Zorin OS just shipped 18.1, an update aimed squarely at people who want to leave Windows without losing the apps they rely on. The release expands hardware support, adds fingerprint reader compatibility for older machines, and — crucially — now recommends native Linux alternatives and install paths when it detects Windows apps. For anyone weighing a switch from Windows 11 or an aging Windows 10 PC, this is the first distro update that treats migration as a guided, user‑facing process rather than a technical project.
Zorin OS, a Linux-based operating system (distro) designed as a purposeful alternative to macOS and Windows, burst into the scene late last year, close to Microsoft's unpopular decision to end support for Windows 10 on October 14. Some users referred to that decision as programmed obsolescence, saying its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program didn't help either, and felt like a last-minute snooze button.
