Zorin Linux

[New Wrycuda]

Last month, I upgraded an old Acer 523 laptop to Zorin Linux, mainly as an experiment, but also to bypass the Win10 end-of-support deadline.

Acer 523...

• AMD A9-9410
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB SSD (80% full after Linux + Apps)
• 2TB HDD

The installation went smoothly, and everything works well. There was an initial problem with the numeric key-pad, but hitting the NumLock key fixed that, and that setting is persistent. There’s also a non-video USB-C port, and that is supported. A problematic optical drive has settled down.

The interface is very Windows-Like, and the computer works well for its main application which is streaming to the TV. An OS update was uneventful.

I’m not sure if Trim is automatically running, but it’s easy enough to do manually, although streaming is not likely to stress the SSD, despite its small size.

>sudo fstrim -v /

Zorin is highly recommended.

 

[Austinian]

Last month, I upgraded an old Acer 523 laptop to Zorin Linux, mainly as an experiment, but also to bypass the Win10 end-of-support deadline.

Along these lines, I recently read about an umbrella organization whose purpose is to assist users whose PCs are unsuitable for Windows 11 in transitioning to a Linux distro.

End of 10

Extended support for Windows 10 ends in 2026. Don’t buy a new PC — revive yours with Linux. It's fast, secure, and help is available to get you started.

endof10.org

 

[New Wrycuda]

Last month, I upgraded an old Acer 523 laptop to Zorin Linux, mainly as an experiment, but also to bypass the Win10 end-of-support deadline.

Along these lines, I recently read about an umbrella organization whose purpose is to assist users whose PCs are unsuitable for Windows 11 in transitioning to a Linux distro.

https://endof10.org/

Interesting, but I’m leaning towards Linux on new hardware, provided that UEFI can be accommodated. In the case of the Acer laptop, it was a simple matter of specifying a legacy boot mode.

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

Last month, I upgraded an old Acer 523 laptop to Zorin Linux, mainly as an experiment, but also to bypass the Win10 end-of-support deadline.

Acer 523...

• AMD A9-9410
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB SSD (80% full after Linux + Apps)
• 2TB HDD

The installation went smoothly, and everything works well. There was an initial problem with the numeric key-pad, but hitting the NumLock key fixed that, and that setting is persistent. There’s also a non-video USB-C port, and that is supported. A problematic optical drive has settled down.

The interface is very Windows-Like, and the computer works well for its main application which is streaming to the TV. An OS update was uneventful.

I’m not sure if Trim is automatically running, but it’s easy enough to do manually, although streaming is not likely to stress the SSD, despite its small size.

>sudo fstrim -v /

Zorin is highly recommended.

I agree. The system I have zorin on is a m3 (not apple), 4gb of ram and 960gb ssd. It runs SOOOO much better than windows 11 did on it. It's light swift and usable now!

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

I am on my linux system right now. Every time i start this up it reminds me how terrible windows is. It's going to take some talking the wife and son into it, but we ARE moving to linux. SO fast, so light.

 

[FujiJon]

I am on my linux system right now. Every time i start this up it reminds me how terrible windows is. It's going to take some talking the wife and son into it, but we ARE moving to linux. SO fast, so light.

"You can never go back". Well you can, but almost certainly won't.

Try giving Son a job..."How about you become the family linux guru?"

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

I am on my linux system right now. Every time i start this up it reminds me how terrible windows is. It's going to take some talking the wife and son into it, but we ARE moving to linux. SO fast, so light.

"You can never go back". Well you can, but almost certainly won't.

Try giving Son a job..."How about you become the family linux guru?"

I know right. He's just resistant to change. Can't change that one. Once he tries it, he will love the fact he can grab his Xbox controller and play mario cart on his laptop. I cannot wait to get linux on my other systems. I have this one running awesome. I just pick it up all the time now.

--
Fronterra Photography Tours
The Point and Shoot Pro
One Lens, No Problem

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

Here is a screenshot of this machine's system monitor. Basically flat lined. Network usage none, cpu usage minimal. 2gb of 4gb of ram in use. When it was running windows 11, all three were maxed constantly. What is Microsoft doing with all that data they are spying on me with? I cannot wait to get free of them.







--
Fronterra Photography Tours
The Point and Shoot Pro
One Lens, No Problem

 

[Robert Zanatta]

Must have been your configuration. My laptop running Win11 has the same memory usage and less CPU usage than your Linux setup.

 

[New Wrycuda]

Here is a screenshot of this machine's system monitor. Basically flat lined. Network usage none, cpu usage minimal. 2gb of 4gb of ram in use. When it was running windows 11, all three were maxed constantly. What is Microsoft doing with all that data they are spying on me with? I cannot wait to get free of them.

What System Monitor are you using? There are lots available.

I’d venture to suggest that Win11 was never going to impress with only 4GB of RAM.

I experimented with RAM when setting up a new Win10/11 computer…

• 8GB, Rather sluggish.
• 16GB, Satisfactory for most applications.
• 32GB, Slight improvement with several apps running.

The 32G configuration (4 x 8G) wasn’t actually recommended by the m/b supplier, but has worked fine for nearly 5 years. I plan to eventually use that computer for Linux.

 

[The Point and Shoot Pro]

Here is a screenshot of this machine's system monitor. Basically flat lined. Network usage none, cpu usage minimal. 2gb of 4gb of ram in use. When it was running windows 11, all three were maxed constantly. What is Microsoft doing with all that data they are spying on me with? I cannot wait to get free of them.

What System Monitor are you using? There are lots available.

I’d venture to suggest that Win11 was never going to impress with only 4GB of RAM.

I experimented with RAM when setting up a new Win10/11 computer…

• 8GB, Rather sluggish.
• 16GB, Satisfactory for most applications.
• 32GB, Slight improvement with several apps running.

The 32G configuration (4 x 8G) wasn’t actually recommended by the m/b supplier, but has worked fine for nearly 5 years. I plan to eventually use that computer for Linux.

It's the system monitor that comes with zorin. Just the difference between 11 and zorin using resources is wild though. Yeah. I have 128gb in my xps workstation and 64 in my notebook. More the merrier there. I am going to put 32gb in my wifes machine and 64 in my sons gaming laptop.