Problems with Zorin
 

Hi all well I have downloaded Zorin 9 32bit core and find it great but I am a bit puzzled about downloading software. I decided to use Evolution as my email client but now that I have done that how do I get it to how do I get it onto the OS so that I can use it . It shows as two files and I am guessing that to get it to work I need to do something to show as a icon so that I can click on it to register a email address so that I can use it. I find the speed of operation of Zorin is much faster than W7 but I am only using the 32bit as a test on a separate drive and getting used to the differences of Zorin and W7 and will be downloading the 64 bit ultimate when I have mastered the 32 bit core version.

If you are talking about "Evolution Mail and Calendar", which sounds like what you want, you don't need to download anything from a web site. I Just looked and found that in the ubuntu software center. I don't know what zorin calls it, but look in your menu for software center or something similar. You should just click it and it will be installed. Very rarely will you have to actually download programs from the web in linux. And ask here before you do to learn the correct way.

I would add that you should be extremely cautious of any software you have to download and install manually.

When I made the switch from Windows this was a hard concept for me to understand at first but it ultimately ties to what helps make Linux more stable IMO. By installing from your software center (under the hood using your system package manager: apt, yum, pacman, netpkg, etc) you are safely installing dependencies that you may need and there's a much higher chance that if there is a breaking dependency (or worse nefarious code in place) that it will have been caught by the package maintainer. Zorin being Ubuntu based will use apt and if you are comfortable at the command line type 'aptitude search packagename' to check for it's availability.

The downside of this is that when updates are available (for instance you want the latest and greatest of libre office) you have to wait for your package maintainer to make it available but for most folks this isn't an issue, and if it is you will be on a more rolling-release style of distribution anyway, compiling the packages from source.

Linux is not windows
Do not download software from websites

Instead use the distos package/software manager

in your case ditch zorin

admittedly I don't have much experience with zorin, but from what I have seen it is just a crappy Ubuntu clone.

try debian stable (currently codename wheezy)
A learning curve .. but you will get much better support, at least from me

The Debian installation disk might be a bit confusing, Mint is easier to install. Zorin might appeal because the desktop appearance can be made to look like win7, XP or gnome and it has an easy wine installer but Debian is more stable the choice of linux is legion! But Mint avoids unity and Mint (mate desktop) sort of resembles xp, 'start' button bottom left.

Fred.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the reply's everyone every little helps a newbie like me.

Were you able to get it from the software center?