Zorin 64bit Ultimate

[Anon_F]

I thought you were talking about Max Zorin?
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Zorin

 

[bootneck02]

No not that Zorin

 

[Anon_F]

How do i burn the ISO image to a USB Drive to make it bootable from the drive?
Then would try it out before installing it for a dual boot on laptop?

 

[bootneck02]

I think to answer that question log into this site http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11 register and I am sure that someone will help you with the answer. I am registered using the same user name as I use for PCR. I hope that helps.

 

[bootneck02]

If you dislike Windows so much I wonder why you're bothering with a dual boot? Why not just install a Linux Distro and forget Windows for now? You can always install Windows again if you feel the need.

As for your questions, I don't know any of the answers except that Linux will see your pix and music ok, just the same as with Windows. I don't know the answers to the other questions as I've never felt the need to install AV software within any Linux Distro, Malware and Viruses are quite a rare occurence with Linux.

I've never heard of Zorin but I do know that Mint 17, Debian or Ubuntu based, is a very easy OS for a Windows user to get their head around.

Be aware though that some things just won't work with Linux, apart from many many games that is. You may have trouble getting drivers for printers & scanners, some software won't work in Linux and some hardware won't work within Linux either, my Focuswrite Scarlet i2i Audio Interface isn't seen by Linux for instance.

But Libre Office comes bundled with Mint and it will open and save MS Office Word and Excel files.

You could consider buying a hard disk caddy for your computer and swap different hard disks in and out of the machine, that's what I do. This saves all the worry about having to configure dual booting.

You're not a tosser, there's nowt wrong with wanting to save money and it's also quite noble, imo, to cheat Microsoft of more cash to add to their swelling billions, especially when you consider their track record.

Whatever you decide, good luck with what you end up with and remember - if you have any doubts or need help - ask

Totally agree with you Flops (not about the tosser though) I went into it like a bull at a gate. I have been on the net watching some very interesting videos about Zorin 9 on Zorin Forum also got onto Linux Forum as well and got some good advice, also saw some friends from here there as well. I think I am as well prepared as I ever will be for the transition from Windows to Zorin as I ever will be.

 

[Abarbarian]

floppybootstomp !

some hardware won't work within Linux either, my Focuswrite Scarlet i2i Audio Interface isn't seen by Linux for instance.

http://eldhuset.org/2012/03/04/focusrite-scarlett-2i2.html

I recently purchased a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface with the intention of using it with Mac OS X, Windows and, primarily, Linux. In the interest of increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the Internet, here follows a brief report of the Scarlett–Linux experience.

I can confirm that, after a bit of configuration, it does work with my 64-bit Arch Linux system using ALSA. The configuration in question is simple, but took me some time and googling to figure out. There exists some sort of conflict between the Intel audio module and USB audio; I don’t know what exactly the problem is, but as I have no intention of using the integrated Intel soundcard, the fix was to simply disable it:

Having done this, the Scarlett works flawlessly.

That old urban myth about hardware not working with linux is just that an urban myth. Whilst it may have been true in the dark and distant past. For the last few years and certainly today most modern hardware will work on a linux install though you may have to jump a few hoops.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Mayhap this wandering wastrel tends to give up too easily Young Lochinvar

I've never heard of ALSA, but I have now, I'll give it a shot laters.

most modern hardware will work on a linux install though you may have to jump a few hoops.

You got that right Perhaps this is what's discouraging our esteemed colleague and ally Mr Bootneck.

Still, nowt for nowt as they say, I suppose if you want spoon-feeding and collymoddling Windows should be your chosen field to dabble in.

 

[bootneck02]

Us old Bootnecks have a sense of adventure even when old and decrypted, hang on whilst I climb into my wheel chair.

 

[Abarbarian]

Amazing what I come across as I buzz buzz through the net.

ALSA is favoured over the old OSS sound system for linux and PULSE is the new kid on the block.
Most folk prefer to use ALSA as it seems to be easier to set up and configure for a lot of stuff.
Though I believe that PULSE is used for more for more specialised tools for real audiophiles.

bootneck02 hope I can still enjoy new stuff when I reach your venerable age. You will make a great recruit to the Penguin Freedom Army.

 

[bootneck02]

 

[bootneck02]

I am just a PC user but what amazes me that when you purchase a operating system from Microsoft it does not come with all the software or available foc, I guess Mac is the same, it is like buying a car with out an engine and all the seats as and having to pay for them as an extra. At least Zorin seems to have come up with something that could wean many Microsoft home users away from the greedy Manufactures. I realise that research has to be paid for but how come a minor player in the IT industry has managed to it able to produce a free version and a paid version full of bells and whistles for less than £20.

 

[EvanDavis]

a free version and a paid version full of bells and whistles for less than £20.

Being open source they are really just adding to something somebody else has already developed. Where as Crapple and M$ are doing it all on their own.

 

[bootneck02]

AAAhhh bless them they make billions out of blebs like us

 

[bootneck02]

For those who are interested in Zorin

Minimum system requirements

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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]700 MHz x86 processor
3GB of Hard Drive space
376 MB of system memory
Graphics card capable of 640x480 resolution
Sound card​

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Main advantages

The Zorin OS operating system gives you the ultimate desktop experience. Some of the advantages of Zorin OS:​

• No risk of getting viruses​
• It's super-fast and light on resources​
• An easy to use and familiar desktop​
• Customizable user interface thanks to our Look Changer​
• Stable as it is based on the robust Linux operating system​
• All the software you'll ever need out of the box​
• Extremely versatile and customizable Open Source software​
• Available in over 55 languages​

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Top-notch security

People are in constant fear of viruses and malware in this digital world. Thanks to Zorin OS's immunity to Windows viruses you will never have to worry about them. Zorin OS also comes with integrated firewall software to keep your system extra safe. When a potential security threat arises, software updates usually come within a matter of hours through the Update Manager. With Zorin OS you are sure to have peace of mind.​

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Easy to use, familiar desktop

The main goal of Zorin OS is to give new users easy access to Linux. That is why Zorin OS incorporates the familiar Windows 7-like interface by default to dramatically reduce the learning curve of this system while still experiencing the main advantages of Linux. You can also utilise the desktop with other interfaces. This is thanks to the exclusive Zorin Look Changer which lets you change your desktop to look and act like either Windows 7, Windows XP or GNOME 2 in the free versions of Zorin OS. The Premium editions also include the Windows 2000, Unity and Mac OS X looks.​

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Out-of-the-box software solution

Zorin OS is packed with software, ready for you to take advantage of. From the versatile LibreOffice suite to the feature-packed OpenShot video editor, it's got it all. Zorin OS is sure to facilitate all of your everyday tasks such as web browsing, document creation, social networking, making videos, chatting with your friends and beyond, all without having to install anything.



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We have even split up Zorin OS into different versions to facilitate the requirements of every kind of user with additional software. Those editions include the free Core edition for general use, Lite for use on old and low-spec computers, Educational for use in schools and universities, Business for corporate use and Ultimate which packs the best software Linux has to offer.​

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Software Galore

If the pre-installed software isn't enough for your requirements, there is no need to worry about it. Zorin OS comes with the Software Center which allows you to download and install tens of thousands of free and paid-for programs. All you have to do is open the Software Center from the start menu, find a program which you want and click Install. You can even install Windows programs on Zorin OS in a similar way with PlayOnLinux. You are also able to download installable packages (.deb and .exe) like in your current operating system.​

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Compatibility

Nearly every file that you use with your current operating system will work perfectly in Zorin OS with no need for additional setup. All your office documents, music, videos, pictures etc. will work out of the box in Zorin OS. Zorin OS also supports a large library of devices such as printers, scanners, cameras, keyboards. These devices will work as soon as you plug them in without the need for installing additional drivers. You can even use Windows programs and games inside Zorin OS thanks to the includedWINE and PlayOnLinux software.​

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Flexibility

Zorin OS gives you more flexibility. It allows you to use Zorin OS alongside your current operating system. While you install Zorin OS to your computer you have the option to keep your current operating system alongside Zorin OS and choose which one to load on start-up.​

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Accessibility

Also included tools in Zorin OS which make it one of the most accessible operating systems around. It includes such helpful tools as a text to speech program, Orca Screen Reader, a screen magnifier for the visually impaired and a dwell click feature for pressing a mouse button automatically.​

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Zorin Look Changer​

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The Zorin Look Changer is an innovative program that we have created exclusively for Zorin OS. With the help of the Zorin Look Changer you can make your desktop look and act like either: Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Unity, Mac OS X or GNOME 2 for ultimate ease of use. The Windows 7, Windows XP and GNOME 2 interfaces are available in Zorin OS Core and all of them are available in the Premium editions. This new tool gives you more flexibility and makes it easier for you to use your desktop, no matter what operating system you're accustomed to.​

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Zorin Web Browser Manager

The default web browser in Zorin OS is Firefox. For those who want to use other web browsers, we have included our exclusive program called the Zorin Web Browser Manager which makes installing and uninstalling web browsers simple and quick.​

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Zorin Theme Changer

In addition to the beautiful Light desktop theme, you can also use the gorgeous Dark and Blue themes in Zorin OS. We have created a simple app called the Zorin Theme Changer to switch between them quickly and easily.​

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LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a comprehensive, power-packed Open Source personal productivity suite that comes pre-installed with Zorin OS. The LibreOffice suite includes a word processor, spreadsheet software, a presentation program and a drawing application for all your document production and data processing needs. The LibreOffice suite is compatible with Microsoft Office documents so you will be able to read, edit and create both LibreOffice and Microsoft Office documents.​

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Firefox

Firefox delivers safe and easy web browsing with a familiar user interface, thousands of plugins, and integrated search that lets you get the most out of the web. Firefox was built with your safety and privacy in mind so you'll never need to feel in danger when browsing the web. It's been crowned the "speed king" by an independent benchbark against other browsers. You can also extend your browsing experience by installing the thousands of add-ons from the community.​

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[EvanDavis]

[*]

No risk of getting viruses​

That should be changed to minimal risk of viruses

 

[Anon_F]

I've gone for unbuntu via a USB device and running it off that till i like it or not!!

 

[bootneck02]

That should be changed to minimal risk of viruses

Yes minimal, but still there I think Linux users are lulled into a false sense of security, I will be installing Bit Defender

 

[muckshifter]

Yes minimal, but still there I think Linux users are lulled into a false sense of security, I will be installing Bit Defender

I would suggest an alternative ... ESET and rkhunter ... both are for Linux-specific threats. Especially rkhunter.


I run Bit Defender on Windows.

 

[bootneck02]

Thanks for that Mr Micks I will look into them

 

[Abarbarian]

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1948

Here is a guide to installing BD on Zorin. Wolfman makes a pertinent point halfway down page two.

You may find this a very interesting article, well worth a five minute read.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/202452/why_linux_is_more_secure_than_windows.html



http://askubuntu.com/questions/10373/do-i-need-to-have-antivirus-software-installed

An this is a very very interesting read, especially the last post which I quote here,

No, you do not need an Antivirus (AV) on Ubuntu to keep it secure.
You need to employ other "good hygene" precautions, but contrary to some of the misleading answers posted here, AV is categorically not among them.
There seems to be a confusion in some of the answers here between two issues:

1. Existence of viruses for Linux and
2. Ability to actually infect a system.

These two are not the same. There definitely are 'viruses' that can run on Linux, but in order to make them run, a malicious user needs to get someone with local privilege to actively install them. This requires the owner of the system to trust the malicious user, download the software, and use sudo with a password to install it, (or run it as himself to cause some non-system damage). Not a trivial set of barriers to overcome.
Unlike on some other systems, a regular user who keeps his Ubuntu system up-to-date on security fixes (very easy to do), cannot normally install something by accident (e.g. by opening an attachment, or clicking on something). The exception is unknown zero-day vulnerabilities, but for those AV will be totally ineffective anyway. A Ubuntu user doesn't run with admin privileges by default, and remote root logins are disabled.
In addition, Ubuntu comes with:

• Random address loading (foils most drop to shell attempts)
• Application restrictions/barriers via apparmor so an application like firefox can only access a very restricted subset of files and actions for example (see /etc/apparmor.d/usr.bin.firefox)
• Built in firewall (iptables) which can be set-up to be very restrictive

So to be secure, you need to adhere to basic rules of safety such as:

1. Keep your software up to date
2. Only run software downloaded from official repositories
3. Only use your standard package-manager for installs. In particular do not install proprietary binary stuff from random sources which you can't audit by looking at the source code using apt-get source).
4. Have a home firewall & do not run unnecessary services
5. Reguarly run some log scanning to detect unusual activity (I recommend logcheck)
6. Add a local iptables based firewall for another defense perimeter layer
7. Keep your passwords long and secure (a good password manager is recommended)
8. Use encrypted sessions (use ssh and scp, and not ftp or telnet)

And similar good habits along these lines. If you do, you'd be way safer than you would be by installing an non-opensource 'AntiVirus' (how can you trust such software?) and falling into a false, and highly deluded, sense of security.
Of course, if a malicious user asks you to download badstuff.deb from somewhere and install it by opening a terminal window and typing:
sudo dpkg -i badstuff.deb and you oblige, all bets are off, and you have only yourself to blame for being infected. An AntiVirus is pretty unlikely to save you in this case. Unless this particular badstuff.deb is among the finite set of blacklisted signatures.
As others have mentioned clamav "for Linux" is chiefly designed as a scanning server to other (non Linux) systems.
References:

1. Are signature based antivirus or anti-malware effective?
2. What automated intrusion detection and notification are good for destop use?

I realise this is a Ubuntu specific thread, however all the majority of the statements apply to Zorin and almost all linux distros.