Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Haiku VS Zorin OS

Compare Haiku VS Zorin OS and see what are their differences

Haiku logo Haiku

Haiku is an open source OS catered specifically to the needs of personal computing.

Zorin OS logo Zorin OS

A powerful operating system designed to make your computer faster, more secure and easier to use. DownloadDownload Lite - Install Zorin OS - Education - .
  • Haiku Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • Zorin OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-18

Haiku features and specs

  • Speed
    Haiku is optimized for speed and efficiency, providing a responsive user experience with quick boot times and fast application launches.
  • Simplicity
    The operating system offers a clean and straightforward user interface, making it user-friendly and accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Lightweight
    Haiku has low hardware requirements, making it suitable for older computers and devices with limited resources.
  • Unique Architecture
    Haiku is inspired by BeOS and maintains its unique architecture, which is attractive to developers and users with an interest in alternative operating systems.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Haiku invites contributions from the community, promoting collaborative development and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of Haiku

  • Limited Software Availability
    Haiku has a smaller software repository compared to more popular operating systems, which can limit the availability of applications and tools.
  • Driver Support
    The operating system has limited driver support, which can result in compatibility issues with certain hardware components.
  • Niche User Base
    Haiku caters to a niche audience, which can result in a smaller community and less comprehensive support compared to mainstream operating systems.
  • Incomplete Features
    Some features of Haiku are still under development, and the operating system may lack certain functionalities that users expect from modern OSes.
  • Business Adoption
    Haiku is less likely to be adopted in professional and business environments due to its incomplete features and limited software support.

Zorin OS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Zorin OS offers a highly intuitive and Windows-like interface, making it an excellent choice for users transitioning from Windows.
  • Pre-installed Software
    Includes a wide variety of pre-installed software, covering most basic needs such as web browsing, document editing, and media playback.
  • Performance
    Optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, providing a fast and responsive experience without requiring the latest technologies.
  • Customization
    Features a highly customizable environment with Zorin Appearance, allowing users to tailor the desktop to their preferences.
  • Security
    Based on Ubuntu, it benefits from a large repository of secure and stable software, along with regular updates and community support.
  • Compatibility
    Supports a wide range of software applications and hardware devices out of the box, reducing the need for additional configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Zorin OS

  • Limited Edition Features
    Some advanced features are only available in the paid editions (Pro), which may be a limitation for users wanting a completely free experience.
  • Gaming
    While it supports Steam and other gaming platforms, it may not run all the latest games as efficiently as Windows due to limited driver support.
  • Smaller Community
    Compared to larger distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, Zorin OS has a smaller user community, which may result in fewer online resources and support options.
  • Limited Deep Customization
    While Zorin OS is customizable, deeply technical users may find it less flexible than other distributions that cater specifically to power users, such as Arch Linux.

Analysis of Haiku

Overall verdict

  • Haiku is a solid operating system for users interested in a minimalist, efficient, and alternative computing experience. While it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those reliant on software created for more mainstream operating systems, it excels in its niche. Its active community and ongoing development make it a project worth watching and potentially using for specific needs.

Why this product is good

  • Haiku is an open-source operating system that is designed to be fast, simple, and efficient, offering a unique user experience. It draws inspiration from the BeOS, focusing on personal computing with a clean and straightforward interface. The system is lightweight, boots quickly, and is responsive, making it an excellent choice for those who appreciate simplicity and performance. Additionally, Haiku's open-source nature allows for community-driven development and customization.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts interested in alternative operating systems.
  • Developers looking for a platform focused on simplicity and efficiency.
  • Users nostalgic for the BeOS experience.

Analysis of Zorin OS

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Zorin OS is considered a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users looking for a reliable and aesthetically pleasing Linux distribution. Its focus on accessibility and user friendliness makes it a strong candidate for mainstream desktop use.

Why this product is good

  • Zorin OS is often praised for its user-friendly interface and the seamless experience it offers to users transitioning from Windows or macOS. It is based on Ubuntu, which provides a stable and secure foundation alongside access to a large repository of software. Furthermore, Zorin OS includes a variety of useful applications out of the box and offers a visually appealing desktop environment that can be customized to fit different desktop paradigms.

Recommended for

  • Users transitioning from Windows or macOS seeking a familiar interface.
  • Beginners who want an easy-to-use and stable Linux distribution.
  • Users who appreciate a polished and modern user experience.
  • Those who need access to Ubuntu's vast repository of software and community support.

Haiku videos

Haiku OS - What Is It?

More videos:

  • Review - Haiku L Series Smart Fan Review: "Alexa, turn on the fan"
  • Review - Haiku Smart Ceiling Fan Review

Zorin OS videos

Zorin OS 17 : Download and Install on VirtualBox Complete Guide Step by Step And Review

More videos:

  • Review - Zorin OS 15 Review - the desktop shell to beat?
  • Review - Zorin OS 15 for Windows Users

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Haiku and Zorin OS)
Linux
24 24%
76% 76
Operating Systems
22 22%
78% 78
Linux Distribution
19 19%
81% 81
Design Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Haiku and Zorin OS

Haiku Reviews

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Zorin OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Besides, Zorin OS also has a Pro version that costs $40, and for that price, you get more desktop layout customizations, preloaded apps such as GIMP and Blender, and the ability to share your mouse and keyboard across computers. Now, we wouldn’t recommend going all out on the Pro version, since most of the paid features can be added by using extensions. However, for what it...
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Zorin OS is an Ubuntu derivative that is primarily aimed at Windows users, making it easy for them to switch to Linux. For companies relying on Microsoft’s office programs, Zorin OS is worth taking into consideration.
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu and it comes with a GNOME 3 or XFCE 4 desktop environment, but it’s highly tailored to enable Windows and macOS users to switch to Linux. It is designed to make your computer faster, more powerful and secure.
Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
The Zorin OS project began in 2008 with the sole intention of making Linux user-friendly. Its developers wanted to make Linux accessible to regular users and they did this by introducing familiarity in the user interface.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zorin OS seems to be a lot more popular than Haiku. While we know about 151 links to Zorin OS, we've tracked only 10 mentions of Haiku. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Haiku mentions (10)

  • What do People here Think of QNX?
    If you go to osnews.com and do a search for QNX, you will find many articles that were written over the past 20 years that describe the features, and pros and cons of running QNX. I believe there was also an article that compared BeOS (reborn as Haiku OS, haiku-os.org) and QNX. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Eli5 How come LCARS never became a real operating system?
    I assume you know of https://haiku-os.org. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are great resources to catch up C++?
    I am in a similar position. I'm not using the very latest C++ features, but maybe this will be of use to you anyway? I decided to get started writing a native app for Haiku (http://haiku-os.org/), which you have to write in C++. So I loaded it up in a VM and started plugging away. I have always avoided CMake, but it's so popular these days that I decided to give in and get comfortable with it. Haiku is really... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What Linux Distro to Install?
    {Yes - I know what I'm about to post is NOT "Linux" ...but if you're wanting to learn something new and/or have some nostalgia for the late-90s/early-00s, read on} I absolutely LOVED BeOS back in the day Though I understand why Apple chose to buy NeXT instead of Be in the 90s, I wish they'd bought both - NeXT to get Steve Jobs and NeXT's way of managing apps (where they're all self-contained... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Does parallels or vmware or UTM allow running older versions of mac OS (like Mojave) on am M1 Mac?
    I agree with this. I can also recommend trying out Haiku OS x86 version with UTM emulation (choose between 32-bit or 64-bit OS version), because it requires very little system resources. Haiku is working on an ARM port, but it’s not ready for real-world usage yet. Source: about 3 years ago
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Zorin OS mentions (151)

  • Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu
    I tried several over the years, specifically looking for a good out of the box experience, GUI-first usage, and one that's stable over time, and after upgrades. Zorin OS fit the bill the most. I think the landing page is good as well. https://zorin.com/os/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Introduction
    My first Linux distro was PopOS and It was a refreshing experience. It was really easy to install, use, and game on. I distro hopped a few times to see what other linux flavors are like. These are the ones that I remember trying Zorin OS and Linux Mint. These ones looked mostly like windows and it was easy to use. At work, I gained most of my linux knowledge from docker and configuring / administrating RHEL... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • I'm planning to go full on linux without previous experience
    Zorin and Linux Mint are two popular Linux distros that are very friendly to those coming from Windows OS. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Edge sends images you view online to Microsoft
    > and never felt Linux was a worthwhile alternative on desktop ZorinOS (https://zorin.com/os) can hopefully change your perspective. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Manjaro is a free and open source Linux operating system that emphasizes privacy
    ZorinOS[0] is fantastic! I switched from Ubuntu too and it was surprising how polished ZorinOS was. Everything was super stable and in the last 2 years, it didn't break by itself, which I can't say the same for Ubuntu sadly. Linux Mint too is cool but the outdated UI is the only deal breaker for me. [0] - https://zorin.com/os. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Haiku and Zorin OS, you can also consider the following products

KolibriOS - KolibriOS is a tiny yet incredibly powerful and fast operating system.

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Xubuntu - Xubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Download XubuntuXubuntu – Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Feature Tour.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

DeLicate Linux - DeLicate Linux is a free and lightweight Linux Kernel-based operating system that is intended for computers comprising of very Low RAM.