Hey dev community 👋
So I've been messing around with the new Zorin OS 18 Beta that came out a few days ago (September 19th), and honestly? I'm kind of impressed. As someone who's bounced between distros more times than I care to admit, this one caught my attention for all the right reasons.
Why I Even Bothered Testing This
Let's be real - we're all drowning in Linux distro releases. But with Windows 10 dying in October 2025 and millions of machines not meeting Windows 11 requirements, there's actually a massive opportunity here. Zorin has always marketed itself as the "easy Windows replacement," so I figured I'd see if they're backing up that claim.
Spoiler alert: they kind of are.
First Impressions Matter
The desktop redesign is legitimately nice. Not "oh this is acceptable for a Linux distro" nice, but actually nice. They've gone with this rounded, floating panel design that feels modern without being weird. The whole interface has this lighter, more breathable feel to it.
What I really appreciate is that they didn't just copy Windows 11 or macOS. It feels like its own thing while still being immediately familiar to anyone coming from Windows. The visual language is consistent throughout - Files app, Settings, even the new Camera app they built to replace Cheese (thank god).
The Stuff That Actually Matters for Daily Use
The window tiling system is surprisingly good. You drag a window to the top of the screen and get these layout options that just make sense. No weird keyboard combos to memorize, no configuration files to edit. It just works the way you'd expect it to work.
But here's the feature I didn't expect to love: Web Apps. You can turn any website into a standalone desktop app. Google Docs becomes a desktop app. Figma becomes a desktop app. GitHub becomes a desktop app. They show up in your app menu, can be pinned to the taskbar, and feel completely native.
For those of us who practically live in web apps anyway, this is actually a game changer.
The Microsoft Angle
They've got proper OneDrive integration now. Like, actual integration where your OneDrive files show up in the file manager sidebar. For teams or individuals stuck in the Microsoft ecosystem, this removes a huge friction point.
The timing here is pretty smart. With 240 million computers potentially getting left behind by Windows 11's requirements, Zorin is positioning itself as the obvious migration path. And honestly, after using it for a weekend, I can see the appeal.
Performance Reality Check
Built on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS with kernel 6.14. Translation: it's fast and stable. I tested it on an older ThinkPad that was choking on Windows 11, and everything just feels snappier. Boot times, app launches, general responsiveness - it's all noticeably better.
PipeWire is handling audio by default now, which means better compatibility and quality. No more wrestling with ALSA vs PulseAudio decisions.
The Not-So-Great Stuff
It's beta software, so there are rough edges. I hit some visual glitches switching between light and dark themes. Some third-party apps don't quite match the new design language yet. Nothing deal-breaking, but definitely present.
The Zorin team says stable release is coming "in the coming weeks," which probably means most of these issues will get sorted out soon.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Another Distro Release
Look, we all know desktop Linux has come a long way. But Zorin OS 18 feels different. It's not trying to be everything to everyone. It's laser-focused on being the best possible experience for people switching from Windows.
The attention to detail is genuinely impressive. The way web services integrate with desktop workflows. The thoughtful approach to visual design. The focus on making complex things simple rather than exposing every possible configuration option.
This is what happens when you design for actual users instead of just other Linux enthusiasts.
Should You Care?
If you're happy with your current setup, probably not. But if you:
- Know Windows users who need an upgrade path
- Work with teams transitioning off Windows 10
- Just want to see what thoughtful UX design looks like in the Linux space
- Are curious about how good "beginner-friendly" Linux has gotten
Then yeah, it's worth checking out.
The beta is free to download and test. Even if you don't switch, it's interesting to see where desktop Linux is heading.
My Honest Take
I went in expecting another "Windows clone" that misses the point. What I found was a distribution that actually understands what makes Windows familiar and builds something better on top of those patterns.
Will I daily drive it? Probably not - I'm too deep in my current workflow. But would I recommend it to non-technical friends looking to escape Windows 10? Absolutely.
That's not something I say about many distros.
What do you think? Anyone else tried the Zorin OS 18 Beta? How are you handling the whole Windows 10 end-of-life situation with friends/family/colleagues?
Drop your thoughts below - always curious to hear other perspectives on this stuff.
And if you're considering testing it out, you can grab it from zorin.com. Just remember it's beta software, so maybe don't put it on your production machine just yet.
Cheers🍺
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