Zorin OS 17.2 offers even more ways to customize your Linux distro

For some time now, Zorin OS has been among the finest Linux distributions available. One of the reasons for its success: The desktop is highly customizable. And if you opt for Zorin Pro, you get additional customization options.

The developers of this Linux distribution have never been known to rest on their laurels; they’re always adding something new and exciting — and the 17.2 release ups the ante. With the latest version of Zorin OS, you’ll find even more customization options!

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For example, you now can customize your cursor, and you gain better control over how app windows behave. You can place the title bar buttons on either the left or right side; configure the double-click, middle-click, and secondary behaviors for title bars; gain more control over window placement; and enable overlay scrollbars.

Of course, the new release is not all about desktop customizations; Zorin OS 17.2 also includes the latest versions of your favorite apps, such as LibreOffice, Firefox, and many more. And thanks to the latest Linux kernel, hardware recognition is better than ever, with improved support for Intel Core Ultra CPUs, AMD Zen 5 CPUs, NVIDIA RTX GPUs, Logitech and Nintendo Switch game controllers, and the latest Lenovo laptop keyboards. 

You’ll also get the latest software updates and security patches.

Although 17.2 isn’t a major upgrade for this highly regarded distribution, it’s still one you should consider if you’re either running an older version of Zorin OS or looking to jump to a different distribution. With the free version, you still only get the basic four desktop layouts. The Pro upgrade offers 10 different layouts, including those that look and feel like MacOS, Windows Classic, Windows 11, ChromeOS, GNOME 2, and Ubuntu. 

The Pro version also gives you the Zorin OS advanced tools, such as a video editor, illustration software, audio workstation, and animation software. Another nice addition to the Pro version is the Planify app, an outstanding task manager. Many of these apps can be installed on most Linux distributions individually, but it’s handy to have a distribution that adds them by default. The Pro edition costs $47.99.

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I’ve used Zorin OS as my go-to Linux distribution on several occasions and have always found it to be one of the best desktop operating systems for those new to Linux. Because it’s based on Ubuntu, Zorin OS enjoys the same level of user-friendliness with the addition of far more desktop layouts than Canonical’s offering.

You can either download an ISO of the latest version of Zorin OS or upgrade your current version to 17.2.