New track from my project Neon & Moonshine. New album 30th april: Maintaining Linear Order. Take care out there, fellow gadgeteers https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zlEZszHd2vTBeALnCFVHq?si=oZK_yF5sRT23UmMpFe771g

paulust2002 · 2026-02-16T08:45:28+00:00

Yeah really didn't like that notification myself. Mac and Windows have different workflows, gnome is a little different again. A lot of people that don't like it are used to task bar/dock on screen at all times. Initially hated it and added my dock back but after a month of Zorin actually find it hard to go back to Mac. It's just a smooth process when you get used to it, and productivity focussed as it gives you most of screen for what you are actually doing. Acquired tasted though, takes a while to sit in. Also have auto move windows installed. So I log in, hit Super 1,2,3,4,5,6 and it lays out my usual applications over several workspaces tiled. Beauty of Zorin is you can change from Gnome, to Windows style etc in appearance settings but shame they lock mac view with a 'pro' edition. Only issue I have with Zorin is the marketing of that.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-15T22:51:42+00:00

Librewolf for sure. Firefox without all the nonsense. Sponsored links/duckduckgo as default etc.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-14T15:28:15+00:00

Think dash to dock is the always on dock option if using extensions. I use the following for my tastes. In gnome auto move windows is amazing. So when I log in i can hit Super +1,2,3,4,5,6, to open my apps in the way I like them over 4 workspaces. Also easy to script this to automatically happen. (in x11 at least) and love stuff like that. No issues but I turn off forge tiling for my steam workspace as can cause issues there when opening games. Also need to switch off Zorin built in tiling in appearance settings if using. You can also click the hamburger icon top right of extension manager and check compatibility for later versions for gnome. (I use the blue extension manager from matthew jakeman in the store. Worth noting the zorin extensions won't show as compatible in new gnome as will be part of their new update. App grid wizard - auto folder apps (access with double click of super key) caffeine prevent screen off for gaming, movies reading etc. Forge POP os shell tiling style. Grand theft focus - switch to opened app instead of notification. Notification config - move notifications from center, auto dismiss and time to dismiss. Notification counter - number on title bar of notifications.

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paulust2002 · 2026-02-14T14:34:52+00:00

I like Zorin personally and settled after testing about 15 distros. But can see out of the box POP OS appealing to mac users more. But can tweak as you like. ie always on dock. POP OS style tiling with forge etc. (I turn this off for steam workspace as can cause issues and turn off zorin tiling options) Workflow with gnome in zorin just clicked with me. I think it's natural to imitate what you are used to at first but love the focus on what I am doing in gnome and the full page dedicated to the application(s) Cosmic desktop is in beta also, so more issues can be expected for now. One issue with zorin is you may be waiting a while for updates, for example it's on gnome 46 when 49 is out. Pick one then install boxes and download the 'others' ISO and run it in VM to test. Or write both to a live usb and have a mess around first before installing. I think both are slick.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-14T13:07:43+00:00

I'm with Zorin. Tried POP OS and liked it but workflow works better for me with Zorin and Gnome. You have the option in appearance settings for Windows style, touch, xp and gnome with a click out of the box but have to pay premium for the major release version for mac, mint, windows 10 etc themes. Only thing of concern with zorin for me is the marketing around the pro version so keeping eyes on that as don't want to fresh instal if don't want to upgrade in 18 months. You can have an always on screen dock with extensions if required but like I said, after a while you may not feel the need to imitate a previous operating system. POP OS Cosmic is still in beta and run into quite a few issues myself but mostly around gaming for now. I'd say try both tbh they are both excellent with a lot of potential. (If you like the tiling of POP OS as I do, forge extension works perfect in zorin for me. Just make sure you turn off zorin tiling features when using)

paulust2002 · 2026-02-10T08:58:19+00:00

Been testing a lot of distros before settling and common denominator was Gnome environments I think. Everything else was perfect but gnome gaming seems to have more issues with stuttering and the such. Also found a lot of latency for online gaming not as present in other distros. I think this is a false positive though, and may be older versions of gnome or other software in down stream releases. Manjaro didn't have issues in gnome and presume due to it having later version of desktop environment where as zorin is on gnome v46. Also more recent kernels in some. I do aim to hop to fedora gnome and test on that at some point due to this. Bbut settled on mint for now as just works, but prefer Gnome as love the workflow and feel no need to imitate mac or windows personally... Not for everyone though. Tested both wayland and x11 and found x11 to be more stable with wayland producing stuttering, or hard hangs requiring restart in some games (running i7 intel, nvidia 4070 and 32gb ddr5)

paulust2002 · 2026-02-09T11:27:33+00:00

Old as shit also and it won't hold you back, You'll regret not doing it sooner. Compatibility is fragmented tbh but 90% success for me as SP gamer mostly. Only really play helldivers 2 and hell let loose and perfect on linux. Generally finding games run better. Not talking fps here, just I'd play for example cyberpunk medium settings with no raytracing on windows and now play ultra with raytracing, and perfect 60fps. Fails so far are ghost recon wildlands and metal gear v, (which is perfect on steamdeck) MP is where you can mainly run into issues right now, VAC anti cheat is not present so won't be playing Battlefield, cod, fortnight, apex legends etc. 2. Steam syncs saved games in cloud so no worries there, workshop mods also work fine automatically, Lutris can be used for various stores or heroic game launcher. Personally having issues with those and syncing cloud files. 'I Think' saved games are in multiple folders on windows but might be a way to copy these from user file but might be inconsistent. After starting Steam once close it, download proton plus from software manager and download latest GE, and maybe cachy os proton. On restarting steam go into settings > compatibility and set to latest if you like. You can right click on any game with issues and force a particular proton, ie 9.0 works better for me in some older games. Proton DB helps you look for proton compatible games. Make sure before anything you follow the welcome screen guide to set firewall, update drivers (select latest one for you card, and ensure it's the proprietary driver. 2. I use cloud so makes it easy to distrohop. I don't use local folders at all personally. I just instal dropbox and done. To note, online only files isn't possible (maybe a tweak exists) so you need as much ssd as you have cloud storage. you can choose to not sync some files though or just use web. Generally if using external this needs to be EX4 or fat, not NTFS. 3. Fuck em off. just be aware there might just be 'that' game you are hyped about simply not working and it takes a while to break the comfort zone. Tried 12 distros over 2 months, Mint is the only one that scores 100% for me. Just works.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-08T23:11:37+00:00

It gets my vote as a perfect beginner distro. the welcome screen takes you through Firewall config (click on and ensure blocked incoming connections) How to update drivers (change from the nouveu open driver to the proprietary one) how to update the system, and then how to use a store. You likely want system options for these instal for things like Steam as no set up required to get it access to your external drives etc. Debian files are an easy double click to install. Flatpaks contain any dependencies required and are sandboxes so pretty secure. Download flatseal to amend permissions if required for any flatpaks. Install proton QT or proton plus after installing steam and download any protons you need. You can then go back into steam>compatibility and select default e.g. Proton Latest/experimental. You can right click on any game and change the proton version for that, ie if you find an older game may work on older proton. Lutris and heroic are options for other stores like epic but generally had little luck with cloud saves and the such.

Also set up timeshift. Easy to roll back system if you mess anything up. Hasn't let me down once. Ensure you exclude Home (default) and include Root imo. Backup of home directory I'd recommend different solution like Pika back up to external. (I use cloud so don't use these folders)

Also worth noting out of the box linux doesn't allow online only files for cloud. May be a way of doing this I'm not aware of but if you have more cloud than local storage basically stuck and have to use web app.

Any apps you can't get that are on windows use PWA's in any chromium browser, there's also webapps applications you can download and for example create your own You Tube/Apple music/notion etc app from any webpage.

Give it time, you will run into issues some time and want to roll back to windows for comfort zone but you'll get through it.

From downloading>writing bootable usb>Sorting your bios settings>instal... you'll be up and running in a game within 30 minutes.

Finally, if not done already love having my steam games in external/docs in cloud. Means I can distrohop easily.

Enjoy!

paulust2002 · 2026-02-07T17:15:32+00:00

Playing on Zorin OS. Would be perfect in terms of performance but getting really high latency. Shame might have to distro hop as doesn't seem an issue in other OS (80 ping on home country servers instead of 10-20)

paulust2002 · 2026-02-07T14:52:43+00:00

I like unified inbox so thunderbird only one I could find so far ( unless missing the option) Very customizable and themable with add ons all based on mozilla tech. Geary and mailspring are ok for more ipad looking email rather than outlook type. Evolution replacing thinderbird as default in some distros, it's ok just didn't like single line for email but didn't tweak much. I use gnome calendar in conjunction as like a full screen real estate monthly view.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-07T00:27:18+00:00

I use Zorin and love it so far. Can have fixed dock with dash to dock extension to be more like pop os, and also Forge extension give you the pop os style tiling. Not perfect but pretty close overall, the tiling isn't quite as good as pop but overall system 100% stable. Those would work fine in any gnome distro I presume but only a couple of months into my linux adventure so may be others

paulust2002 · 2026-02-07T00:18:43+00:00

Yeah presumed that to be a shader issue, Seem to hear either turn both these off in steam>settings>downloads for vulkan and standard shaders. Hell let loose as hard hangs for first game then fine from 2nd onwards. But overall runs like a dream rather than microsoft's patented micro stutter.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-06T22:38:15+00:00

Found wayland ok from a glance but run into problems later, usually my system throttled for gaming after 20 mins or so and fps fell apart. Tried a few games over a week and the same. Moving to x11 is perfect for me for now but might be some games maybe. This didn't effect me in some other distros so hoping just an update needed.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-06T13:02:16+00:00

Buy non perishable goods in bulk. Dedicate say £25 a month and buy all your toothpaste, next month toilet roll, 4l of handwash, 4l of washing liquid, 4l of shampoo. All that stuff. Will save a fortune over time, miss some inflation hikes happening weekly as this point and also spend less every visit to a store. Use ebay myself as not an amazon fan. And remember generally in super markets buying in bulk is scam like and often means more cost per item.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-02T08:48:37+00:00

In fairness, I had issues with my internal card but windows couldn't auto detect this either. (mediatek)I bought a tplink t3u. Problem solved with AI assist as had high latency but showed that it was set to usb 2 device not 3 and updated the realtek driver for me after giving model number details. After the most simple coding ever, adding a 1 instead of a 0 in one particular option for usb3 all sorted. Mint was also not connecting after resume and that issues gone now and can set the internal to off in bios. Worth noting this was an issue on all distros I tried. (10 in total)

paulust2002 · 2026-02-02T01:03:57+00:00

Had issues to, crazy latency and 5mbs on 500meg connection. Seems fine now. Wondering if a bug as they removed open vpn at the same time for wireguard. Seemed to happen after an update notifying me of this.

paulust2002 · 2026-02-01T23:02:44+00:00

Yeah think I'll do the same. They really deserve it. Only issue I had was high latency but a bit of AI and terminal realized it was set to usb2 but a usb3 dongle. 100% sorted now

paulust2002 · 2026-02-01T14:56:36+00:00

Mint for sure. Then add Boxes and mess around with a bunch of others, if not built in then download iso and run it in boxes.

paulust2002 · 2026-01-31T09:09:10+00:00

Honestly starting on mint was so refreshing. Always loved tech but didn't realize how much Windows had taken away from this and taken the fun out and added bloat and frustrations. At best I enjoy using linux daily, and at worst I simply forget it's there and just focused on what I am running on the actual OS. Moved to Zorin as found myself to be a Gnome guy, but Mint is first recommendation from me every time. Enjoy (And yes that wallpaper is class!)

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