Zorin OS: A Windows Look-a-like

[MikeTbob]

Home - Zorin OS

Zorin OS features the unique Look Changer program which allows users to change the user interface at the touch of a button. Simply click on either the Windows 7, Windows XP or Linux's GNOME interface in Zorin OS Core and Educational and your desktop looks and behaves accordingly. The Premium versions (Zorin OS Gaming, Multimedia and Ultimate) also include the Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Windows 2000 looks.

I just saw this on lxer.com. A distro for MS Windows lovers, with a premium version too. Anyone going to check it out? Windows isn't my thing, so I think I'll pass.

[MASONTX]

The Zorin site says: " Simply click on either the Windows 7, Windows XP or Linux's GNOME interface in Zorin OS Core and Educational and your desktop looks and behaves accordingly." If you click on one of the windows interface, does that mean it get viruses, crash, and otherwise behave just like windows?

[MASONTX]

Oops! Should have read on down the page. The Zorin site says that they are not susceptible to viruses etc, and they run about 4 times faster than windows 7.

[oz]

Windows isn't my thing, so I think I'll pass.

Looks interesting, but I'll be passing as well. I prefer desktop environments that don't look like any version of Windows.

[MASONTX]

Yes, but for the non-linux user who objects to learning a new desktop environement (wife, motherinlaw), it may be just the thing to start weaning them off windows. It may not be for the registered linux user, but for the windows junkie it might be a way to rehab them.

[MikeTbob]

Yes, but for the non-linux user who objects to learning a new desktop environement (wife, motherinlaw), it may be just the thing to start weaning them off windows. It may not be for the registered linux user, but for the windows junkie it might be a way to rehab them.

That is exactly why I posted it, I know we get a lot of requests for Windows like distros. If anyone tries it, please give us a short review.

[Freston]

I know we get a lot of requests for Windows like distros.

I always wonder what is meant by that innocent looking sentence

I mean, sure, [start] button on the lower left corner, [systray] and [clock] on the lower right corner. Taskbar in between. But further?

I'm thinking, the familiar lay-out of the (classic) configuration screen, the horrors of gpedit.msc, the delights of the smb share dialog, or the persistent [clean unused desktop icons] pop-up? And then, nobody could want a Linux-style regedit, but our alternative takes some getting used to as well.

I always wonder what is meant by 'Windows like'

[MASONTX]

To me, in addition to the buttons being in familiar places, it means that if I put it on my wifes computer she wont complain she can't find anything. It may be open office instead of word, or totem instead of windows movie player, but the programs should be in the same place and easy for her to find. The menus should be similar, even if the exact programs are different.

[dancingdog777]

That is exactly why I posted it, I know we get a lot of requests for Windows like distros. If anyone tries it, please give us a short review.

Just tried Zorin3.0 OS. Only run as Live CD but showed it to my son who has a Win 7 (should I mention that here or it considered swearing!) netbook. He instantly took to it and didn't realise it wasn't Windoze!

The default desktop looks like Win 7 but should you wish to change to the XP or Gnome desktop you need to log out and back in again. Unfortunately the Zorin team forgot to tell the user what the manual log in was! In the end I discovered the user name is Live and the password is blank (just hit return).

It's quite fast for a Live CD on my old 2.6 Ghz single core lap top (500MB ram) but too much like Windoze for my liking.

[MASONTX]

Looks like it could be good for older, but not ancient computers. For those who want a windows style and those who prefer gnome: Zorin OS 3 now comes pre-installed with a brand new exclusive program called the Zorin OS Look Changer. This allows you to use your desktop in not only a Windows 7 style, but also Windows XP and GNOME interface.

Zorin OS minimal system requirements:

* CPU: 700 MHz
* RAM: 256 MB
* HDD: 6 GB
* DVD or USB connection
* Graphics card capable of 640x480 resolution

Zorin OS recommended system requirements:

* CPU: 1 GHz
* RAM: 512 MB
* HDD: 10 GB
* DVD and USB connection
* A 1024x768 resolution monitor
* Internet access