Ubuntu GNOME & CINNAMON Reviews
Full featured Linux distro
DISCOVERY
I researched and watched YouTube Videos to determine what distros
might be worth exploring. Ubuntu was high on the list based on the recommendations found on multiple
websites and on YouTube. Ubuntu has the largest community support of any Linux distro.
INSTALLATION
I downloaded the newest ISO file for Ubuntu GNOME and Ubuntu
CINNAMON. From there I created a Hyper-V machine and booted from the ISO. Following the prompts will
take you through th entire installation process.
GNOME has the
taskbard on the left side and discourages having icons on the desktop. If your coming from Windows, you
may be lost for a while.
Cinnamon has the taskbar on the bottom
like Windows and allows icons on the desktop.
Both versions were installed as Hyper-V virtual
machines for a quick review and comparison with other distros.
VIDEO DRIVER
Ubuntu Cinnamon did NOT detect that I was using Hyper-V and did not try
to install any type of video driver. I was limited to a 1024x768 screen resolution. Does anyone know how
to remedy this situation other than installing it on dedicated hardware? This is a deal killer for
me.
PRINTER DRIVER
Ubuntu auto detected the Brother Laser AIO printer on the
network. No driver install was necessary. Printing simply worked. NOTE: I have NOT attempted to
use the scanner. I am assuming I would need to get software from Brother to make that work.
WI-FI
This was not tested as I only installed Ubuntu as a virtual machine.
Samba/SMB Support Updated 7/26/25
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.
SOFTWARE
There are no problems to report with my limited testing. Several programs were installed and worked as
expected.
Windows Hyper-V settings for Ubuntu Updated 7/26/25
This section will be added soon!
I have noticed that using Linux within Hyper-V doesnt 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!
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF UBUNTU (GNOME)
Setup was just as fast if not faster than a
Windows 10 installation. I had a difficult time navigating the default GNOME desktop as its
significantly different than Windows. It seems clumsy with a taskbar on the left. I know that the GNOME
interface is a top choice for many users and I'm NOT saying its bad, it's just not for me.
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF UBUNTU (CINNAMON)
Setup was just as fast if not faster than a
Windows 10 installation. The Cinnamon version is a HUGE improvement and better for people
transitioning from Windows. If I had to use Unbutu, it would be the Cinnamon variant. However, the
inability to increase the screen resolution makes it unusable. I still prefer Mint.
