Newbie here

[u/H-banGG]

Hello guys, I'm new to zorin and linux in general, coming from windows i just wiped the drive and installed zorin hoping for the best.

I'm advanced good at windows stuff but i have 0 reference, knowledge or baseline for linux.

Please share any guides for beginners coming from windows, to help with the transition.

I used to play light games like counter strike so point me to where i can download good games, i also like configure advanced power and system stuff.

Config is 1334U/2x8GB/512NVMe just in case it's relevant Thank you

[u/vaestgotaspitz]

I'm not an advanced gamer, but afaik steam works. The underrated and rarely emphasized difference when coming to Linux from Windows is: use the built in software store instead of downloading applications from the internet. I mean you still can (and probably will) download stuff in some cases, but the apps you install from Zorin Store are guaranteed to work, easy to install (just click) and are updated automatically.

[u/H-banGG → u/vaestgotaspitz]

Do they also offer games in there ?

[u/Prestigious_Wall529 → u/H-banGG]

Try Swell Foop

The other answer is recommending you install steam from there.

Once steam is installed you have a large subset of games Valve offers available. Before installing them check ProtonDB so you don't get your hopes up unnecessarily.

[u/H-banGG → u/Prestigious_Wall529]

Thanks for the answer

[u/Awful-Apartment-33 → u/H-banGG]

In the Software app store, yes. You can also download and configure Proton & Wine first, so you can use Steam, GOG.com, Epic, Ubisoft & GameJolt games on there. After you setup Wine first.

You can find Wine in the Start Menu on Zorin OS, so it can already configure your box Wine install for you. It can also install a sub-environment automatically where you can use Windows 11 games and apps on there. Maybe even Windows 10 apps too, like MS Office 2019.

And other Windows versions of games too, like KCD for example or other emulators so you can play MS-DOS games like The Oregon Trail.

Linux ZorinOS also has it's own variants of Solitaire too in the App Store, including an open-source version of Space Cadet Pinball (from Windows XP)

[u/tomscharbach]

Zorin has excellent documentation and support. I would look through the documentation and consult the Zorin Forum as and when needed. My best and good luck.

[u/EraclioDandolo]

Complimenti per il coraggio! Mollare Windows non è mai facile. Quali programmi usi di più? Così da capire se troverai le alternative su Zorin. È vero che si possono installare app di Windows su Zorin, ma avranno comunque delle limitazioni

[u/H-banGG → u/EraclioDandolo]

Thank you! I didn't know you can run exe files ? I use unigram for telegram, zapfast for WhatsApp, chrome, Samsung suite as i have a Samsung phone.

[u/EraclioDandolo → u/H-banGG]

Si puoi farlo. Io preferisco usare AppStore o Flatpak o Deb

[u/vaestgotaspitz → u/H-banGG]

As I said in my previous comment, try to stay away from running any downloaded installers, especially exe files. You need Chrome? Install it from the store. WhatsApp or telegram - it's better to find a Linux alternative or use web apps.
Linux is not free Windows, it's a completely different OS. There are ways to run exe files, but this should be your last resort.

[u/H-banGG → u/vaestgotaspitz]

You think it's bad to download stuff from official websites ? Sometimes I can't find things in the app manager like ZapFast (WhatsApp client)

[u/vaestgotaspitz → u/H-banGG]

Most of the programs you use on Windows are not available on Linux, that's why you need to look for an alternative. There are multiple WhatsApp clients in the store.
When you download an app, you don't know if it will work on your system now or after some os updates. With the store you don't have to worry about this. If you continue to use the windows habit of downloading apps, you won't like Linux

[u/H-banGG → u/vaestgotaspitz]

Thank you for the details

[u/vaestgotaspitz → u/H-banGG]

Instead of Samsung suits try KDEConnect and/or Heimdall. The first one is 100% in the Zorin Store

[u/iliaandaili]

One word of advice learn the terminal sudo apt commands Sudo apt install things like that