Zorin OS is a pretty nice GNU/Linux distribution based on Ubuntu LTS releases, and its focus is to be an easy replacement for Windows. With Windows 10 going end of life in less than a year (unless you spend $30 with Microsoft for an extra year of support), Zorin OS is in a great place to pick up Windows users who don’t want to go to Big Brother Windows 11 featuring (total) Recall. Zorin OS has a paid Pro version with extra themes and other extras mainly meant for businesses, and are working on a desktop management system to simplify administering multiple desktop systems.
And as a Linux Distribution you can download a free version to use as well. An extremely interesting nugget in the interview is that Endless OS was having great success being offered on new computers in Indonesia reaching #1 in market share, until Microsoft supposedly contacted the manufacturers and said if you continue we’re going to reconsider our Windows arrangement with you. But Artyom was highlighting that distribution is the real opportunity with Windows 10 going end of life, and Microsoft being so determined to make people upgrade to new computers with certain features (Big Brother Tracking Features with AI chips). Chrome OS has helped cut Microsoft’s market share greatly while getting people running Linux, but perhaps now the age of desktop Linux is going to finally arrive.
Consequently, this made me install Zorin OS in a virtual machine under VMware Workstation, and it’s working quite well once set up to my specifications. They use the Gnome desktop environment, but interestingly they make it like Windows or for that matter KDE which is also Windows like. First thing to do is setup the theme you like, and then I remove Flatpak which is used for their themes. I don’t care for Flatpak or Snap packages. The Pro version has more theming options if you want to pay for it and contribute to development. So it’s been added to the rotation with Debian Stable, Testing and Unstable on my desktop, with Endeavor OS (Arch) on my laptop, which is actually an old Chromebook compliments of Mr. Chromebox.