Zorin OS 12 Lite

[Coastie]

A good thing about Zorin Lite switching to the Xfce desktop environment, and Peppermint OS switching to the Xfce panel, is this puts some indirect pressure on the Xfce project.  Xfce's growing audience can inspire participation in more development.  And that helps Linux Lite. ...
https://blog.xfce.org/

 

[Coastie]

The Zorin Lite folks might want to consider this as they move to Xfce:

You got me and had me worried for a minute! 

[torreydale]

The Zorin Lite folks might want to consider this as they move to Xfce:

[torreydale]

A good thing about Zorin Lite switching to the Xfce desktop environment, and Peppermint OS switching to the Xfce panel, is this puts some indirect pressure on the Xfce project.  Xfce's growing audience can inspire participation in more development.  And that helps Linux Lite.

For the record, this is some of what the Xfce project has been working on:
https://blog.xfce.org/

[bitsnpcs]

nic

[torreydale]

I've wondered about having multiple desktop environment choices for Linux Lite.  But then I think "ElementaryOS only has one desktop environment, and in terms of popularity, they are no slouch."  Same thing with PeppermintOS and LXLE.  And of course, if you count Ubuntu, Lubuntu, and Ubuntu MATE as separate distros (because they are), each only has one desktop environment, and each is in Distrowatch's Last 6 months Top 20.

Conclusion:  One desktop environment can be enough.  And one desktop environment is in keeping with "Simple, Fast, Free."

[torreydale]

@rokytnji,

To be fair, Zorin OS and Zorin Lite have been around since about 2009.  The new thing is they are moving their Lite offering from an LXDE platform to an Xfce platform.  Having Lite in the name and Xfce at the same time is what is new.

[bitsnpcs]

nic

[rokytnji]

Riddle me this. Light is spelled this way. So the spelling "Lite" in Zorins title. Give me a break already.

[bluzeo]

for me i want something that works. lite works. im very tired of Xfce though. i made an decsion though.  about this distro. it sn good one for a lot of things but an fresh install on during  2.8 to 3.0 is really left me having bad taste in my mouth.  i really like the fact i got an lot of apps i use on the lite software. chromuim and clenmintime to name the two. but also it was throw Lite i found my bible apps. bibletine is my go to for my lessons.

it morphin time

[Jerry]

Some interesting, and well thought out replies here. Great community

[firenice03]

They had a LXDE version that was 'Lite' and I made no comment or distinction. Now that the similarities are a lot closer (XFCE) I'm interested to hear peoples thoughts on both sides of the discussion. There will be the inevitable "what's the difference between to two" online. I always try to view this from the 'new person to linux' shoes, as that's who we target, not existing linux users. What sort of impact does confusion in the distro community have on new people to linux, if any?

Linux Lite Simple Fast Free - unfortunately every day words no differentiation; not a bad thing. It expresses exactly to the letter. Lite on resources and software, Simple very easy for someone from Windows coming over, Free what did you say no subscription or licensing fees. So any other Linux distro wanting to use lite and linux may have some crossover.. But on the other hand and I'm just thinking any distro using the name should yield traffic to "LL".. Googling Zorin Linux Lite or Linux Lite LXDE should yield hits back to the LL main page or ideally the forum, where another part of the distro shines...

The majority of folks came here by way of another distro, I somehow fell into Mandriva, just long enough to see Linux wasn't that bad then Mint but was blow away by the different DE's... Then pretty much a download spree - Different Mints, PCLOS, think puppy was in there, stayed away from Arch (heard forums got rough on newbies), a few others and Linux Lite; 1 DE, things worked, great info and a forum to match..

I don't think similar naming conventions will change much, if anything it may help...

Just my plugged nickle

Coastie kiwi is funny till you say pie after it then you have Kiwi PI and that's another animal  right up there with Raspberry, Banana and Orange ... LOL

[Coastie]

Emphasizing the motto of Simple Fast Free will always set Linux Lite at the top of distro choices for new users coming from Windows. Even after a Linux Lite user becomes more experienced, many will with Linux Lite for the same reasons.

Maybe a new but related topic: Should a different and more distinctive name be considered? Maybe Kiwi Linux and use a cartoon kiwi instead of just a feather? 

[torreydale]

@LL-user, @Jerry,

From my experience, one of the most confusing things for Windows migrants are the different DEs. I meanwhile tend to not even mention them for quite some time   At the end it comes down to features/requirements .... and the X-factor(s).

I agree with this.  I stumbled onto Zorin early in the game because I didn't understand Ubuntu (Unity) and Linux Mint overwhelmed me with choices, ie. I didn't know which version to download.  I tried Zorin Lite to see what they meant by Lite.  Eventually, I came upon Distrowatch, Matthew Moore, and Spatry.  That combination led me to Linux Lite and...I'll say it again...I was attracted to the documentation.  I wanted information and there it was. 

Learning about Linux via this forum and Linux Lite's documentation helped me understand the other distros.  Their pros and cons.  I felt I knew enough about this distro and where it was headed that I became a Linux ambassador with Linux Lite as the distro I'd try to get working on an associates' computer before all others.

If I'm not installing Linux Lite for someone, it's still easy for me to recommend it to them.  I don't feel like I'm letting them down by sending them to the Linux Lite website.  Linux Lite's download webpage is self explanatory with only one choice per architecture (ie. one 32bit download and one 64 bit download).  Furthermore, the www.linuxliteos.com/manual page is really easy on the eyes for anyone, especially new users.  I like referring people to it. 

These things are the distinguishers. 

In terms of lightness, most any distro running Cinnamon, Xfce, MATE, or LXDE is going to be much lighter than what Windows users are used to.  It's not the Lite part of Linux Lite's hardware requirements that is the most important.  In fact, it bothers me when I read or hear a reviewer refer to Linux Lite as a distro for "older machines."  That's LXLE's claim.  Linux Lite's goal is to be inviting to Windows converts new to Linux, and that is where Linux Lite stands out.  It requires lite Linux experience and lite computer knowledge from the user.  A user who is willing to do some lite reading or some lite forum participation can still get the full stability, security, and performance experience of Linux.

[rokytnji]

Warning: Discalimer

Biased opinion. Never liked Zorin. Never will. It will never be installed on any of my gear.

The distro works on fears and tries to exert control using those fears.
Free download (core) but for paid support you get.

I consider the name a chicken-caca way to market a paid linux  distro.  Nothing wrong with marketing it "ZorinOS-Thrifty" or "ZorinOS-Base" instead.
Using the Lite in title skews google searches.
Looks like they need your members/user base Jerry.

You can't baffle this biker with bull-pucky. Just my opinion.  Nothing more.