 Zorin OS
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| Founded: |
Jul 1, 2009 (edit) |
| Version: | v17.2 (edit) |
| Release Date: | Mar 7, 2024 (edit) |
| Next Release: | Unannounced (edit) |
| Platform(s): | Linux, (X86, PPC, ISO) (edit) |
| Packaging: | DEB (edit) |
| Interface(s): |
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| Derivative of: | Ubuntu (edit) |
| Home Page: | http://zorin.com/os (edit) |
Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It uses the GNOME 3 and XFCE 4 desktop environment by default, with a heavily customized interface in order to help users who are transitioning from other operating systems such as Windows and macOS.
ZorinOS supports Wine and PlayOnLinux, which allows users to run compatible Windows software, such as Microsoft Office.
Features[]
Zorin Appearance
Zorin OS has some distinctive features that set it apart from other Linux distributions. The most well-known one is the purposeful attempt to provide a Windows-like experience by default. However, Zorin Appearance enabled users to choose the theme that best suits them. With Zorin OS 16, users have the option to choose between a variety of appearance styles including styles which mimic Windows 10, macOS, the now-defunct Windows 10X, and others.
Zorin uses the Avant Window Navigator (AWN) on top of a Gnome 3 base. The Zorin Menu is a plugin for AWN, and changes depending on the layout selected.
With a 2.4GB ISO, Zorin offers nearly every piece of software a user could want. This includes not only the basics (LibreOffice, Firefox, etc.), but also more advanced software like GIMP, OpenShot Video editor, VLC Media Player, and Wine. Users also have access to the Ubuntu Software Center.
Zorin OS comes pre-installed with many media codecs to help users avoid having to install these themselves, a task which is a major roadblock for new Linux users.
Editions[]
The operating system is broken up into several editions:
| Edition | Cost |
|---|---|
| Professional | Paid |
| Core | Free |
| Eduation | Free |
| Lite | Free |
Lite Edition : Useful for computers running on older hardware and utilize the XFCE environment instead of Core's GNOME environment. It will be discontinued from version 19.
Core Edition : It is core Zorin OS. It comes with 4 theme and all feature of Zorin OS including Zorin connect but lacks the extra professional packages and support of Zorin Team.
Education Edition : This edition comes with various educational tools and games to help in your way of learning. This editon is also made for schools.
Professional Edition: Available for purchase through the ZorinOS website. This edition offers several additional layouts / skins which are based on the different operating systems available on the market today, including Windows 11 and macOS. ZorinOS 17 introduced the ChromeOS and GNOME 2 layouts. This edition also includes programs such as Blender, password managing software, and Miracast.
History[]
The project was started in 2008 by co-founders Artyom and Kyrill Zorin. The company is based in Dublin, Ireland.
Zorin OS was initially released on 1 July 2009. Since version 16.3, the system's upgrade tool can be used to upgrade existing installations; earlier versions required users to do a clean install.
Release Versions[]
| Version | Release Date |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | Jul 1, 2009 |
| Limited Edition '09 | Dec 7, 2009 |
| 2.0 | Jan 1, 2010 |
| 3.0 | Jun 10, 2010 |
| 4.0 | Dec 22, 2010 |
| 5.0 | June 6, 2011 |
| 6.0 | Dec 31, 2012 |
| 7.0 | Oct 16, 2013 |
| 8.0 | Feb 21, 2014 |
| 9.0 | Jul 15, 2014 |
| 10.0 | Aug 1, 2015 |
| 11.0 | Feb 3, 2016 |
| 12.0 | Nov 18, 2016 |
| 15.3 | Sep 8, 2020 |
| 16.0 | Aug 17, 2021 |
| 16.1 | Mar 10, 2022 |
| 16.2 | Oct 27, 2022 |
| 16.3 | Jul 27, 2023 |
| 17.0 | Dec 20, 2023 |
| 17.1 | Mar 7, 2024 |
| 17.2 | Sep 19, 2024 |