I am deciding between Fedora and Zorin. Why should I choose Fedora? What makes it better than Zorin?
Update: Thanks to all who responded! I have decided to ditch the “specialty” distros that often recommended to beginners and go with either Fedora or Ubuntu, testing both before committing to either. The input from each of you was very, very helpful and very, very appreciated. Even if I ultimately choose Ubuntu, I am pleased that Fedora has such a beginner-friendly community!
IMO, neither is better but they are different. The real question is which one fits you better.
I would recommend trying both and then choosing which one you like better.
If you want a recommendation from us, we would need to know a lot more about where you are coming from and what you are looking for. But, honestly, it would be highly biased so it is better to just try them both yourself. There is no major cost to doing so and you will learn a lot in the process.
It is very common for Linux users to bounce around to 4 or 5 different distros before finding the one that fits you best.
To add a bit more information to the previous comment and answer your question about why Fedora:
That said, nobody can make that decision for you. At the end of the day, choosing a distro is also a matter of personal preference and what works best for you.
Thank you, dalto, for reminding me to try both and decide for myself. I came to Linux because Windows kept restarting itself. I first experimented with Mint, then realized it was in my interest to continue running Windows for the remainder of my warranty period. (So Lenovo support could help me troubleshoot, and I wouldn’t need to re-install Windows if I had to send my machine to Lenonvo for repair…) I’m now looking for my next distro to experiment with.
Although not exactly the same, Zorin and Linux Mint are broadly similar since they are both based on Ubuntu. Zorin is better at helping you get started, especially coming from Windows.
What do you primarily use your computer for, broadly speaking.
Flrn Rnd, thanks for letting me know where to find help if I need it. (Perhaps I should say when I need it.) I’m thrilled to learn that there is a large number of users, like yourself, who are willing to share their expertise.
Dalto, thanks for asking. I use my computer for LibreOffice Writer and Calc, Spotify, Brave and Firefox, YouTube, Standard Notes, and Proton Drive, Pass, and Mail. I am hesitant to go back to Mint because it crashes and only sometimes detects my printer. But, then again, with version 23 coming in December…
That is all very standard stuff.
Any distro should be able to do that, is just a question of how easy or hard it is.
Honestly, for use cases like that, I usually recommend Aurora. It is a derivative of Fedora but very easy to get started with. It is very straightforward to use and handles basically everything for you transparently. It is also very hard to break.
I’ve spent years hanging around the Linux channels on IRC, first on Freenode and now on Libera. In my experience (and I usually don’t like talking “badly” about distributions) Mint, Zorin, elementary, EndeavourOS, and now the trendy CachyOS tend to be newbie traps.
For your first Linux installation, I usually recommend starting with something mainstream, at least until you gain some experience. The desktop environment, software selection, etc. honestly aren’t things I’d worry too much about. Once you’re comfortable with Linux, you can install whatever you want.
And if you want to experiment with other distributions, you don’t even need to reinstall your system. Tools like GNOME Boxes make it very easy to create virtual machines and try things out safely.
So while we can’t make the choice for you, my guidance would be: forget about derivatives for now and choose a mainstream distribution such as Ubuntu, Fedora, or openSUSE.
Of those three, Ubuntu is probably the most beginner-friendly. It also has a huge community (I’m a contributor there myself), so there are plenty of resources when you run into problems.
Ubuntu has gained a pretty bad reputation in some parts of the Linux community. Canonical has certainly made some questionable decisions over the years, and that has created some legitimate criticism. But a lot of what you will read about Ubuntu these days is community politics rather than an accurate reflection of the operating system or its community. Ubuntu is a good OS, the people working on it are generally nice, and the community is huge and active.
Why am I telling you this? Because it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen someone avoid Ubuntu because they read “Ubuntu bad, use Mint instead” somewhere, only to end up with a less mainstream distribution without really understanding why they chose it.
You don’t have to like Canonical or agree with all of its decisions to use Ubuntu. For a first Linux installation, I’d still consider it one of the safest choices.
Now, if you’re willing to step slightly outside your comfort zone and are up for a nice adventure, Fedora is probably the best middle ground. It doesn’t hold your hand quite as much as Ubuntu, but it’s not difficult either. And we’re here if you have any doubts along the way.
Thank you, Flrn Rnd, for advising me to pick a mainstream distribution. I am doing as you advised…choosing between Fedora and Ubuntu…
Apologies if this was covered by someone else – I skimmed the other responses.
I’d recommend using something like Ventoy on a USB stick, and put multiple live distros (in this case, Ubuntu and Fedora – although depending on the size of your USB stick, you can fit many more) on it and boot them in turn to see which you like/works better for you.
I’d note that with Fedora, there are multiple desktop environments (DEs) available, some of which approximate the Windows DE more than others. Those are, of course, available for Ubuntu as well but Fedora provides bootable live images for most of them:
And multiple other DEs as well.
I expect that Ubuntu has similar live images you can test with as well but I’ve primarily used Fedora for nearly twenty years and haven’t really focused on Ubuntu. I’m sure others can point you in the right direction.
As for DEs, I prefer XFCE because of its light(er) resource requirements and simple interface. Many folks around here will disagree with me – and that’s fine. In fact, it’s more than fine – being able to choose the environment and software you wish to use is the best thing about running Linux. Most folks will push you toward Workstation or Plasma as that’s what they know, but what makes you most comfortable is what’s important.
Welcome to the Fedora community and I trust you’ll find the distribution and interface that best meets your needs. As other folks have mentioned, there’s an active group on here that is both helpful and knowledgeable, so feel free to explore and ask questions.
a better question is what makes you thingk those are your only options, why even think on zorin?
if you are a new linux user, i wouldnt ytouch zorin, most people just go with mint
fedora is great if you like a strong well managed distro with lots of years of experience and a great kde implementation
zorin is a distro with a weird desktop heavily modified that is not for me, most use it, then discover kde and zorin is left in the past
Thank you, Rectangular Waterspouts, for encouraging me try different distros before committing. This is the first time I have heard about Ventoy, so I really appreciate the tip. I am also pleased to learn that there is a helpful and knowledgeable community willing to help.
Thank you, noname19, for reminding me that I should consider all options. I thought about Zorin, because I had watched some YouTube videos recommending it for beginners. I tried Mint…crashed my computer and only sometimes recognized my printer. Now, my decision is between the two mainstream distros–Ubuntu and Fedora.
Your printer issue with Mint probably wasn’t a “Mint thing.” That particular printer may just be finicky with its drivers or CUPS, and you could run into the same issue on Fedora or Ubuntu. I’d do a quick search for “[your printer model] Linux driver” before deciding which distro to go with.
Thank you, Nick for the action-able recommendation. I will definitely do some searching and testing with a USB before making my decision.
see , i used almost all the distros .. n then i decided on these points ,
don’t limit yourself
Set Sail . .
check Ubuntu Linux Mint Monjaro Zorin elementary OS .. ..
and i know you would come back to FEDORA
.. see you back here .. .yeah ..
Regards
Binary-m3, these are great points to consider when picking the version to try next. First, I think I will try out an atomic version of Fedora…then Ubuntu, assuming I can configure it to work with flatpaks, then…