Zorin OS

Zorin OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that has a Windows-like GUI (Graphical User Interface). This makes it easier for Windows users to switch over to linux. Because Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu, help is easy to find which makes Zorin OS a well supported Linux distribution. Zorin OS is licensed by GNU GPL v3 which meaan advans that users are free to run, copy, distribute, study, change, develop and improve the software. Zorin OS is also free just like most Linux distributions.
History and development process
Zorin OS was first announced by Zorin Soft in September 2008, this is also when development started. The plans were to create an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution for Windows users who were having a tough time switching over to Linux. Plans were to release Zorin OS on the 1st of January 2009 but the release was delayed due to technical difficulties. The first beta of Zorin OS was released on the 5th of May 2009. The second beta, Zorin OS Lite beta, was released on the 30th of May 2009. Zorin OS Lite beta was a stripped down version of the original beta released earlier the same month. Plans of another Zorin OS project, Zorin OS Educational, were canceled. This was going to be a Zorin OS operating system based on Zorin OS Lite, aimed at educating children. Zorin OS Lite became Zorin OS and the original Zorin OS was canceled. The first and stable version of Zorin OS was released on the 1st of July 2009.
Zorin OS is now being used in Kenya and other African countries for education. This programme was set up by Camara, an Irish charity that ships used computers to Africa to educate children there.
Currently Zorin OS has been downloaded nearly 1500 times off the official download site.
Features
Zorin OS is made for ease-of-use but it also includes a host of other interesting features such as a Terminal for administrative actions, the advanced GIMP image manipulation program, the Firefox web browser, The OpenOffice.org office suite and much more. Zorin OS includes a desktop tweaking program called Ubuntu Tweak to make your desktop experience your own. Zorin OS also comes with a program called WINE which lets you run Windows programs on your Zorin OS machine. You can also run Windows in Zorin OS using Visrual box or VMware which is available for download. You can turn on some desktop effects using a program called Compiz which is preinstalled with Zorin OS.
Installation
The downloadable Zorin OS package comes with a .iso file which you can burn onto a DVD and insert it into your computer. You can run Zorin OS straight off the DVD, this is called the Live DVD. The Live DVD has worse performance than the installed version because DVD read speeds are much lower than Hard Drive read speeds. Zorin OS uses the Ubiquity installer which guides the user through the installation process.

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