Customers are switching from Windows to Zorin OS 18

      While giants like Microsoft and Apple are betting on artificial intelligence and increasingly complex interfaces, interesting things are happening in the world of open-source software. The Zorin OS distribution, known for being friendly to former Windows users, says that the new version of the operating system was downloaded more than a million times in just a month and a half.

      Most interestingly, over 78% of these downloads came from Windows users. The distribution initially aimed to ease the transition from "Windows" to Linux and to offer a real alternative to the "big" proprietary operating systems. It seems that more and more people are starting to look for that alternative.

      The Zorin OS team, encouraged by the success, announced the launch of the planned upgrade process from version 17 to 18. However, they are being extremely cautious here. Instead of opening the upgrade en masse to everyone, they have launched it in early testing mode. For now, only owners of previous Core, Education, and Pro versions can take advantage of this opportunity. Image: zorin_com

      This approach says a lot about the developers' responsible attitude toward users and their product. They frankly warn that during the testing period the upgrade may lead to instability or even system failure, and strongly do not recommend it for work computers. Their goal is to collect feedback, fix bugs, and only after a few weeks release a stable and secure update for everyone who wants it. This is a smart strategy that helps avoid backlash over a raw product.

      Looking ahead

      The success of Zorin OS is not just the luck of a single project. We can now observe a quiet migration. The fact that the majority of new users came from Windows points to a growing fatigue with Microsoft's solutions. The reasons may be intrusive updates, excessive complexity, privacy concerns, or the cost of licenses. Zorin OS, being free and offering a familiar interface, successfully capitalizes on this discontent.

      Gone are the times when Linux was the domain of geeks. Distributions like Zorin OS prove that an open operating system can be simple, beautiful, and ready to work straight "out of the box." This raises the bar for all players, forcing them to think primarily about user convenience rather than technology for technology's sake. Image: zorin_com

      In the long run, this could lead to the formation of a new, albeit small, but stable and growing niche in the OS market. If the trend continues, large vendors may have to rethink their strategy, paying more attention to simplicity, transparency, and user control over their systems. The success of Zorin OS is not a threat to Microsoft's existence, but a polite yet insistent reminder that users always have a choice.

      Meanwhile, in Russia an open course on working with the ALD Pro directory service has been released, aimed at retraining IT infrastructure administrators who work with Windows-based systems.