Testing Zorin OS 18 Beta – Is This the Windows 10 Replacement You Need?

Zorin OS 18 desktop interface showing activities menu and mountain wallpaper with beta announcement text

Bottom Line Up Front

Zorin OS 18 Beta delivers a polished, Windows-like experience that may ease the October 2025 Windows 10 end-of-life transition for millions of PCs. I’ve been testing Linux since 1996 — and Zorin since late 2009 — and this release shows real promise for Windows users who want familiar functionality without the steep Linux learning curve. As a daily Windows 11 user, I appreciate that Zorin doesn’t bash Windows, but instead tries to deliver an OS that feels familiar while staying true to Linux’s strengths.

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SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C & Type-A

I have 3 desktop PCs and a Dell lappy – only keep all my Data on one PC tho. That means adding or updating data to the others at times, and switching USBs or adding an adapter to them according to what connection type of port is available, i.e., a USB Type-C or Type-A. Purchased … Read more

Porteus 5.0 Cinnamon – Part 6: Package Managers & Porteus Modules

This is the final part, Part 6, of the “Special July 2022 series” on the Porteus Linux page. The other parts are now – HERE. Had moved to this self-hosted KM&T blog last year, from the old Linux Newbie – Since 1996 blog, and have been transferring certain posts & info slowly to here. Requires some editing and moving the pics so it’s not the original ‘Flow’, and dated info can be confusing. Porteus 5.0 package managers work differently than other Linux distros but it’s great once you get it! 👍

Have been ‘gearing‘ the series towards MS Windows users, but still mindful of interested Linux users. Most everyone in the modern world now uses 2-4 OSes daily…their PC’s & phones for starters.

Primary, Secondary & ‘Companion‘ OSes

I believe Porteus 5.0 Cinnamon is a perfect fit for many Windows 10 and/or Windows 11 users, as their secondary OS and/or a ‘Companion‘ OS alongside their primary Windows 10 and/or Windows 11 OS.

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Porteus 5.0 Cinnamon – Part 5: Installing LibreOffice

Still moving some posts from my old Linux Newbie – Since 1996 blog—which is now Private, and may end up being deleted. Was started as a testing & experimenting blog for Linux, but have now moved on to a self-hosted blog. Lots of the info was obsolete, and I am only transferring a small amount of original posts.

This is Part 5 in the Porteus v5.0 series that I am transferring here. Am having to transfer pics and also edit the original 7/11/2022 post, so the version of LibreOffice here is an older one. 😉The series is now being located HERE.

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Porteus 5.0 Cinnamon – Part 4: Browsers and the Porteus Browser Tool

Am closing down my old Linux Newbie – since 1996 WordPress.com blog (is Private now), and am in the process of refreshing and moving some of the content over to my self-hosted KM&T (Karmi’s Musings & Tech) blog here. Moving and/or Transferring content requires editing and such, so some do not ‘Flow’ as well as the original did.

This is Part 4 in the Porteus v5.0 series that I am transferring here. The series was sorta geared towards MS Windows users, but still mindful of interested Linux users. Porteus is plenty stable enough for even newbie MS Windows users to thrash ‘n hack around in without breaking everything…in most cases. 😉The series is now being located HERE.

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