This Linux OS Already Has 550K Downloads — Mostly From An Unexpected Source

[steven36]

The Zorin Group has released a point update to the beautiful beginner-friendly Linux distro Zorin OS 15, and while not substantial it does ship with a few nice improvements worth mentioning below. But the real headline, at least in my opinion, is the visibility Zorin OS is enjoying with Mac and Windows users.

 

 

In the release announcement, the Zorin group shares that within 6 months Zorin OS 15 has been downloaded 550,000 times, and that a surprising 65% of those downloads come from macOS or Windows machines.

 

More than half a million downloads may seem trivial when compared to the large user-base for Windows and Macs, but for a boutique Linux distribution — in a sea of literally hundreds — this seems worthy of celebration.

 

This likely comes down to the simple, direct marketing the Zorin Group employs. Phrases like “A powerful desktop you already know how to use” and “Your Computer, Better” are powerful and easy to understand. This is combined with imagery (such as the above photo) that frequently invokes the clean lines and looks of Apple hardware like iMacs.

 

(Makes sense, it’s pretty easy to install Linux on your older Macs.)

 

The team is also targeting Windows 7 users as a free, modern alternative to the aging Microsoft OS that loses support in January 2020. In addition to that, there’s a Zorin OS Education Edition targeted at elementary schools that couples the existing ease-of-use with a ton of open source educational apps and games.

 

 

ABOVE: Listen to my fascinating interview with Zorin OS founder Artyom Zorin about the future of desktop Linux.

 

But I wanted to hear directly from Zorin OS founder Artyom Zorin, so I asked him for his take on this:

 

“It's a bunch of different things,” Zorin replied. “By having a laser focus on a specific use case and demographic – Windows and macOS users who aren't familiar with Linux in our case – this was always at the top of our minds when making any decision, from how to develop the system to how we explain it to newcomers on our website. Because of this, we knew how important it was to make the system approachable and attractive to the regular computer user. Even when proficient Linux users first came across Zorin OS, they could see that it's something that their friends who still use Windows and macOS could be interested in, and they spread the word of Zorin OS.”

 

Zorin also shared that they’ve spent “virtually no money on advertising.” The growth of Zorin, he says, has been entirely word of mouth.

 

“It's thanks to the incredible community that Zorin OS has gotten to where it is today, and we couldn't be more grateful,” he adds.

 

Regardless of statistics, Zorin OS is a Linux distribution worth paying attention to. It’s refreshing to see that it’s potentially bringing so many Windows and macOS users over to the more beautiful and less frustrating side of the desktop PC fence.

 

It’s also refreshing to see a Linux distribution openly sharing their download numbers.

 

This week’s Zorin OS 15 update includes GameMode, a tweak that automatically boosts CPU performance of certain games, a slick improvement to the Zorin Connect app that lets you control your mouse cursor with an Android phone, and LibreOffice 6.3 among several other improvements detailed here.

 

Source

[halvgris]

downloads doesn't mean as much as installed.

 

every linux n3rd will each download at least the 64 bit

version for safe keeping.

 

half of the downloads are from novice people who

later decides it's gonna be to complicated to install.

[steven36]

5 minutes ago, halvgris said:

downloads doesn't mean as much as installed.

 

every linux n3rd will each download at least the 64 bit

version for safe keeping.

 

half of the downloads are from novice people who

later decides it's gonna be to complicated to install.

How you know all  this? s you cant unless you have a cam in  100s of people's homes !  Stop spreading fud ..We were all noobs once  and if you can install windows  you can install Linux  because  Linux is easy to install even faster than Windows.  The installer  tells you how to do it . Why would you even download it if you don't know how to install a OS?  if everyone  thought Linux  was too hard to install they be no Linux users at all. Zorin OS  is easy Linux  for Windows and Mac  converts  its not hard Like Gentoo or Arch .

[cosy]

Has someone here installed this and tell us how good it is?

[steven36]

1 minute ago, cosy said:

Has someone here installed this and tell us how good it is?

You dont have to install it to try it  Most distros come with a Live  ISO so you can try it before you install it. @WALLONN7 always used this distro .

[cosy]

Just now, steven36 said:

You dont have to install it to try it  Most distros come with a Live  ISO so you can try it before you install it. @WALLONN7 always used this distro

 

Okay, I will try it over the weekend thank you for the tip

[Sylence]

1 hour ago, halvgris said:

downloads doesn't mean as much as installed.

 

every linux n3rd will each download at least the 64 bit

version for safe keeping.

 

half of the downloads are from novice people who

later decides it's gonna be to complicated to install.

 

You are right about that

[123m.m]

very best

 

[mp68terr]

1 hour ago, cosy said:

Okay, I will try it over the weekend thank you for the tip

Your live iso will likely be on a cd or usb-key, expect the real install to be even faster.

[orbystorm]

Too many distros fragmented and I love Linux.