It had been some time since I had dedicated a significant amount of time to Linux, but the recent release of Zorin OS 18 motivated me to dive back in. My experience has been largely positive; Zorin OS successfully recognized and supported all hardware features of an HP EliteBook, including both integrated and discrete GPUs.
Initially, I wanted to prepare this write-up ahead of Zorin OS 18’s launch, having access to a near-final beta version. However, various complications—including issues with my initially chosen laptop—delayed this process. I still have much to explore, particularly regarding gaming capabilities, but here’s a summary of my progress thus far.
Zorin OS Core is available for free and can be downloaded as a 3.5 GB ISO file (x64 only). My usual method for creating USB installation media is via Rufus, but it failed to work on the first laptop. After shifting to the EliteBook and encountering the same issues, I opted to try balenaEtcher, which Zorin recommends, and successfully created the installation media.
As is typical with many Linux distributions, the installation media boots into a live environment, allowing users to test the system before installation. I tested Zorin OS 18 and observed if it would appropriately identify and interact with the laptop’s hardware components.
The support for hardware, particularly on this Intel-based laptop, was impressive. On first boot, the system displayed in full native 2880 x 1800 resolution, with all features working flawlessly—from display dimming and USB ports to sleep and instant-on capabilities. I validated this further using Hardware Probe, which confirmed the functionality of most hardware elements, with the exception of the fingerprint reader.
After confirming that everything was functioning correctly, I decided to install Zorin OS on the laptop. It offered a dual-boot option with Windows, but I chose to replace the existing installation entirely. Subsequently, I upgraded from Zorin OS 18 Core to Zorin OS 18 Pro, which costs around $35. This upgrade provided eight additional desktop layouts, more applications—mostly for creative and productivity purposes—and other enhancements. Notably, the upgrade process took longer than anticipated, lasting about 30 to 40 minutes.
I completed a series of initial configuration settings, including changing the display scale level from 100% to 200%.
For those interested in trying out Zorin OS, be sure to explore its new features and capabilities, many of which are tailored for an enhanced user experience.
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