Remix can bring some cinnamon lovers back to Ubuntu (Reviews)

Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix just in time for the holidays. Its first stable version is based on Ubuntu19.10 EoanErmine and was released on December 4.

[* Editor's Note-December 20, 2019] *ECT News Network Editor's Note: The original version of this column incorrectly showed the 5-star rating of the Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix, even though Jack Germain actually gave the first release Version 4 star rating. This error occurred in the editorial department and does not reflect any change in Jack's evaluation. We apologize for this mistake.

It utilizes the Cinnamon desktop environment of Linux Mint on top of the Ubuntu Linux code base. Work on multiple release candidates and Beta versions can be traced back to 2013. Until the stable release of the new release, these efforts were paid attention to by the public.

This new release layered the cinnamon desktop on the basis of UbuntuLinux19.04

As the name suggests, Cinnamon is the only desktop option. This version is so important because it provides links that are missing in the current Ubuntu Linux desktop series.

For many Cinnamon desktop users who like the Ubuntu Linux series, this remixed version may be a welcome gift. A few years ago, some Ubuntu Linux users switched to other Ubuntu desktop versions, or simply ran away from UbuntuLinux, when the parent company Canonical adopted the now-abandoned Unital desktop. Instead, Ubuntu makes GNOME the flagship desktop.

For Cinnamon desktop fans, this Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix entry is welcome news. I belong to this user category. I am dissatisfied with the legacy issues of the recent version of LinuxMint, but I don't want to give up the Cinnamon desktop LinuxMint developers created as an alternative.

**Potential unified users of cinnamon? **

I found that Feren OS is a very reliable alternative to Linux Mint without any problems. The Feren operating system is based on Linux Mint. Linux Mint itself is based on Ubuntu. A Cinnamon desktop product based directly on the latest version of Ubuntu makes this remixed version a potential game changer.

There are other cinnamon desktop options. Some distributions offer cinnamon as a desktop option, but not all of them are based on Ubuntu. DebianLinux has a Cinnamon desktop variant. LinuxMint provides a Debian-based distribution with its Cinnamon desktop as a development option if there are some problems in UbuntuLinux.

Ironically, a notice appeared on the FerenOS website, reminding users to check the future announcement of FerenOS on December 25. Therefore, there may be a new cinnamon desktop option based on Ubuntu in the hybrid solution.

Ubuntu mixing background

Ubuntu Cinnamon Mix is an Ubuntu brand operating system, released as an informal Ubuntu style, belonging to the Gnu/Linux computer operating system. However, Ubuntu's brand positioning is a bit misleading.

When loading and exiting the Ubuntu Cinnamon Mix, the initial screen you see is the standard Ubuntu purple screen and logo. The name of the release is missing from the menu and other internal logos.

When the desktop loads, a dazzling orange neon icon appears in the center of the black and gold swirl screen display, the default screen. You can easily change the appearance of the screen to a more comfortable color or image display.

Just click the right mouse button on the desktop (or enter "System Settings") to choose from a large number of colors and background images. Although the name "Ubuntu" is included on the opening screen, this distribution is not published by the official Ubuntu Linux community.

Canonical does not support Ubuntu Cinnamon mixing, and Canonical is not affiliated with this mixing project. However, after several successful releases of Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix, this non-affiliation can easily change. According to some reports, the lead developer Joshua Peisach (known as "itztrickz") is the former developer of the now-discontinued Ubuntu GNOME project. Some Ubuntu team members are also helping with this development.

Primary impression

Remix is designed for ordinary computer users. This project is just to repackage the already available components in order to be fully prepared for the end user.

Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix is a new release, which uses the Cinnamon desktop environment of Linux Mint on the basis of Ubuntu Linux code

Developers pay close attention to the features built into the Cinnamon desktop design without soliciting new users. The default setting provides a familiar computing platform, some small programs are installed on the bottom panel, and no screen small programs are activated.

This method makes Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix look clean and tidy. The same is true for its bundled applications. The installed software provides a basic classification.

You will get a powerful desktop environment, which contains basic accessories and some productivity tools to get started, and even some games.

What you don't get is a "Welcome Panel" that can easily open the toolset and useful features. For example, the Firewall Configuration Tool is notable because it does not exist.

GUFW is a standard Internet firewall application. It has a simple firewall configuration panel in most Linux distributions, but it is not installed. This is a critical oversight, especially for new users who need to be reminded to add firewall security.

Installation experience

Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix uses the Calamares installer and has Cinnamon desktop version 4.0.10. ISO files are only available as a homogenous mix of 64-bit computers, so you can burn them to DVD disks or USB memory sticks. It supports EFI and UEFI systems.

The installation process is very simple. I installed it on an existing partition containing a Linux distribution that is no longer needed. The Calamares installer can accomplish this task in just a few clicks.

I didn't encounter any major issues when setting up and using this Remix version, but there were indeed some trial runs of Cinnamon features. This surprised me because the desktop is in an advanced state of development.

The trouble seems to be more due to its integration into the Ubuntu base. For example, several panel applets do not work.

A key failure for me is the screenshot launcher. It refused to load, even though Cinnamon reported that its installation on the panel was successful. No problem, I think. I will use the screenshot tool, which I hope to find in the attachment section of the main menu. It is not there. So I have to install it from the software store.

When trying to apply certain settings, another sign of the immaturity of this Remix release is unresponsive. For example, the theme panel is almost useless. Clicking on window borders, icons, controls, mouse pointers and desktop categories and their contents is invalid.

In the past few weeks, the more I used this release, the more inconsistent monitors and similar content I found.

key point

Since I am an avid Cinnamon user, I was a little disappointed with the performance of the initial stable version. The key things work well, and Ubuntu's foundation is very forgiving. Ineffective is a bunch of annoying little things. My tolerance for these failures is much lower.

I sympathize with the challenges faced by a small development team in converting a heavyweight desktop design (such as Cinnamon) into a powerful operating system (such as Ubuntu). Given that it has reached this point in the past five years or so, I hope it will be a short time before the next stable remix is ready.

20.04 The version's improvement plan includes a new GRUB, a Plymouth theme, an improved layout application and a welcome screen. A slide presentation is also planned during installation.

I want to see a better application installation base that will reach the number that Ubuntu now provides on the desktop. I do not approve of application bloat, but I think the inventory of currently installed software is too small.

I look forward to seeing Cinnamon desktop offering official competitive desktop options for Ubuntu, which will add to it a lot. Hope this new remix release will be improved and become part of the official Ubuntu Linux lineup. I can't help asking why Canonical hasn't done this yet without waiting for third-party distributions to join the Ubuntu architecture.

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