this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2025

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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 (www.tomshardware.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] Technus@lemmy.zip 320 points 3 weeks ago (11 children)

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

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

But hey, they support this edition with updates until 2029!

click to show

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

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 91 points 3 weeks ago

Its rare to see someone with brain in here

[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 33 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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 16 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] carrylex@lemmy.world 11 points 3 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?

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[–] MrBungle@lemmy.ca 67 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (18 children)

Even if most of those trying it out eventually go back to Windows, this is still great for Linux!

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[–] mlg@lemmy.world 53 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

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 75 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

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 30 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

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

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[–] village604@adultswim.fan 27 points 3 weeks ago

I think you vastly overestimate the amount of effort most people are willing to expend for things like this.

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago

marketing is important. more important than a good product even.

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[–] Aljernon@lemmy.today 52 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

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 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 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.

EDIT: went with Mint over Zorin though.

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[–] tym@lemmy.world 38 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Can't wait for the "FOSS enables the bad guys to download 2 marijuanas" headlines from MSM.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Pff, amateurs. I can download 8 marijuanas simultaneously.

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[–] Soapbox@lemmy.zip 37 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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 12 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

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.

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[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 33 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Just installed CachyOS. It just works.

Never going back

[–] ConstantPain@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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!

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[–] MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zip 30 points 3 weeks ago

Penguin sounds intensify

[–] deleted@lemmy.world 26 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I’m gonna make it 780,001 today.

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[–] DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 26 points 3 weeks ago (17 children)

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.

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[–] Batmorous@lemmy.world 25 points 3 weeks ago (11 children)

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

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[–] stebator@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Someday Microsoft might realize that Windows should be rolling‑based, like CachyOS. By that time, it will be too late for them to catch up and bring everyone back to Windows.

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev 59 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

That's literally what Windows 10 was supposed to be. "The last version of windows". Does no one remember that?

[–] Soapbox@lemmy.zip 15 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I by no means want to defend Microsoft. But I'm pretty sure that was said by an overzealous marketing person who didn't understand correctly, and this was corrected by Microsoft soon after.

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[–] vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 3 weeks ago (9 children)

I remember. I also remember Windows 8 which was supposed to make everything metro stylish and convenient, with tiling, ARM version, claims of being optimized and good for updating even on oldish boxes.

Same times as Nokia Lumia.

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[–] axh@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago (18 children)

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...

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?!?)

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[–] Dazed_Confused@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

You can get a cheap ssd and install linux on it. Before installing disconect existing windows drive. After install reconnect windows drive and make sure that windows boots. Then boot to bios and choose linux as default drive and after booting to mint desktop update grub to include windows. On each boot you will be able to choose which OS you want.

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[–] orioler25@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago (9 children)

I really hope these people don't accept that it's normal to charge for different desktop environments.

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[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 14 points 3 weeks ago

also because w11 is filled with glitches and bugs to the brim.

[–] voodooattack@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

Decade of the Linux Desktop. It’s here guys!

[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

How popular is it against other distros? First I've heard of it (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?

[–] Matty_r@programming.dev 12 points 3 weeks ago

I've noticed Zorin does a lot of marketing and it comes in waves, you won't hear anything for months then it'll be everywhere for a few days.

[–] WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Fuh door uh!

[–] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

Deb-Ian, Deb-Ian!

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[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 weeks ago

Swapped over to Mint a couple days ago, it plays ATOM RPG so I am contented with my slave jank.

[–] Digit@lemmy.wtf 11 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

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%!?

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[–] Electricd@lemmybefree.net 11 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Pretty sure 80% of them are just people distro hopping, we know the Linux community 😂

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