What output to stdout do you get from the AppImages?
I don’t know of the issue is ZorinOS or you, but have you tried other options? I have no experience with Zorin, but I know that Linux Mint is a great option for a beginner (as well as experienced users).
I tried Mint three or four years ago, and had issues with getting my games to work. As for the AppImages, the issue was that I would double-click on them, and nothing would happen. No error message, just nothing. To say the least, that doesn’t lend itself to troubleshooting.
and nothing would happen. No error message, just nothing. To say the least, that doesn’t lend itself to troubleshooting.
Try again on a live USB sometime.
I suspect that the problem here is that programs on Linux are not executable by default, for security concerns. You have to adjust the permissions, usually using the command chmod +x filename to mark them as able to be executed. But, often you no longer need to to this, and many Linux distros/desktop environments will now prompt you when you double click, if you would like to execute the file and mark it as executable. Then it would work.
But if you were using a distro from before that was a feature, then you might have hit that papercut, where nothing happened.
In ZorinOS, you use the properties tab to set whether something is an executable. ZorinOS tries to be a midway point between Linux and Windows, so a fair chunk of things can be done without relying on the terminal. The issue with AppImages comes from previously working as intended, then silently failing.
In any case, Linux needs more time in the oven before it is suitable for the everyday person. It simply lacks the reliability and intuitiveness that is needed for someone used to Windows. Hopefully, SteamOS is what brings Linux to where it needs to be.
What output to stdout do you get from the AppImages?
I don’t know of the issue is ZorinOS or you, but have you tried other options? I have no experience with Zorin, but I know that Linux Mint is a great option for a beginner (as well as experienced users).
I tried Mint three or four years ago, and had issues with getting my games to work. As for the AppImages, the issue was that I would double-click on them, and nothing would happen. No error message, just nothing. To say the least, that doesn’t lend itself to troubleshooting.
Try again on a live USB sometime.
I suspect that the problem here is that programs on Linux are not executable by default, for security concerns. You have to adjust the permissions, usually using the command
chmod +x filenameto mark them as able to be executed. But, often you no longer need to to this, and many Linux distros/desktop environments will now prompt you when you double click, if you would like to execute the file and mark it as executable. Then it would work.But if you were using a distro from before that was a feature, then you might have hit that papercut, where nothing happened.
In ZorinOS, you use the properties tab to set whether something is an executable. ZorinOS tries to be a midway point between Linux and Windows, so a fair chunk of things can be done without relying on the terminal. The issue with AppImages comes from previously working as intended, then silently failing.
In any case, Linux needs more time in the oven before it is suitable for the everyday person. It simply lacks the reliability and intuitiveness that is needed for someone used to Windows. Hopefully, SteamOS is what brings Linux to where it needs to be.