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I finally made the commitment! After a LONG time of debating the idea of using Linux and using Linux on the school computers, I backed up my Windows 11 and replaced it. Maybe it was a better idea to dual-boot Linux with my Windows 11, but I decided to jump with both feet.
The Discovery
After looking at multiple Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Puppy Linux, etc.), I found Zorin OS. The description was "the environment you're familiar with, whether it's Windows, macOS, or Linux". Interesting, I thought. The UI was very captivating and polished. And on top of that, Zorin OS didn't require a large amount of RAM or storage.
Zorin OS 16 does come with a price tag of $39 USD but Zorin 16 Core and Lite are absolutely free.
Zorin OS 16 also has a Education version (absolutely free) that includes software such as Scratch, an IDE, LibreCAD, and more. Their vision is to give schools access to educational apps and monitored through a single management console. Set up wouldn't be hard either. The concept of deploying apps, configuring settings or doing maintenance on an entire school's system of computers could be managed on one single computer is being built into their new feature - Zorin Grid.
My Experience with Zorin OS
It's been several weeks since transitioning to Zorin OS. And it feels great! Finding Linux versions of familiar apps I used on Windows 11 took a minute (and I will do more posts on that in the future), but overall I am very happy with my decision.
I absolutely love the idea that everything is open source. And knowing that, everything is absolutely FREE! Come again? Yes, that's right. Unlink Windows, where you have to throw in around $100+ USD each time a new version comes out, with Linux you can upgrade or switch to another Linux distribution whenever and how ever many times you'd like without costing a penny. Also, the apps are free too. You might not get all the applications you are familiar with on Windows or macOS but there are great alternatives. I'll be writing on those in the future.
As I mentioned, you can switch as many times as you want. Well, there are so many Linux distributions out there with many great features that make them different. When searching through, as someone who hadn't done that before, it was definitely a hard to make a decision. What other people were saying about each distribution definitely helped.
And the fact that Linux is so easily customized. Though some Linux distributions do not allow as much customization as others, there is still many notches up from the amount you can change on Windows or macOS. You get to make your computer 100% yours. And I love that my computer now has a bit of my personality reflected in it.
Linux also has this great and wonderful community that supports and helps each other. Have a question? Post it. You'll most likely get a detailed answer from someone experienced with Linux. It's incredible!
What Now
A little about me, I am currently pursuing a web development career from the very beginning. I am learning the basic concepts of Javascript and looking forward to learning about React, Typescript, and so much more.
It's taken me a journey or two to get me to where I am today but I could not be any happier. Thus, I want to share what I am learning in hopes to help someone else.
On my transition to Linux, there were many new discoveries along the way. And I know there will be many more in the future as I learn web dev. Maybe I'll start a series for both.
I am always open for feedback and suggestions. And if my post(s) helped you in any way shape or form, I would love to hear from you too.
Happy coding!
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