Name of Distro, DE and Family
Ubuntu 23.04 ‘Lunar Lobster’ Cinnamon - Debian-based
Name of .iso and size, architecture, source for downloading and SHAsum
ubuntucinnamon-23.04-desktop-amd64.iso 4.6 GB DistroWatch via SourceForge
SHA 256: f2e6cf4f6a8aab30318e84c7b82d1b556e1a7943fefd7dcf4fe9ace3e3c63fc1
Rolling or Point release, LTS (long-term support) or not
Point Release, 9 months until January 2024
Burning methods from Windows and from Linux -
At time of writing, I am unable to find a definitive list of system requirements. There is reference to 1 GB of RAM, but that is clearly inadequate.
My test environment
Dell Inspiron 5770 laptop
i7 processor
16 GB RAM
Drives – 2, 1 x Seagate 2 TB SATA HDD 5400 rpm, 1 x Micron 256 GB SSD (internal)
- 1 x Western Digital My Book 4 TB powered USB 3 5400 rpm (external)
Ranking at DistroWatch.com - 29
Broad categories
I describe this as -
At least one thing that stands out above “the others”
In this case, “the others” constitutes the other Ubuntu Community flavours.
1. After years, an Ubuntu flavour is finally shipping with both GParted and Synaptic Package Manager installed. Only a few years ago, Ubuntu would have both available in the Live environment and then actively remove them near the end of the installation process.
More recently, a number have been shipping with GParted, but this release is the first I am aware of that also has Synaptic.To me, these are essential tools.
2. Lunar Cinnamon also ships with a GUI frontend to ImageMagick, visible in the Graphics category choice from the Menu.
Nearly all GNU/Linux distros ship with the CLI version, but this is the first time in years I have seen the friendly Wizard, featured below with the Options showing.
The GIMP is also installed by default, in contrast to Linux Mint, whose last release to have this be default was 19.2 ‘Tina’ in August 2019 (they now favour Libre Office Draw).
I use GIMP frequently, for transforming images for customised Grub menus.
MISSING FEATURES
NOT present was an icon for Bluetooth in the System Tray, to me this is essential. It can be found in the Menu under Preferences, but can only be added to the Panel, Desktop or Favorites.
Kernel version at install - 6.2.0
Gaming opportunities, Wine, Steam &c.
Lutris, Steam and Wine are not installed by default, but can be installed through the repositories, the first two through Multiverse, and the last through Universe. All categories are enabled by default so that provides no obstacle.
The default games installed are as follows:
The following outputs are from running the command
top
in a Terminal
RAM usage at static (no browser, just Terminal with top)
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 13746.7 free, 1377.3 used, 1145.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 14496.6 avail Mem
Then, opening further apps
2 Terminal, one with top
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 13627.3 free, 1452.1 used, 1205.8 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 14421.8 avail Mem
2 Terminal, one with top, and Firefox open with total 31 tabs open (19 pinned, 12 other)
First of the Terminals is running os-prober to update grub
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 11446.0 free, 2872.8 used, 2239.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 13001.1 avail Mem
1 x Terminal with top running, 1 x Firefox (19 pinned tabs, 13 others total 32)
MiB Mem : 15874.1 total, 10784.9 free, 3356.3 used, 2647.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 12517.8 avail Mem
1 x Terminal with top running, 1 x Firefox (19 pinned tabs, 13 others total 32), 1 x Writer document, 1 x Calc multi-sheet spreadsheet
MiB Mem : 15874.1 total, 10693.3 free, 3298.5 used, 2648.1 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 12575.6 avail Mem
OS-PROBER
OS-prober is one of the processes that is called when you execute
sudo update-grub
which is a “stub” for
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
in Debian and Ubuntu distros (also Mageia).
My times for this will not apply to you – if you run maybe one to three distros, os-prober will fly through in seconds. I run 90 distros, so mine takes considerably longer.
I used the time command, and the exercise took
real111m59.965s
That is abysmally slow, IMO
By comparison -
OpenMandriva - real 23m21.354s
GeckoLinux - real33m40.508s
Jammy Desktop (GNOME) - real42m50.346s
Kubuntu Jammy - real 44m18.683s
The only one that took longer than this was my Fedora 36 (yet to do 37/38)
real119m49.371s
EASE OF INSTALL/EASE OF USE
Name of installer, eg Ubiquity, Calamares, Anaconda
From the Release Notes, we are told that Ubiquity has been replaced with Subiquity, written in Flutter.
I cannot see a difference (perhaps an Ubuntu Team Member can enlighten us) but it certainly works as well and as easily as Ubiquity.
Installation time again, no relevance to you because my 90 distros need to be detected, but it took around two hours for me, so maybe 30 minutes for you. Fedora takes me over four hours by comparison.
Ease of obtaining download mirrors alternatives for updates/upgrades
Standard Ubuntu, my Software and Updates looks like this
With ‘buntus I usually find Main Server for Australia to be adequate, although if lagging, I may choose Other and run tests for a local server that is quickest.
Accessibility – Large Text, Numlock, Cursor Size and colour
The System Settings – Accessibility function from Menu button offers a stock standard (read limited) range of features. I enabled Large Text and it modifies the environment in real time, and appears to use 125%.
Numlock requires the installation of numlockx
sudo apt -y install numlockx
Users familiar with the LightDM Display Manager (used by Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE) may be aware that if you install numlockx, the Login Window option in your Start Menu will then gain an additional option under Miscellaneous showing a numlock switch. I found that switching that to On did not work properly.
I also found that editing the file /etc/default/numlockx to include numlock on did not work as expected.
My workaround for this was to install lightdm-gtk-greeter and lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
sudo apt -y install lightdm-gtk-greeter lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
I then modified the file /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
to add the following, under [Seat:*]
greeter-setup-script=/usr/bin/numlockx on
Following a reboot, numlock is now switched on at the start of your X session, which may be essential for visually challenged users.
Cursor size and colour/scheme
Default cursor size is 24, far too small for me. I was able to change this to 72 through Settings – Hardware – Mouse and Touchpad, however to get that to also apply at Login, I had to add
XCURSOR_THEME=Yaru
XCURSOR_SIZE=72
to /etc/environment
Note that Yaru is the only option for the cursor theme.
Use of
sudo update-alternatives --config x-cursor-theme
reveals that there should be an option for Adwaita. And in fact Adwaita is the only option revealed there, but the cursor is Yaru, and that cannot be easily changed through the onboard software, nor through dconf-editor.
DOCUMENTATION/SUPPORT
No sign of details for Forums, Blogs or Wiki.
By comparison, Manjaro offer this
and an Ubuntu, namely MATE, have this
BACKUP-RESTORE/SYSTEM RESTORE
In the Menu under Accessories is a reference to Backups, which launches the standard GNOME utility Déjà Dup, which is basically a graphical frontend for Duplicity.
The latest version of Timeshift 22.11.2 is available to be installed through the Repositories.
SCORES
I scored the subject distro graphically with some of Wizard’s crystal balls, hereafter referred to as globes.
DEMERIT POINTS
Lack of documentation – 1 mark off
Cursor limitations – 1 mark off
Performance os-prober – ½ mark off
Bluetooth icon not in Tray – ½ mark off
BONUS POINTS
ImageMagick GUI – ½ mark added
GIMP installed – ½ mark added
SCORE
8 out of 10
Wizard
BTW – since starting this review, I have learned that the developer of the Cinnamon flavour is one Joshua Peisach, aged 15 years. I think that is wonderful.
Ubuntu 23.04 ‘Lunar Lobster’ Cinnamon - Debian-based
Name of .iso and size, architecture, source for downloading and SHAsum
ubuntucinnamon-23.04-desktop-amd64.iso 4.6 GB DistroWatch via SourceForge
SHA 256: f2e6cf4f6a8aab30318e84c7b82d1b556e1a7943fefd7dcf4fe9ace3e3c63fc1
Rolling or Point release, LTS (long-term support) or not
Point Release, 9 months until January 2024
Burning methods from Windows and from Linux -
- I recommend Balena Etcher for Windows
- I used Etcher for Linux
At time of writing, I am unable to find a definitive list of system requirements. There is reference to 1 GB of RAM, but that is clearly inadequate.
My test environment
Dell Inspiron 5770 laptop
i7 processor
16 GB RAM
Drives – 2, 1 x Seagate 2 TB SATA HDD 5400 rpm, 1 x Micron 256 GB SSD (internal)
- 1 x Western Digital My Book 4 TB powered USB 3 5400 rpm (external)
Ranking at DistroWatch.com - 29
Broad categories
- FEATURES
- PERFORMANCE
- EASE OF USE
- DOCUMENTATION/SUPPORT
I describe this as -
At least one thing that stands out above “the others”
In this case, “the others” constitutes the other Ubuntu Community flavours.
1. After years, an Ubuntu flavour is finally shipping with both GParted and Synaptic Package Manager installed. Only a few years ago, Ubuntu would have both available in the Live environment and then actively remove them near the end of the installation process.
More recently, a number have been shipping with GParted, but this release is the first I am aware of that also has Synaptic.To me, these are essential tools.
2. Lunar Cinnamon also ships with a GUI frontend to ImageMagick, visible in the Graphics category choice from the Menu.
Nearly all GNU/Linux distros ship with the CLI version, but this is the first time in years I have seen the friendly Wizard, featured below with the Options showing.
The GIMP is also installed by default, in contrast to Linux Mint, whose last release to have this be default was 19.2 ‘Tina’ in August 2019 (they now favour Libre Office Draw).
I use GIMP frequently, for transforming images for customised Grub menus.
MISSING FEATURES
NOT present was an icon for Bluetooth in the System Tray, to me this is essential. It can be found in the Menu under Preferences, but can only be added to the Panel, Desktop or Favorites.
Kernel version at install - 6.2.0
Gaming opportunities, Wine, Steam &c.
Lutris, Steam and Wine are not installed by default, but can be installed through the repositories, the first two through Multiverse, and the last through Universe. All categories are enabled by default so that provides no obstacle.
The default games installed are as follows:
- 2048
- Chess
- Mahjongg
- Sudoku
The following outputs are from running the command
top
in a Terminal
RAM usage at static (no browser, just Terminal with top)
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 13746.7 free, 1377.3 used, 1145.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 14496.6 avail Mem
Then, opening further apps
2 Terminal, one with top
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 13627.3 free, 1452.1 used, 1205.8 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 14421.8 avail Mem
2 Terminal, one with top, and Firefox open with total 31 tabs open (19 pinned, 12 other)
First of the Terminals is running os-prober to update grub
MiB Mem : 15873.9 total, 11446.0 free, 2872.8 used, 2239.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 13001.1 avail Mem
1 x Terminal with top running, 1 x Firefox (19 pinned tabs, 13 others total 32)
MiB Mem : 15874.1 total, 10784.9 free, 3356.3 used, 2647.2 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 12517.8 avail Mem
1 x Terminal with top running, 1 x Firefox (19 pinned tabs, 13 others total 32), 1 x Writer document, 1 x Calc multi-sheet spreadsheet
MiB Mem : 15874.1 total, 10693.3 free, 3298.5 used, 2648.1 buff/cache
MiB Swap: 0.0 total, 0.0 free, 0.0 used. 12575.6 avail Mem
OS-PROBER
OS-prober is one of the processes that is called when you execute
sudo update-grub
which is a “stub” for
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
in Debian and Ubuntu distros (also Mageia).
My times for this will not apply to you – if you run maybe one to three distros, os-prober will fly through in seconds. I run 90 distros, so mine takes considerably longer.
I used the time command, and the exercise took
real111m59.965s
That is abysmally slow, IMO
By comparison -
OpenMandriva - real 23m21.354s
GeckoLinux - real33m40.508s
Jammy Desktop (GNOME) - real42m50.346s
Kubuntu Jammy - real 44m18.683s
The only one that took longer than this was my Fedora 36 (yet to do 37/38)
real119m49.371s
EASE OF INSTALL/EASE OF USE
Name of installer, eg Ubiquity, Calamares, Anaconda
From the Release Notes, we are told that Ubiquity has been replaced with Subiquity, written in Flutter.
I cannot see a difference (perhaps an Ubuntu Team Member can enlighten us) but it certainly works as well and as easily as Ubiquity.
Installation time again, no relevance to you because my 90 distros need to be detected, but it took around two hours for me, so maybe 30 minutes for you. Fedora takes me over four hours by comparison.
Ease of obtaining download mirrors alternatives for updates/upgrades
Standard Ubuntu, my Software and Updates looks like this
With ‘buntus I usually find Main Server for Australia to be adequate, although if lagging, I may choose Other and run tests for a local server that is quickest.
Accessibility – Large Text, Numlock, Cursor Size and colour
The System Settings – Accessibility function from Menu button offers a stock standard (read limited) range of features. I enabled Large Text and it modifies the environment in real time, and appears to use 125%.
Numlock requires the installation of numlockx
sudo apt -y install numlockx
Users familiar with the LightDM Display Manager (used by Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE) may be aware that if you install numlockx, the Login Window option in your Start Menu will then gain an additional option under Miscellaneous showing a numlock switch. I found that switching that to On did not work properly.
I also found that editing the file /etc/default/numlockx to include numlock on did not work as expected.
My workaround for this was to install lightdm-gtk-greeter and lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
sudo apt -y install lightdm-gtk-greeter lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
I then modified the file /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
to add the following, under [Seat:*]
greeter-setup-script=/usr/bin/numlockx on
Following a reboot, numlock is now switched on at the start of your X session, which may be essential for visually challenged users.
Cursor size and colour/scheme
Default cursor size is 24, far too small for me. I was able to change this to 72 through Settings – Hardware – Mouse and Touchpad, however to get that to also apply at Login, I had to add
XCURSOR_THEME=Yaru
XCURSOR_SIZE=72
to /etc/environment
Note that Yaru is the only option for the cursor theme.
Use of
sudo update-alternatives --config x-cursor-theme
reveals that there should be an option for Adwaita. And in fact Adwaita is the only option revealed there, but the cursor is Yaru, and that cannot be easily changed through the onboard software, nor through dconf-editor.
DOCUMENTATION/SUPPORT
- Desktop welcome screen
- Help
- Forums, blogs, wiki
No sign of details for Forums, Blogs or Wiki.
By comparison, Manjaro offer this
and an Ubuntu, namely MATE, have this
BACKUP-RESTORE/SYSTEM RESTORE
In the Menu under Accessories is a reference to Backups, which launches the standard GNOME utility Déjà Dup, which is basically a graphical frontend for Duplicity.
The latest version of Timeshift 22.11.2 is available to be installed through the Repositories.
SCORES
I scored the subject distro graphically with some of Wizard’s crystal balls, hereafter referred to as globes.
DEMERIT POINTS
Lack of documentation – 1 mark off
Cursor limitations – 1 mark off
Performance os-prober – ½ mark off
Bluetooth icon not in Tray – ½ mark off
BONUS POINTS
ImageMagick GUI – ½ mark added
GIMP installed – ½ mark added
SCORE
8 out of 10
Wizard
BTW – since starting this review, I have learned that the developer of the Cinnamon flavour is one Joshua Peisach, aged 15 years. I think that is wonderful.
I tried ubuntu Cinnamon also, but found for me no compelling reason to not just use Mint Cinnamon
