Debian Linux v12 Review
A Linux Distro Intended for Stability
Perspective
This review is written from the standpoint of being a life-long Windows user. Linux
is new to me, and I hope to learn more about it. This is an accounting of my experience using
this particular distro.
Discovery
I researched and watched YouTube Videos to determine what distros might be worth
exploring. Debian was high on the list based on the recommendations found on multiple websites
and on YouTube. Debian is one of the oldest Linux distros with a lot of users. It has become the
base of several other distros. It is well known for its stability at the expense of NOT
having the latest features. Debian has a desktop version as well as a server version. I picked
the desktop version.
Installation
I downloaded the newest ISO file for Debian 12. Then I created a virtual machine
with Hyper-V. Debian proceeded to install from the ISO and asked all the standard questions you
get with a typical Linux OS.
Printer Driver
Debian auto detected the Brother Laser AIO printer on the network. No driver install
was necessary. Printing simply worked. NOTE: I have NOT attempted to locate software for the
scanner or test that function of the device. There may be software from Brother or I may need to
locate generic Linux scanner software.
WI-FI
This was not tested as I only installed Debian as a virtual machine. My Internet
connection was achieved by using the passthrough ethernet to the host machine.
Samba/SMB Support
Samba allows Windows computers to interact with file shares and printers on a
non-Windows server, making it a crucial tool for interoperability between different operating
systems.
This feature works just as expected without any additional installation or configuration. The
first time you connect to a shared network drive, it may take a second or two. I am assuming the
system has to search for the shared device and folder the network. Then, you’ll need to enter a
password for the network share. Once that’s done, you’re good to go. The connection will stay
active until the computer is shut down. You can access the shared folder as much as you want
without re-inputting a password. I like to bookmark the location within the file manager/file
explorer so I don't need to type the network path. This will save you a little time.
It would be nice to make these connections semi-permanent. I want to be able to set it up and
forget it. I want the ability to bypass the password requirement on my home network.
Sudo Issue:
The default installation of Debian doesn't grant SUDO access, preventing
installation of ANYTHING. All of my attempts to gain SUDO access failed. As a new user of Linux,
I almost gave up, thinking this distro was utterly useless. Web searches were of little help to
me as a novice Linux user. I tried again some time later and eventually found a website that
explained it well enough in beginner terms that I was able to get past this issue. For this
issue alone, I would never recommend Linux to a person just starting out on Linux. This was a
real deal killer for me.
Software
Untested. I had previously tested many Linux software packages using Mint. There is
no reason for me to believe that they would function any differently with Debian. I may revisit
this issue when time allows.
Windows Hyper-V settings for Debian
I have noticed that using Linux within Hyper-V doesn't allow a person to change the
screen resolution by simply expanding the Window or by changing it within Linux. However it is
possible by making a modification within Grub. Contact Meyer Computer for these
instructions and I can provide them.
Overall Impression Of Debian v12
Setup was just as fast if not faster than a Windows 10 installation. However, the
installation has a few questions that may be intimidating to novice users. I had a difficult
time navigating the desktop as the default GNOME style desktop significantly different than
Windows. In my opinion, the Debian desktop seems extremely clumsy and things are hard to find.
In my opinion, Debian is not a good choice for a novice Linux user like myself.
