A new version of Zorin OS is now downloadable.
The latest iteration, Zorin OS 17.1, is a successional release to Zorin OS 17, which had its launch in December. With its core built upon Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS, it boasts of the latest HWE stack obtained directly from Ubuntu 23.10. This indicates that users can enjoy an updated Linux kernel alongside a set of rejuvenated graphic drivers.
Apart from the foundational enhancements, Zorin OS 17.1’s update improves the distro’s commendable integration with Windows applications. This upgrade features the remarkable inclusion of the Wine 9.0 release along with the underappreciated Bottles utility.
“We’ve broadened the potential of our inbuilt database to identify installation files for renowned Windows apps and games. Now, it supports more than 100 apps, offering even more personalized suggestions for alternatives to sideloading their Windows executables,” elaborates the distro.
Those “recommendations” are something I appreciate (and stated in my Zorin OS 16 review, the debut iteration to introduce Windows app compatibility). It’s great since if a user attempts to utilize a Windows installer for an app that has a native Linux version, Zorin OS informs them about it – this is advocacy 101!
Additional modifications in Zorin OS 17.1 are:
- Thumbnails for
.exe,.AppImage,.epub, and RAW images - New ‘Window Placement’ feature in Zorin Appearance
- Updated applications, including LibreOffice 24.2
Furthermore, there’s a new Zorin OS Education edition which “combines the most recent enhancements of Zorin OS with educational software designed to improve and make learning more effective”. It’s not targeted at home users (unless they’re feeling studious), but rather at educators, schools, and STEM tutors.
Zorin OS 17.1 Education edition is equipped with the Reading Strip GNOME Shell extension, aiming to enhance on-screen highlighting, particularly for individuals with dyslexia or ADHD. Additionally, it offers open-source educational software such as Loqseq, Scratch, LibreCAD, Minetest, and more.
This Linux distribution brings multiple contentious changes along with it.
Getting Your Hands on Zorin OS 17.1
Ready to experiment? Zorin OS 17.1 is available for download on the official website. It is available free of cost in the ‘Core’ edition (ideal for basic use) and also as a ‘Pro’ edition that costs £48, offering additional apps, ‘premium’ features, themes, artwork etc.
Users who are currently using the distro have the option of upgrading to Zorin OS 17.1 from 17 by installing all the accessible updates via the Software Updater tool.