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Operating Systems Windows IT Linux

Zorin OS 15 Lite Linux Distro Can Rejuvenate Your Aging Windows PC (betanews.com) 69

Posted by msmash from the something-to-try dept.
An anonymous reader writes: Called "Zorin OS 15 Lite," it is not only lightweight, but thanks to the Xfce desktop environment and integrated Flatpak support, it should be quite familiar to those switching from Windows. In fact, the developers are intentionally targeting existing Windows 7 users, as Microsoft's operating system will be unsupported beginning January 2020. Zorin OS 15 Lite, in comparison, is based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and supported until 2023! It even comes with the very modern Linux kernel 5.0. "With Zorin OS 15 Lite, we've condensed the full Zorin OS experience into a streamlined operating system, designed to run fast on computers as old as 15 years. With version 15, we've gone the extra mile to make the XFCE 4.14-based desktop feel familiar and user-friendly to new users, especially those moving away from Windows 7 leading up to the end of its support in January 2020. By pairing the most advanced and efficient software with a user-friendly experience, we've made it possible for anyone to extend the lifespan of their computers for years to come," explains the Zorin OS developers.
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Zorin OS 15 Lite Linux Distro Can Rejuvenate Your Aging Windows PC More

Zorin OS 15 Lite Linux Distro Can Rejuvenate Your Aging Windows PC

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  • Yes, Xfce is nice and easy — I'm using it on my FreeBSD systems. Why is /. pushing not just Linux (bad enough), but some obscure distro of it?

    • It's the year of the Linux Desktop, didn't you get the memo?

    • The web browser is a hog that consumes massive amounts of ram and cpu. You'll get the same poor performance from it in Linux that you get in Windows.

      • You'll get great performance from either if you can live without JavaScript; sadly, the trend seems to be towards making sites entirely dependent upon it.

  • Actually is true... but (Score:5, Informative)

    by williamyf ( 227051 ) on Monday November 25, 2019 @12:42PM (#59452676)

    I have ZorinOS (not the lite version) in a VM to toy around, and recomend it for people who want to "try" (not learn, try) linux. this time around, it took them a takd longer to release the lite version, so this is good news.

    Having said that, if you aim to migrate away from windows/mac and into linux, migrating the OS is the last step.

    One needs to first migrate all the applicatinos SLOWLY while still on Win/mac t linux available alternatives. Start with hte low hanging fruit, like the Browser and the PDF viewer, then increase difficulty with wordprocessor, then presentation program, then publishing tools, then personal database, then spreadsheet, then photo editing sw, then the IDE/SDK, then... your aim is to substitute apps that are win/mac only for apps that are win/mac + Linux native, and failing that, mess with Wine or VMs.

    Once every single one of your necessary applications is availbale in linux, then you migrate the OS. If you migrate OS and Apps at the same time, the learning curve is overwhelming, and more often than not, the migration project fails, whether is for yourself, a family member, and SMB, a government office, or a fortune 500...

    By the way, ZorinOS comes from Russia with love. For me, in venezuela, and for people in many other countries, not a big deal., but for some people in 5 eyes countries, it can be a problem.

    • Linux Mint is not better for beginners?

      • Linux Mint is not better for beginners?

        Perhaps, but ZorinOS tries Darn hard to imitate the look and feel of win/mac, so, for refugees from those platforms is ideal or people who want to try linux is better, because of the familiarity.

        If latter on you decide to take the plunge and learn linux, you can go to any distro, mint included.

    • Because (1) grandma is going to do that process and (2) it's simpler than just moving to Win10. Oh wait .....

      This 'product' is answering a question virtually no one is asking. If an old notebook PC needs to be brought back to life then try Ubuntu Mate or something but thinking that someone is going to be motivated to blow away a functional Win7 install, change the applications they are using, migrate all that accumulated data and cruft, simply because Microsoft is promising to stop issuing updates is unreal

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by Bert64 ( 520050 )

        Many people will discard their old hardware, and buy new replacements...
        On the other hand, many people in third world countries don't have access to a desktop computer - the internet in most countries is dominated by mobile devices running android. An old discarded laptop running a lightweight linux distro could be useful to someone in a third world country, who typically wont be migrating from any existing apps or data anyway.
        The alternative is that the old laptops go there as-is, and end up becoming full

        • I have in-laws who happen to live in a developing nation, and obviously I've spent a lot of time there myself. Typically for their neighbors, owning an old laptop wouldn't probably be super useful in any case, because having a broadband connection that's not part of the service that comes with a mobile device isn't common. In theory they could tether, but they won't. If a typical person needs a networked PC, they go to an internet cafe.

          The in-laws have a DSL line and a few things most of the neighbors can't

    • By the way, ZorinOS comes from Russia with love.

      Are you SURE about that? I checked the ZorinOS page on Distrowatch and it comes from Ireland. Also check out their About [zorinos.com] page for more info (including mailing address).

      For me, in venezuela, and for people in many other countries, not a big deal., but for some people in 5 eyes countries, it can be a problem.

      Why would that be a problem for us "5 eyes" residents? If I'm going to have an OS spy on me, I would prefer it rat on me to Russian or Chinese intellig

  • Corel Linux, Xandros, Lindows, Ark (not Arch), Yoper and now Zorin. All claiming to be Windows replacements yet always come with a catch. Ubuntu was added to that list after Unity and Amazon spyware was added. Why can't Debian and the other free distros work together to provide a non faddy gateway into linux?. It is the failure of Linux co-operation is why Microsoft gets away with Windows 10. Linux on the desktop has been promised for 20 years, we will still be waiting after the 2038pocolypse.

  • That's great.... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by argStyopa ( 232550 ) on Monday November 25, 2019 @12:52PM (#59452730) Journal

    ...except there's no reason I, as Joe Consumer, am able to consider running it.

    1) It's linux, not Win10. Bitch about it all you like, but MS and Apple have set the UI paradigms. Unless and until a linux distro *exactly* matches their usability for common tasks (ie look, there's a program icon, I can double click it to run it and it goes!), there will be a dissuasive learning curve for all the people running older equipment, usually older people, for whom new learning curves are anathema.

    2) it doesn't run the shit I want to run. Sure, I can find openoffice or google docs which are good enough for most purposes, but for example I have an Intel Q6600 running a radeon 7800 gpu, 4 gigs of ram that I'm refurbing for a young nephew that wants to play fortnite with his friends. This would be the PERFECT machine for this application, but fortnite won't run natively. It *barely* runs fortnite in win10 (forever to load) but I have my doubts that it would run any better on an intrinsically faster linux system because of the whole wine layer "cost".

    3) it doesn't run the shit I WILL want to run; in the above example, he doesn't want to learn to hack, he just wants to play games and do internet stuff. Most of the games he'll download (or say, if his parents want to run a safe-surf app)...either won't run, or he'll have to try to find the semi-supported linux version. LOL

    So it's great for hobbyists and such that enjoy tinkering but IMO fewer and fewer people like that exist. More and more of the consumer market want a computer (if they ever buy one) to be as intuitive and bulletproof as their phone.
     

    • there's no reason I, as Joe Consumer, am able to consider running it.

      Money. Not everyone wants to or even can shell out money for a new machine when their current one still works.

      there will be a dissuasive learning curve for all the people running older equipment, usually older people, for whom new learning curves are anathema.

      You're not wrong but Win10 also isn't the spitting image of Win7. It's going to be painful either way they go.

      it doesn't run the shit I want to run. Sure, I can find openoffice or google docs which are good enough for most purposes

      Except that's what most people want to run. I don't see people with old machines expecting to play Fortnite.

      Your argument may strike a cord with people who expect magic out of their old machine but those people are SOL until they buy a new PC.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by samwichse ( 1056268 )

      But, most people are just running a web browser anymore anyway.

      My dad:
      -Used to run quicken
      --Now a web page
      -Used to have special software from his bank
      --Now a web page
      -Used to use whatever DRMed Microsoft turd of the month to download media
      --Now a web page
      -Used to have a winmodem for dialup
      --Now has a cable modem

      He doesn't play games or edit images. He doens't even own a [working] printer anymore. I moved him 2 years ago to Linux (Fedora) from Win 7 and haven't had any support requests since. I just put a li

      • Wow, -1 troll.

        Sorry for bearing the bad news, I guess?

      • I wrote the post you responded to, and I have no idea why your thoughtful answer was modded down.

        I think you make a very good point.

      • Don't know why you're modded troll, Linux sounds ideal for his needs, but - why did you put him on Fedora of all distros, with a full upgrade required every 6 months and possible breakages? Why not an LTS distro, where he could stay on the same version for 2, 4, whatever years? Doesn't sound like he needs bleeding edge software.

    • >> 1) It's linux, not Win10.

      Exactly. Windows 7 support is ending and Windows 10 won't install on old Windows 7 machines. Zorin specialises in this market, Linux Windows replacement.

      >>2) it doesn't run the shit I want to run.

      Neither will your Windows 7 machine, once the Russian Mafia gain control of it.

  • This year will be the year of Linux on the desktop!

  • People will keep their current Aging Windows 7 PC, not because they are too cheap to buy a new computer, but the hassle of getting a new computer moving data installing software.... Zorin OS doesn't address this.

    What this is good for. Is that OLD PC you never use and you need to hand it off to a friend who is too poor to get a new system. But out of my friends and my wifes friend we know of only one person that poor.

    Normally with these old system, there are dying fans causing overheating, failing mecha

    • It is still FREE to upgrade a Windows 7 box to Windows 10... https://www.microsoft.com/en-u... [microsoft.com]

      Look at the tip "Using the tool to upgrade this PC to Windows 10 (click to show more or less information)" just under the link to download the tool.

      I upgraded two Windows 7 computers to Windows 10 just last weekend and it worked without problem. It will probably still continue to function well after support for windows 7 ends.

      • Thats great, they must have been decent laptops to begin with.
        I do the same with older discarded laptops, tear down, blow out cooling system, put new thermal paste on CPU, maybe some extra ram, and throw in a cheap SSD, then give them away to those less fortunate, ( usually with a bookmark to a free open university ;) )
        It's never too late to learn something new!
        So I welcome all new lightweight distros that fill the niche, I can't with good concience give something with Win 7 on it if these people may be doi

  • Old NVidia Chips (Score:4, Informative)

    by LetterRip ( 30937 ) on Monday November 25, 2019 @01:20PM (#59452866)

    The single biggest problem with linux on older computers/laptops is that NVidia no longer supports their older GPUs and the open source drivers don't really support the older cards either (both the framebuffer driver in grub, and the driver in the kernel)

    So there are huge problems with both setting up the machine and with usability unless you are using an 8-10 year out of date distro.

  • Lol there is a post over at OSNews about how accelerated video playback fails at Desktop Linux all too often. Good luck playing 1080p H.264 videos on that old PC using just the CPU without stuttering and without the fans making a vacuum cleaner impression.

  • won't help one bit. (Score:4, Informative)

    by gTsiros ( 205624 ) on Monday November 25, 2019 @01:38PM (#59452942)

    the problem is rarely the OS. The os merely gives a program access to the hardware

    the OS can not do much when every program you launch is written in javascript running over electron using a boatload of libraries.

    and every other program you launch loads *another* copy of those environments and libraries.

    firefox on start, with no page loaded and with a blank page as startup uses >100 MB. Why? What for? That's enough code and data for a small OS.

    steam: not even in focus, just sitting in the notification area... 100 MB. Windows repots 800 MB "Peak working set". What the hell?

    radeonsettings.exe... not even open. 100MB. Peak working set, 300 MB. What the hell?

    the current ecosystem of programming and execution is embarrassingly wasteful. Huge, slow programs with minimal flexibility and transparency.

    • 100 MB. Why? What for? That's enough code and data for a small OS.

      Exactly. I seem to remember 640k ought to be enough for anyone!

      Hell, I have written OSes for machines that only have 4k of memory - and as an additional benefit won't run Facefuck.

  • $ sudo apt install flatpak

    ooh, that was hard.

    so lame, so very lame.

  • Because if it can't run the same Windows programs (for which there isn't a Linux-based option), it really does nothing for me at all...

    • It's designed for people who want to repurpose their old Windows 7 computer, and don't know anything about Linux. Zorin will give them basic functionality on it, and eventually they might learn more about Linux.

      If you want to run the latest Windows programmes, then you buy a Windows 10 machine.

  • Comment removed (Score:3)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday November 25, 2019 @02:47PM (#59453210)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • If your ISP costs $60/month that is $720 for one year and $1440 for two years. So if someone can afford spending this much money, he can afford $200 or so for a "refurbished" desktop on eBay--and doesn't need this 15 year old computer you quit using years ago--but still have because "you might use it sometime".

  • It's based on Ubuntu LTS in combination with Flatpak and is supposed to be so lean that it runs on 15 year old pc's?
    can't imagine that running smooth, and that's supposed to convince people from migrating away from windows?

  • It's not free to download - $39

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