Ubuntu Gnome & Cinnamon Reviews
Full featured Linux distro
Discovery
During my research on Linux distros, I watched YouTube Videos to determine which
ones might be worth exploring. Ubuntu was high on the list based on the recommendations found on
multiple tech sites. It is my understanding that Ubuntu has the largest community support of any
Linux distro.
Installation
I downloaded the newest ISO files for Ubuntu GNOME and Ubuntu CINNAMON. From there I
created Hyper-V machines and booted from the ISO. Following the prompts will take you through
the entire installation process.
GNOME has the taskbar 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.
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 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 Kali 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.
Software
I installed several programs using the software manager with both Gnome and Cinnamon
versions of Ubuntu. There are no problems to report with my limited testing. Everything worked
as expected.
Windows Hyper-V settings for Ubuntu
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 Ubuntu (Gnome)
Setup was just as fast if not faster than a Windows 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 installation. The Cinnamon
version is a HUGE improvement over Gnome and better for people transitioning from Windows. If I
had to use
Ubuntu, it would be the Cinnamon variant. I still prefer Linux Mint.
