this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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My primary OS is Windows (I use it for work) and I have Linux as my second OS. If I upgrade my linux distro to the paid version so I can have more features, will Windows be okay? Thanks I'm a newb

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[–] unicornBro@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 day ago (16 children)

I'm using ZorinOS and I really like how simple it is and I want to support the project. If I upgrade to the Pro version then I get more desktop themes/options.

But I understand what you mean. I could just install for example Debian with KDE desktop and have more customizing options for free.

[–] LoreSoong@startrek.website 10 points 1 day ago (8 children)

ALL of the listed features from zorin pro have free alternatives, unless you really want microsoft office, screen sharing, adobe premier, etc... just stick with the free version and find free viable alternatives. Libreoffice, kdenlive, etc. How did you land on zorin to begin with? Most new users are recommended to use fedora, ubuntu-gnome, and linux mint. To me, just looking at zorins website they do not share the most basic principles of the linux space (being free and open source). I highly recomend switching, if you could run

echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP

This will output the name of your display manager like gnome, kde, etc. The version of zorin you are running is more than certainly using a popular one. Just find a distro that uses the same one. And your user experience will be almost exactly the same. Zorin might have some QOL features but definitely not anything you couldnt implement yourself.

Feel free to reach out here for more help if you run into any brick walls. You already dual booted your pc so i have faith that you have a pretty good grasp on what you are doing. If time is a factor and you just need a distro that "works" stick with what you have, and find FOSS alternatives for zorin. Best of luck

[–] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (2 children)

I installed the paid version of Zorin on my Parents machines, because while I could set it up for them just the same and then maintain it until they die, I'd rather pay 50$ and have nearly 0 work to do.

I make way over 50$ for 1 hour or Linux tech support, so there is no world where it would be worth.

But besides that I don't think your attitude is particularely useful for people that would rather shit just work than spend hours on setting it up themselves.

[–] LoreSoong@startrek.website 1 points 21 hours ago

Did you even read the whole comment?

just stick with the free version and find free viable alternatives. Libreoffice, kdenlive, etc.

If time is a factor and you just need a distro that "works" stick with what you have, and find FOSS alternatives for zorin. Best of luck

I respected their time and was simply making a suggestion because zorin seems scummy locking default features behind a paywall.

Most distros come with a built in software downloader. If you consider it "work" to type kdenlive and click download ive got nothing else to say to you.

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