I spent about 10 years on Windows because Linux always sounded more technical than I wanted my everyday computer to be. I pictured command lines, setup problems, and having to look up instructions just to do the basics on Windows. So even when I read or heard about it giving users more control, I never felt much reason to leave what already worked for me.

Then I installed Zorin and started using it for the same things I normally do. Not as a technical experiment, just like my regular computer. That’s when my opinion started to change. I’m not saying Linux is better than Windows in every way, but a few everyday things ended up feeling easier than I expected. I had more control, some tasks felt smoother, and I wasn’t constantly trying to figure out what to do next. Those are the parts that have slowly made Linux grow on me.

I liked having control over how unfamiliar Linux felt

A few layout changes made Zorin feel like my own

I thought that to use Linux you needed to know how to code first. I thought it was just a command line, and the only way to get anything done would be to know how to code for whatever it was I needed to do. When I first opened Zorin, the thing that surprised me the most was that I didn’t feel lost. I could choose between four layouts, but since I was just getting started, I went with the one that places the Zorin Menu at the bottom left. However, once I felt a little more comfortable, I went with the option that put the app icons in the middle of the display.

What surprised me even more was how much I could change inside the Panel Settings. I could move the panel to any side of the screen and make it shorter or thicker, and change where things like the app icons, clock, and system menu appeared.

I also had the option of hiding it altogether. I didn’t even have to click each option to test it. When I hovered over the drop-down menu and scrolled, the panel changed in real time between options like:

• Centered
• Monitor Center
• Stacked at the Bottom

If I didn’t like one, I just kept scrolling.

I could even change what happened when I clicked an app icon. With GIMP open in separate windows, each click moved through them, and with one more click, it minimized everything. I know this barely scratches the surface of how much Linux can be customized, but this kind of control was one of the first things that made me think Linux might actually be a better fit for me.

I finally felt like updates were my decision

I could check the list before letting anything install

I knew Linux users always talked about having more control over updates, but I never really paid much attention to it. Once I opened the Terminal, I started to get it. I checked for updates, and Zorin told me there were 146 packages waiting. Then I pulled up the full list and even ran a simulation to see what would happen before changing anything. I wasn’t expecting to like that part as much as I did. It felt nice knowing what was about to happen before I went through with it.

When I finally ran the upgrade, Zorin showed me all sorts of information, including the number of updates, the space it would use, and that nothing would be removed. I still had to type Y before it downloaded anything. I know I probably won’t look through every package every time I update, but I liked having the choice. That felt strangely good. After years on Windows, I wasn’t used to having this much say before an update started. This was one more thing that earned Linux a few points with me.

Everything just felt quicker once I moved to Linux

GIMP stopped making simpler exports harder than they needed to be

I wasn’t comparing startup times or running any kind of test. I just noticed that GIMP felt easier to use on Zorin. I’ve used the same app on Windows 11 for a while, and the experience there could be a little unpredictable. Some days it worked normally. Other times, even naming a file took a mind-numbingly long time.

The export window was another problem. After I clicked Export, it would sometimes open mostly white, with only part of the window visible. I had to click the top and move it around before everything finally appeared. Then I could finish exporting the image. I know there are bigger problems an app can give me, but having to deal with it every time I used GIMP got annoying.

I haven’t had that happen on Zorin. The window opens just fine, and I can see all the available options. It looks like I’m not the only one who has noticed this. In a recent r/GIMP discussion, another user said GIMP felt much more responsive on Linux, although some replies pointed out that the experiences can depend on the computer. For me, it was one more everyday thing that made Linux grow on me a little more.

Linux is growing on me in the places that matter

Zorin no longer feels like something I’m testing. I’m using it for normal work now, and each time something feels easier, faster, or more under control, Linux earns a little more of my trust.

I’m still keeping Windows around, but I’m not rushing back to it either. For anyone curious about Linux, I’d try doing one familiar task on it first. That made it much easier for me to see what had actually changed, instead of forming an opinion without giving it a real shot.

OS

Linux

Minimum RAM Specs

2 GB

Zorin OS is a Linux distribution built as an alternative to Windows and macOS. It is sleek and designed to make a computer faster and more powerful.