the menu, I’m wishing I made the move earlier. There is a noticeable performance improvement with Stable Diffusion.
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Swapped over to Mint a couple days ago, it plays ATOM RPG so I am contented with my slave jank.
TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
How popular is it against other distros? First I’ve heard of it (which admittedly doesn’t say much since I’m used to the older ones), which makes me wonder how close to a million people did. Did influencers spread the word or something?
voodooattack@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Decade of the Linux Desktop. It’s here guys!
TomArrr@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Glad to be a statistic
Digit@lemmy.wtf 2 weeks ago
So… a few months before this, Linux had been noted to have just tipped 5% desktop market share…
What’s it going to be like now? 6%? 10%!?
blue_skull@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’m just waiting till I can install SteamOS honestly. Love my steam deck, and wanted to turn my old win 10 PC into a Linux machine but has issues getting any distro loaded because I’m dumb and it’s old. Hoping that when they release SteamOS for the chumps I’ll be able to work it though probably will just be left holding an old win 10 pc lol.
WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
Eli5 zorin…
Technus@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
That “780,000 Windows users” number is just made up for the title as clickbait.
That number is never mentioned in the original blog post.
All they said is they have a million downloads and “over 78% of these downloads came from Windows”. At no fucking point did they imply that means 780k unique users. There’s no reason to assume that everyone who downloaded the ISO actually went on to install it.
They also want $48 for their Pro version which comes with a “professional-grade creative suite” consisting of… GIMP, Blender, Inkscape, Kdenlive, and… Audacity (?), going off the screenshots they show:
click to show
Image
They’re shamelessly reselling free software as some sort of comprehensive package, and it’s not even their own distro. They’re just piggybacking on Ubuntu.
And their premium support only covers… installation?
click to show
Image
But hey, they support this edition with updates until 2029!
click to show
Image
Of course, pay no attention to the coincidence that the Ubuntu LTS version it’s based on also hits end-of-life around then:
click to show
Image
So I’m not really sure what you’re actually getting out of this purchase besides some extra themes and some really formulaic desktop wallpapers, and a couple proprietary apps. They say they “contribute to upstream Open Source projects” but offer zero evidence; their site doesn’t even have any Github/Gitlab links.
cy_narrator@discuss.tchncs.de 2 weeks ago
Its rare to see someone with brain in here
the16bitgamer@programming.dev 2 weeks ago
Zorin pro was the main reason I never stuck with Zorin OS however while they heavily advertise that the price is for the software. I think the real cost comes with “installation support”.
For many first time users, having support help with an install is a necessity and they will pay for it. See Geek Squad as an excellent example.
Plus having a preconfigured Linux experience is good for these users.
u_u@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Nice perspective. I had a wtf moment reading they charge for Gimp etc, but I imagine some casual PC users installing linux would rather pays for the convenience than troubleshoots.
PattyMcB@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I guarantee there are PLENTY of people jumping the commercial ship to try Linux of many flavors
Technus@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
I’m not saying there’s no people trying it, or that the actual number is negligible. I’m just saying I highly fucking doubt that 780,000 people have actually installed Zorin OS in the last month.
Krudler@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Love how you just completely skipped over the entire thrust of the comment and then churned out some blithe remark.
carrylex@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
If I had a nickel for every time TomsHardware spreads misinformation, makes stuff up or did 0 research on the topic #Ryzen9700X3D I would be millionaire pretty soon.
Can we maybe ban them as a source from here?
altkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
While most users don’t even know their Windows is paid by them - as an OEM pre-install - I can see business persons being oblivious to a concept their workhorse can be just free and good. Zorin is probably targeting that market. Top managers don’t take personal responsibility to integrate some hippy socialist bullshit, they switch from one respectable enterprise solution to the other and can show checks.
DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I am conflicted about Zorin, they are selling something using free software… but somehow, maybe marketing a not sure… they are able to get people on Linux that never did before. So you know, seeing people ditching Windows for Linux might be the first step… maybe someone start with Zorin, get comfortable and jump to something else.
WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
You’re forgetting what “regular” people are like.
Taldan@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Are they getting people onto Linux, or absorbing people that would be switching anyway and taking advantage of those users by charging them? Hard to say which it is
Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Thanks for clearing up the misinfo