 Visitor Reviews |
Vanilla OS
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Reader supplied reviews for Vanilla OS
Average rating
6.3 from 29 review(s)
Version: 2
Rating: 2
Date: 2024-11-13
Votes: 3
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Tried installing on 2 different laptops and a desktop, failed all 3 to install. On laptos it complained t could not find the drive after the installer partition it, which I could see after when I was looking into installing anything else to the laptops... so for some reason the weird installer can't keep track of what it was doing. Error log was not helpful, add to this that the thing does not have a live mode for one to try and diagnose while installing on the same device one is installing. Seemed insteresting but I can't recommend if I can't install on various machines.
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Version: 2
Rating: 5
Date: 2024-08-09
Votes: 2
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J'attendais cette deuxième itération avec impatience!
Une debian-immutable (malheureusement encore avec systemD) mais esthétiquement attrayante & prête à faire tourner les App Androïd dès l'origine...
Malheureusement, le premier écran m'indique une erreur comme quoi il y aurait un problème UEFI...
Je ne sais donc pas aller plus loin... et n'ai pas reçu d'aide pour ce problème.
A suivre
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I've been looking forward to this second iteration!
A debian-immutable (unfortunately still with systemD) but aesthetically appealing & ready to run Android Apps right out of the box...
Unfortunately, the first screen shows me an error saying there's a UEFI problem...
So I can't go any further... and haven't received any help for this problem.
To be continued
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Version: 2
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 5
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Works fine, with no issues.
Comparing to the previous versions, apx gui app seems to be working as it should do (This app worked really bad before, in alpha versions of vanilla os 2, now everything is ok)
By the way, installation process was pretty slow for me, but the installation and first setup itself worked fine.
I also like that they use gnome installer, it looks great in GNOME desktop
So, I think it's really on of the best distros to experience vanilla gnome desktop. But, ofc, it's not really good for the beginners, but would be great as 2-3rd distro
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Version: 2-beta
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-05-01
Votes: 35
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I didn't use it during its initial version, but the Vanilla OS 2 performs fantastically on my hardware.
The exceptions are the installation and configuration processes. It's not very informative about what it's doing, and it can take a lot of time, depending on your connection. However, you can install a plethora of stuff during the configuration period and do your work as usual - if you'd like. There are some quirks here and there during this period.
Otherwise, it's a solid Gnome experience on Debian base. Everything works out of the box.
I sincerely believe this OS will have a bright future.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-16
Votes: 3
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Using this on a 5 year old laptop for several weeks. So far there have been no stalls or freeze ups, many apps work faster and more smoothly than they did on certain other big distros, much to my chagrin. I really like what the devs are doing and I think there is still a lot to be improved upon, Vanilla 2 is coming soon so I am very much anticipating it. If you like gnome (I don't) this would be a good daily driver for some at the moment, best thing you can do it test it out yourself for a week or two and see how you like it. I'm going to keep using this daily until Vanilla 2 is finished (it's unusable for me at the moment) and hopefully that will be an even better experience.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 1
Date: 2024-01-14
Votes: 16
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Using a moderately powered machine with 32GB RAM, AMD Quad core, been test driving it for 3 months
- Frequent freeze ups
- Inconsistent behavior from media player
- having to init APX for every install of APT is frustrating in the length of time this unnecessary step consumes. Installing Flatpaks and interacting with abroot for system packages. It's a hassle keeping track of what's installed where and what can even access the rest of your system.
I do not recommend using this distro at this time. It is unfinished and has some critical bugs, is not intuitive or user friendly.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-01-07
Votes: 2
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Not sure if my Vanilla 22.10 is r7 or not, but it looks like I might have to reinstall or replace it, because booting has been touch and go and my wired connection to the internet has been useless. I suppose I should update, but we users like to use the computer, not spend half days troubleshooting. I gave Vanilla an 8 rating based on previous experience. I like its access to applications that I prefer to use without having to search for installation documentation. I have a 2 TB HDD that I use exclusively as an external drive for Linux. The desktop is a Dell Optiplex mini tower 9020, refurbished, with 16 GB RAM, with 4 cores, speed 3700 MHz.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-10-24
Votes: 14
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Download:
The download of the distro ISO file went well.
Installation:
My friend helped me to install the distro. The installation process was straightforward, but there was no documentation or help available, which made it a bit difficult.
First impressions:
The distro looks unfinished and unpolished. There are some bugs and glitches, and the overall user experience is not very good.
WiFi:
Unfortunately, the WiFi on my laptop did not work with the distro out of the box. I tried to install the necessary drivers, but I was unsuccessful.
Overall recommendation:
I do not recommend using this distro at this time. It is unfinished and has some critical bugs, such as the non-functional WiFi.
Suggestions for improvement:
The developers should focus on polishing the distro and fixing the critical bugs. They should also provide better documentation and support.
Additional notes:
I am aware that the distro is still under development, but I believe that it is important to be honest in my review. I hope that the developers will take my feedback to heart and make the distro better.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-16
Votes: 1
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I tried both Vanilla OS 22.10 Kinetic stable build and the Vanilla OS 2 Orchid alpha build, neither would install. They seemed to fail when pulling images from ghcr.io.
Anyway, this seems like a neat concept. Atomic updates on a stable base with the ability to install bleeding edge packages from any package manager in a container seems like the best of both worlds.
Hopefully the devs can iron out the issues before Vanilla OS 2 Orchid stable release. My only other reference to immutable distros have been Fedora Silverblue which didn't impress me much, I'm rooting for this distro.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-20
Votes: 0
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I have been a loyal user of Vanilla OS for over a year now, running the latest 22.10-r7 release exclusively on my Thinkpad T14s laptop. As someone who relies on their computer for both professional studies and work, Vanilla OS provides an excellent Linux experience to get things done.
In university, Vanilla OS allows me to utilize key productivity tools like OnlyOffice for editing documents and Canva for designing presentations. I make full use of open source software like Kdenlive for video editing and GIMP for basic photo editing needs as well. One notable workaround was using custom Boxes Virtual Machine and Docker containers to run programs like Safe Exam Browser and RStudio that unfortunately do not support Linux natively.
While my Thinkpad T14s is capable enough for light gaming, I primarily use it as a productivity machine for school and remote jobs. Vanilla OS handles all of my work and study demands with stability and performance. The desktop environment is highly customizable yet easy to pick up, even for someone new to Linux like myself. Overall, Vanilla OS 22.10 has seamlessly replaced traditional desktop operating systems for all of my computing needs.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-10
Votes: 0
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The experience was amazing and the installation process feels especially polished. The ideas behind this project are all the right ones in order to have newbies use and linux and for it to just work reliably. My favorite distro so far.
I still had to move to another distro for my laptop as I don´t think the projet is quite mature enough for me to be able to rely on it. The way to do things is quite different from other debian-based distributions and some of them I couldn´t figure them out.
I really hope that with time, more useful documentation will bring the whole thing together for users and that a swich to debian will make it even more simple and reliable.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-01
Votes: 0
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Very easy to install. My 11 year old could install without any help.
I love the reliability and A-B root stability that I can be hands off for maintaining the system for the kids. I also love the auto update that will keep the system up to date.
The greatest feature is the install from AUR, rpm, apk, flatpak, etc. Very easy to install any software that is needed.
Kids love it. I tried playing around with it and it works great. The default desktop is GNOME. I will try to use MATE desktop that I like.
Having the recommended 8GB memory really helps. The look and feel is comparable to MAC(IMO). very easy to use. Bottles and Wine works just fine.
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Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-04-01
Votes: 13
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VanillaOS is a distribution that includes all of the fundamental applications that most people use, from browsers to codecs to software shops to offices to viewers and players. It also enables the user to download software from multiple package managers, which is then maintained in the Apx. Apx will allow you to construct a container based on your preferred distribution. You may make an Ubuntu (apt) container, which is the default, or you can make a container for Arch (pacman), Fedora (dnf), Alpine (apk), Void (xbps), and others. The Apx is typically a bit inconsistent, and it is still in its early stages, so I will assume that it will improve with time. I've tried it, and it hasn't worked a few times when installing some simple packages, and the integration between the appstore isn't seamless. Appimages run efficiently, programs run smoothly, the desktop environment consumes less than 1.1 to 1.2 GB of memory on launch, and the CPU usage is low. The installer also suggests extra packages for the user to install, which is a benefit. In terms of usability, it works and is easy; the installation is simple. VanillaOS also prioritizes security by incorporating features like firewalls and automated software upgrades. Overall, VanillaOS is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a simple, efficient, and safe operating system. As the project moves away from Ubuntu and toward Debian as its foundation, this operating system will improve over time. As a result, new users that transfer to Linux will have a nice selection and usability.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-29
Votes: 9
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VanillaOS is a new and exciting open-source operating system that promises to bring simplicity, speed and security to its users. The interface is intuitive, clean and straightforward, making it easy for users to navigate and perform basic tasks. The system is built on a lightweight Linux distribution, ensuring fast performance and a low resource footprint. Additionally, VanillaOS focuses on security by including features such as firewalls and automatic software updates. Overall, VanillaOS is a great option for anyone looking for a no-frills, efficient and secure operating system.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-29
Votes: 11
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this is a distro where you get the best of all linux distros in one place. I like the stock gnome look. VanillaOS makes everything looks really pretty. It uses an immutable file system which makes it very stable. Unlike other immutable linux distros, VanillaOS will not delete your installed packages after and update or and upgrade which is made possible by using the ABroot technology. This is where you can enter the transactional shell to install your core applications and modify your system. If you don't want application to modify you core system, you can yous apx instead which is the package manager for VanillaOS. Apx will allow you to create a container based on your distro preference. You can create and ubuntu container which is the default, or you can choose to create a container for (Archlinux, Fedora, Alpine, and Void.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-01-27
Votes: 4
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The benefit of Vanilla over Fedora is that is based on something that isn't afraid of shipping proprietary stuff, neither makes it hard for you to install it if necessary.
The functional codecs, drivers are easy to use while on Fedora it makes so hard for you to install them and you never know if it's fully installed, I mean, you don't ever know if you have installed everything that should be installed until something breaks or stops working and you need to research why. It was the case with me using Fedora and the removal of necessary codecs like H. 264, H. 265, and VC-1 VA-API. This just makes Fedora more and more NOT suitable for the average Joe (as many Youtubers that have been probably paid to tell you that Fedora is as easy as Ubuntu is = fake news).
Fedora is for devs only and people who has enough time to be mitigating stuff (not my case).
Vanilla on the other hand tries to ship pure and vanilla GNOME under an Ubuntu powerful base. Well known for everyone! So, there's also the immutable part which makes it even more secure and less prominent to fails.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-24
Votes: 6
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Love this minimal distro and tried successfully on several machines including an old Lenovo Miix 320 tablet which runs nicely with Secure Boot enabled.
Installation using the latest release version is quick and hassle free. Memory usage is undemanding compared to Gnome on regular distros which helps if installing on low spec tricky hardware like Atom x5 devices.
Apx is a bit hit and miss but does work. Flatpak integration with Software Centre works great as does the Sub System containers for installing Fedora, Arch and Alpine pacakges. With no issues with Appimages either, Vanilla provides a lot of options in an efficient well presented immutable system. Why all the negativity? This is a brilliant debut release so many thanks to the developers!
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-18
Votes: 8
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I've been following this project pretty much since the first public builds were available and back then it seemed interesting, a vanilla Gnome experience on a stable Ubuntu base with a unique flavour of toggleable immutability.
Fast forward a few months and suddenly the project shifts focus to implementing seemingly as many possible distros into its apx "package manager" and completely changing up the immutability aspect to something more conventional. Following all those major changes, the distro release gets rushed in time for holidays despite not being quite ready.
I honestly don't see what does this distro have to offer that Fedora Silverblue doesn't, which I believe is what the developer was using before and it clearly served as inspiration. I wish I could say the benefit is that it's Ubuntu based which some may prefer, but you barely get to interact with the Ubuntu aspect of it.
Lets imagine for a moment that there is nothing to compare this distro to, how does it actually feel to use? Well, for starters the installer is fairly barebones, not even allowing for custom partitioning or dual booting, erasing the disk is the only option. The first setup experience is buggy at best, you can merely hope it will actually do what it says.
Installing additional software can be confusing as apx might feel like a drop-in replacement for apt but it's more akin to a developer sandbox. Then there's the more common workflow for an immutable distro of installing Flatpaks and interacting with abroot for system packages. It's a hassle keeping track of what's installed where and what can even access the rest of your system.
Vanilla OS presents itself as a deceptively simple distro when in reality it's only likely to be of any use to developers who can benefit from the container workflow and for that it might be better to just use one of the true and tried distros for now as this one merely provides a few convenient wrappers for existing tools like distrobox but it lacks the versatility and reliability.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 3
Date: 2023-01-14
Votes: 0
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They could have just created pure gnome experience like what kde neon did with kde.
But they made it too unstable by pulling so many strings at once e.g. a/b partition, apx etc etc
They sucked everything from ubuntu and made it pseudo fedora.
Also this immutable thing has headaches of its own, It was a good project when it started but now its just a test bed for enthusiasts. I wot recommend this for daily driver as it's name itself suggests it is 'vanilla'!
If you want good immutable distro - silver blue is the answer.
Also, their support is non existent and forum is filled with rude guys. So a 'bug is a feature' or 'developer hit by bus' is easy to come across.
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Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-01-07
Votes: 10
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I was having a crash with R1 and R2 before even beginning the install, but R3 resolved this issue. Well, does this R3 look good. Really, best of all immutables for the looks. Works fast too. Install works like a breeze. The post-install takes care of the codecs, the Nvidia gpu, the office...This is so good. Printer HP is detected auto. Good.
But like with all other immutables (Micro OS, Kinoite, Silverblue, Enless) you have to install VueScan to use the scanner. Not a big deal, but VueScan is commercial and or you pay, or you get a watermark. Actually, I do not like this. I payed for my driver when I bought my scanner, so...50 € for me is 50 €. Yearly then. So no, thank you. This is not Linux.
So it would be great if hp-plugin is in the iso, actually. Or could be installed.
But again, all immutables do not include hp-plugin.
Another thing. Firefox. Vanilla includes a stripped down version of Firefox which is a shame. Impossible to install Firefox Extensions. Of course, Firefox is a Flatpak, but my Video Downloadhelper needs an extra plugin, which can not be installed in the flatpack version.
Also tried to install yt-dlp with apx. A download of 500 MB with no result.yt-dlp does not work, but we have videodownloader in flatpak.
So for the future...
Include hp-plugin.
Include the real full Firefox.
So, yes, if you really look for an immutable, Vanilla OS is worth looking at. It is as good as Endless, but with the advantage of ABroot and apx. Only, I would recomment making a YouTube vid about using both ABroot and apx.
Endless is second choice because you have less freedom here. But hey, with Endless comes...Firefox. So close call.
Third is Silverblue-Kinoite for their lack of support for Nvidia.
And forth is Micro OS as still in devellopment. Not that Micro OS is bad, far from. I used it with pleasure. Micro OS does not include Firefox which for me is a deal braker pur sang.
But for me, Vanilla OS wins the competition now. Endless is another top choice.
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Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-04
Votes: 0
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This OS sounded intriguing so I downloaded the ISO to give it a try. The live session ran OK in Virtualbox with no real issues. When I tried to install in Virtualbox, it would not allow me to configure the disk drive or even select it. I couldn't go any further.
I don't have an available machine to try to install this on, so a VM is my only option. And, I didn't see anything on the web site or in the documentation about it not working in Virtualbox or any workarounds. Oh well, maybe next release will work better.
Sorry.
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Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 4
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First impression:
Install (on a flash drive) went smoothly.
Nice looking desktop, not sensational, but no ways found for creating customized desktops, e.g. with icons or other adaptations. Choosing an other background is a poor facility.
But de restrictions are unacceptable for daily use. Several times trying to install Libre Office - it was on the list for first install - was unsuccessful. The installer seemed to be working, but nothing appeared. Tried it on two laptops. Rebooting didn' t help.
The number of usable applications is limited. No font installer; no pdf-viewer (use the browser),
The simple browser refused to accept several websites/webapplications. Vice versa. Even Distrowatch was reported as untrusted.
Some webplayers produced sound, but other webplayers kept silence.
The philosophy and intentions are laudable, but I hope for more adaptibility and usability.
I send this review, using an 8 year old laptop with Vanilla.
More experimenting seems to be useful. But Vanilla can't be a serious alternative for daily work right now, I'm afraid.
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Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 3
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Nice concept. But, definitely not ready.
Initial installation seemed to be fine. When the first setup was done, then rebooted, the choices for the set up were missing. Snap was already said to be not yet working. Ok. So, why was the chosen Flatpak install absent. No simple flatpak plug-in installed into the provided Gnome-Software manager as one would have expected, Further, why was the offered LibreOffice missing when it was chosen for post install? If one is to provide choices to be included within the OS post-install, why then deny the user those choices? Why were they not installed as requested?
Audio was also absent. Since "Almost" seems to be nixed, there was no way to correct this issue.
If a distribution bills itself to be based on Ubuntu, why doesn't it simply "work out of the box"? It the distro bills itself as immutable, then shouldn't it detect one's current computer hardware and set it up such as it's base-namesake would? Due to the inability to install the needed audio software on the system, or for the system to make allowances for such changes to be made, there was no way to correct this problem.
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Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 3
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Excellent first experience with Vanilla OS. It's quick and simple to install, and had none of the glitches experienced by some other reviewers. Runs smoothly and performs surprisingly fast on an old Celeron notebook. Perfect hardware detection and Flatpaks quickly installed. Haven't tried using the containers as no need yet.
Only thing to watch is that it caused Mageia on second SSD to become unbootable and no longer showing in boot menu.
Also use other immutable distros such as Fedora Silverblue and OpenSuse Micro OS. These are both fantastic, but Vanilla excels against them with setup speed and lightweight characteristics - plus far fewer updates to bother with from it's Ubuntu base! GNOME 43 makes it very easy to use and suitable for all users. The 'smart' updates run silently in the background at user defined schedules for convenience.
Definitely a keeper and look forward to seeing how this new distro develops over time. Brilliant work and a refreshing spin on the masses of Ubuntu based distros.
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Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-01
Votes: 3
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Ubuntu immutable with stock GNOME? This is everything I wanted. Of course the first release was a little bug but they fixed them all in less then 24h. What a record.
ABRoot is more than just a good concept, A/B partitioning is a breath of fresh air in the Linux world and a container based package manager to install packages from the main distributions like Arch Linux and Fedora is something I've always wanted and I can't believe we had to wait so long to see such a concept.
As they announced, updates are not just automated, they are truly smart! This is by checking if the system can manage an update, by doing multiple checks like cpu, ram, connection.. again I can't believe we had to wait so long to see such a concept.
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Version: 22.10
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 6
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Of course, this is not a review, but more of a 'first impressions', as it only came out today. The first impressions where not so great. The installation program and first setup is amazing! But once that has completed, the system reboots and I wouldn't expect to still see the first setup wizard still there in the applications menu. I thought that it might still be there to allow users to make changes, but after running through the wizard again and changing a few options, I rebooted and found that nothing had changed, therefore making this program useless to users after first usage.
The system is a breeze to use, responsive and elegant - I love the default light and dark themes / grub splash screen etc. they are so beautiful, but I cannot understand why 4 terminal emulators are installed: there is xterm, uxterm, gnome-terminal, and a new one called console too. This to me is a little too messy, and although they could easily be removed, they are unnecessary.
I do have high hopes for this distro, and will continue using it for the time being.
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Version: 22.10
Rating: 2
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 0
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This distribution is not ready for prime time, especially if you have an nvidia card. The drivers don't install, even though the setup app says they have. Plus the "Additional drivers" page of the setup app is blank (although I hear this has been "fixed". The drivers display, but still can't be installed). Also, the default drivers cause horrible flicker and artifacts until you select GNOME on Xorg at the login prompt. Of course, that doesn't stick, so you have to select it again on reboot.
Put this back in the oven and bake it for a few weeks more...
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Version: 22.10
Rating: 3
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 0
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They released this thing half-baked,,, custom partitioning is non functional.. only option is to replace entire disk.. one of the first apps I tried to install was variety wallpaper changer and it was a no-go.. variety works fine on all other main distros based on ubuntu.. my impression is that you will find a good deal of bugs in this release its half-baked
Maybe they will fix the bugs in future releases,,, I am all for linux distros shooting for the moon but this project is not ready for prime-time
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Version: 22.10
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 1
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Just installed it this morning, coming from Mint.
It won't install Wifi at first run, you have to connect your PC with LAN-Cable to get through the Installing process.
But after reboot and a few updates (and Libreoffice) you can choose Wifi as well.
The Gnome Store works fine like in Fedora, nothing new.
Nice design, runs smooth and flawless (till now).
No bugs so far.
Kernel is 5.19.
But nevertheless in my opinion It's nothing special, runs as good as Mint or other Distributions.
By no means the holy grail of Linux distributions.
Will keep it for a few days more.
However, the distribution is not yet fully localized, some menu items still in English, although I had chosen German.
Also, as mentioned by other users, at least three consoles.
Also, the browser "Web" can not be uninstalled, shows up in the Gnome store, but as "not installed"
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Latest Reviews
Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 2
Rating: 2
Date: 2024-11-13
Votes: 3
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Tried installing on 2 different laptops and a desktop, failed all 3 to install. On laptos it complained t could not find the drive after the installer partition it, which I could see after when I was looking into installing anything else to the laptops... so for some reason the weird installer can't keep track of what it was doing. Error log was not helpful, add to this that the thing does not have a live mode for one to try and diagnose while installing on the same device one is installing. Seemed insteresting but I can't recommend if I can't install on various machines.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 2
Rating: 5
Date: 2024-08-09
Votes: 2
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J'attendais cette deuxième itération avec impatience!
Une debian-immutable (malheureusement encore avec systemD) mais esthétiquement attrayante & prête à faire tourner les App Androïd dès l'origine...
Malheureusement, le premier écran m'indique une erreur comme quoi il y aurait un problème UEFI...
Je ne sais donc pas aller plus loin... et n'ai pas reçu d'aide pour ce problème.
A suivre
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I've been looking forward to this second iteration!
A debian-immutable (unfortunately still with systemD) but aesthetically appealing & ready to run Android Apps right out of the box...
Unfortunately, the first screen shows me an error saying there's a UEFI problem...
So I can't go any further... and haven't received any help for this problem.
To be continued
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 2
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 5
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Works fine, with no issues.
Comparing to the previous versions, apx gui app seems to be working as it should do (This app worked really bad before, in alpha versions of vanilla os 2, now everything is ok)
By the way, installation process was pretty slow for me, but the installation and first setup itself worked fine.
I also like that they use gnome installer, it looks great in GNOME desktop
So, I think it's really on of the best distros to experience vanilla gnome desktop. But, ofc, it's not really good for the beginners, but would be great as 2-3rd distro
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 2-beta
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-05-01
Votes: 35
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I didn't use it during its initial version, but the Vanilla OS 2 performs fantastically on my hardware.
The exceptions are the installation and configuration processes. It's not very informative about what it's doing, and it can take a lot of time, depending on your connection. However, you can install a plethora of stuff during the configuration period and do your work as usual - if you'd like. There are some quirks here and there during this period.
Otherwise, it's a solid Gnome experience on Debian base. Everything works out of the box.
I sincerely believe this OS will have a bright future.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-16
Votes: 3
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Using this on a 5 year old laptop for several weeks. So far there have been no stalls or freeze ups, many apps work faster and more smoothly than they did on certain other big distros, much to my chagrin. I really like what the devs are doing and I think there is still a lot to be improved upon, Vanilla 2 is coming soon so I am very much anticipating it. If you like gnome (I don't) this would be a good daily driver for some at the moment, best thing you can do it test it out yourself for a week or two and see how you like it. I'm going to keep using this daily until Vanilla 2 is finished (it's unusable for me at the moment) and hopefully that will be an even better experience.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 1
Date: 2024-01-14
Votes: 16
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Using a moderately powered machine with 32GB RAM, AMD Quad core, been test driving it for 3 months
- Frequent freeze ups
- Inconsistent behavior from media player
- having to init APX for every install of APT is frustrating in the length of time this unnecessary step consumes. Installing Flatpaks and interacting with abroot for system packages. It's a hassle keeping track of what's installed where and what can even access the rest of your system.
I do not recommend using this distro at this time. It is unfinished and has some critical bugs, is not intuitive or user friendly.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-01-07
Votes: 2
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Not sure if my Vanilla 22.10 is r7 or not, but it looks like I might have to reinstall or replace it, because booting has been touch and go and my wired connection to the internet has been useless. I suppose I should update, but we users like to use the computer, not spend half days troubleshooting. I gave Vanilla an 8 rating based on previous experience. I like its access to applications that I prefer to use without having to search for installation documentation. I have a 2 TB HDD that I use exclusively as an external drive for Linux. The desktop is a Dell Optiplex mini tower 9020, refurbished, with 16 GB RAM, with 4 cores, speed 3700 MHz.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-10-24
Votes: 14
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Download:
The download of the distro ISO file went well.
Installation:
My friend helped me to install the distro. The installation process was straightforward, but there was no documentation or help available, which made it a bit difficult.
First impressions:
The distro looks unfinished and unpolished. There are some bugs and glitches, and the overall user experience is not very good.
WiFi:
Unfortunately, the WiFi on my laptop did not work with the distro out of the box. I tried to install the necessary drivers, but I was unsuccessful.
Overall recommendation:
I do not recommend using this distro at this time. It is unfinished and has some critical bugs, such as the non-functional WiFi.
Suggestions for improvement:
The developers should focus on polishing the distro and fixing the critical bugs. They should also provide better documentation and support.
Additional notes:
I am aware that the distro is still under development, but I believe that it is important to be honest in my review. I hope that the developers will take my feedback to heart and make the distro better.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-16
Votes: 1
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I tried both Vanilla OS 22.10 Kinetic stable build and the Vanilla OS 2 Orchid alpha build, neither would install. They seemed to fail when pulling images from ghcr.io.
Anyway, this seems like a neat concept. Atomic updates on a stable base with the ability to install bleeding edge packages from any package manager in a container seems like the best of both worlds.
Hopefully the devs can iron out the issues before Vanilla OS 2 Orchid stable release. My only other reference to immutable distros have been Fedora Silverblue which didn't impress me much, I'm rooting for this distro.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-20
Votes: 0
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I have been a loyal user of Vanilla OS for over a year now, running the latest 22.10-r7 release exclusively on my Thinkpad T14s laptop. As someone who relies on their computer for both professional studies and work, Vanilla OS provides an excellent Linux experience to get things done.
In university, Vanilla OS allows me to utilize key productivity tools like OnlyOffice for editing documents and Canva for designing presentations. I make full use of open source software like Kdenlive for video editing and GIMP for basic photo editing needs as well. One notable workaround was using custom Boxes Virtual Machine and Docker containers to run programs like Safe Exam Browser and RStudio that unfortunately do not support Linux natively.
While my Thinkpad T14s is capable enough for light gaming, I primarily use it as a productivity machine for school and remote jobs. Vanilla OS handles all of my work and study demands with stability and performance. The desktop environment is highly customizable yet easy to pick up, even for someone new to Linux like myself. Overall, Vanilla OS 22.10 has seamlessly replaced traditional desktop operating systems for all of my computing needs.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-10
Votes: 0
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The experience was amazing and the installation process feels especially polished. The ideas behind this project are all the right ones in order to have newbies use and linux and for it to just work reliably. My favorite distro so far.
I still had to move to another distro for my laptop as I don´t think the projet is quite mature enough for me to be able to rely on it. The way to do things is quite different from other debian-based distributions and some of them I couldn´t figure them out.
I really hope that with time, more useful documentation will bring the whole thing together for users and that a swich to debian will make it even more simple and reliable.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-01
Votes: 0
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Very easy to install. My 11 year old could install without any help.
I love the reliability and A-B root stability that I can be hands off for maintaining the system for the kids. I also love the auto update that will keep the system up to date.
The greatest feature is the install from AUR, rpm, apk, flatpak, etc. Very easy to install any software that is needed.
Kids love it. I tried playing around with it and it works great. The default desktop is GNOME. I will try to use MATE desktop that I like.
Having the recommended 8GB memory really helps. The look and feel is comparable to MAC(IMO). very easy to use. Bottles and Wine works just fine.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r7
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-04-01
Votes: 13
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VanillaOS is a distribution that includes all of the fundamental applications that most people use, from browsers to codecs to software shops to offices to viewers and players. It also enables the user to download software from multiple package managers, which is then maintained in the Apx. Apx will allow you to construct a container based on your preferred distribution. You may make an Ubuntu (apt) container, which is the default, or you can make a container for Arch (pacman), Fedora (dnf), Alpine (apk), Void (xbps), and others. The Apx is typically a bit inconsistent, and it is still in its early stages, so I will assume that it will improve with time. I've tried it, and it hasn't worked a few times when installing some simple packages, and the integration between the appstore isn't seamless. Appimages run efficiently, programs run smoothly, the desktop environment consumes less than 1.1 to 1.2 GB of memory on launch, and the CPU usage is low. The installer also suggests extra packages for the user to install, which is a benefit. In terms of usability, it works and is easy; the installation is simple. VanillaOS also prioritizes security by incorporating features like firewalls and automated software upgrades. Overall, VanillaOS is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a simple, efficient, and safe operating system. As the project moves away from Ubuntu and toward Debian as its foundation, this operating system will improve over time. As a result, new users that transfer to Linux will have a nice selection and usability.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-29
Votes: 11
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this is a distro where you get the best of all linux distros in one place. I like the stock gnome look. VanillaOS makes everything looks really pretty. It uses an immutable file system which makes it very stable. Unlike other immutable linux distros, VanillaOS will not delete your installed packages after and update or and upgrade which is made possible by using the ABroot technology. This is where you can enter the transactional shell to install your core applications and modify your system. If you don't want application to modify you core system, you can yous apx instead which is the package manager for VanillaOS. Apx will allow you to create a container based on your distro preference. You can create and ubuntu container which is the default, or you can choose to create a container for (Archlinux, Fedora, Alpine, and Void.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-29
Votes: 9
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VanillaOS is a new and exciting open-source operating system that promises to bring simplicity, speed and security to its users. The interface is intuitive, clean and straightforward, making it easy for users to navigate and perform basic tasks. The system is built on a lightweight Linux distribution, ensuring fast performance and a low resource footprint. Additionally, VanillaOS focuses on security by including features such as firewalls and automatic software updates. Overall, VanillaOS is a great option for anyone looking for a no-frills, efficient and secure operating system.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-01-27
Votes: 4
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The benefit of Vanilla over Fedora is that is based on something that isn't afraid of shipping proprietary stuff, neither makes it hard for you to install it if necessary.
The functional codecs, drivers are easy to use while on Fedora it makes so hard for you to install them and you never know if it's fully installed, I mean, you don't ever know if you have installed everything that should be installed until something breaks or stops working and you need to research why. It was the case with me using Fedora and the removal of necessary codecs like H. 264, H. 265, and VC-1 VA-API. This just makes Fedora more and more NOT suitable for the average Joe (as many Youtubers that have been probably paid to tell you that Fedora is as easy as Ubuntu is = fake news).
Fedora is for devs only and people who has enough time to be mitigating stuff (not my case).
Vanilla on the other hand tries to ship pure and vanilla GNOME under an Ubuntu powerful base. Well known for everyone! So, there's also the immutable part which makes it even more secure and less prominent to fails.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-24
Votes: 6
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Love this minimal distro and tried successfully on several machines including an old Lenovo Miix 320 tablet which runs nicely with Secure Boot enabled.
Installation using the latest release version is quick and hassle free. Memory usage is undemanding compared to Gnome on regular distros which helps if installing on low spec tricky hardware like Atom x5 devices.
Apx is a bit hit and miss but does work. Flatpak integration with Software Centre works great as does the Sub System containers for installing Fedora, Arch and Alpine pacakges. With no issues with Appimages either, Vanilla provides a lot of options in an efficient well presented immutable system. Why all the negativity? This is a brilliant debut release so many thanks to the developers!
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-18
Votes: 8
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I've been following this project pretty much since the first public builds were available and back then it seemed interesting, a vanilla Gnome experience on a stable Ubuntu base with a unique flavour of toggleable immutability.
Fast forward a few months and suddenly the project shifts focus to implementing seemingly as many possible distros into its apx "package manager" and completely changing up the immutability aspect to something more conventional. Following all those major changes, the distro release gets rushed in time for holidays despite not being quite ready.
I honestly don't see what does this distro have to offer that Fedora Silverblue doesn't, which I believe is what the developer was using before and it clearly served as inspiration. I wish I could say the benefit is that it's Ubuntu based which some may prefer, but you barely get to interact with the Ubuntu aspect of it.
Lets imagine for a moment that there is nothing to compare this distro to, how does it actually feel to use? Well, for starters the installer is fairly barebones, not even allowing for custom partitioning or dual booting, erasing the disk is the only option. The first setup experience is buggy at best, you can merely hope it will actually do what it says.
Installing additional software can be confusing as apx might feel like a drop-in replacement for apt but it's more akin to a developer sandbox. Then there's the more common workflow for an immutable distro of installing Flatpaks and interacting with abroot for system packages. It's a hassle keeping track of what's installed where and what can even access the rest of your system.
Vanilla OS presents itself as a deceptively simple distro when in reality it's only likely to be of any use to developers who can benefit from the container workflow and for that it might be better to just use one of the true and tried distros for now as this one merely provides a few convenient wrappers for existing tools like distrobox but it lacks the versatility and reliability.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 3
Date: 2023-01-14
Votes: 0
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They could have just created pure gnome experience like what kde neon did with kde.
But they made it too unstable by pulling so many strings at once e.g. a/b partition, apx etc etc
They sucked everything from ubuntu and made it pseudo fedora.
Also this immutable thing has headaches of its own, It was a good project when it started but now its just a test bed for enthusiasts. I wot recommend this for daily driver as it's name itself suggests it is 'vanilla'!
If you want good immutable distro - silver blue is the answer.
Also, their support is non existent and forum is filled with rude guys. So a 'bug is a feature' or 'developer hit by bus' is easy to come across.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r3
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-01-07
Votes: 10
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I was having a crash with R1 and R2 before even beginning the install, but R3 resolved this issue. Well, does this R3 look good. Really, best of all immutables for the looks. Works fast too. Install works like a breeze. The post-install takes care of the codecs, the Nvidia gpu, the office...This is so good. Printer HP is detected auto. Good.
But like with all other immutables (Micro OS, Kinoite, Silverblue, Enless) you have to install VueScan to use the scanner. Not a big deal, but VueScan is commercial and or you pay, or you get a watermark. Actually, I do not like this. I payed for my driver when I bought my scanner, so...50 € for me is 50 €. Yearly then. So no, thank you. This is not Linux.
So it would be great if hp-plugin is in the iso, actually. Or could be installed.
But again, all immutables do not include hp-plugin.
Another thing. Firefox. Vanilla includes a stripped down version of Firefox which is a shame. Impossible to install Firefox Extensions. Of course, Firefox is a Flatpak, but my Video Downloadhelper needs an extra plugin, which can not be installed in the flatpack version.
Also tried to install yt-dlp with apx. A download of 500 MB with no result.yt-dlp does not work, but we have videodownloader in flatpak.
So for the future...
Include hp-plugin.
Include the real full Firefox.
So, yes, if you really look for an immutable, Vanilla OS is worth looking at. It is as good as Endless, but with the advantage of ABroot and apx. Only, I would recomment making a YouTube vid about using both ABroot and apx.
Endless is second choice because you have less freedom here. But hey, with Endless comes...Firefox. So close call.
Third is Silverblue-Kinoite for their lack of support for Nvidia.
And forth is Micro OS as still in devellopment. Not that Micro OS is bad, far from. I used it with pleasure. Micro OS does not include Firefox which for me is a deal braker pur sang.
But for me, Vanilla OS wins the competition now. Endless is another top choice.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-04
Votes: 0
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This OS sounded intriguing so I downloaded the ISO to give it a try. The live session ran OK in Virtualbox with no real issues. When I tried to install in Virtualbox, it would not allow me to configure the disk drive or even select it. I couldn't go any further.
I don't have an available machine to try to install this on, so a VM is my only option. And, I didn't see anything on the web site or in the documentation about it not working in Virtualbox or any workarounds. Oh well, maybe next release will work better.
Sorry.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 3
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Excellent first experience with Vanilla OS. It's quick and simple to install, and had none of the glitches experienced by some other reviewers. Runs smoothly and performs surprisingly fast on an old Celeron notebook. Perfect hardware detection and Flatpaks quickly installed. Haven't tried using the containers as no need yet.
Only thing to watch is that it caused Mageia on second SSD to become unbootable and no longer showing in boot menu.
Also use other immutable distros such as Fedora Silverblue and OpenSuse Micro OS. These are both fantastic, but Vanilla excels against them with setup speed and lightweight characteristics - plus far fewer updates to bother with from it's Ubuntu base! GNOME 43 makes it very easy to use and suitable for all users. The 'smart' updates run silently in the background at user defined schedules for convenience.
Definitely a keeper and look forward to seeing how this new distro develops over time. Brilliant work and a refreshing spin on the masses of Ubuntu based distros.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 3
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Nice concept. But, definitely not ready.
Initial installation seemed to be fine. When the first setup was done, then rebooted, the choices for the set up were missing. Snap was already said to be not yet working. Ok. So, why was the chosen Flatpak install absent. No simple flatpak plug-in installed into the provided Gnome-Software manager as one would have expected, Further, why was the offered LibreOffice missing when it was chosen for post install? If one is to provide choices to be included within the OS post-install, why then deny the user those choices? Why were they not installed as requested?
Audio was also absent. Since "Almost" seems to be nixed, there was no way to correct this issue.
If a distribution bills itself to be based on Ubuntu, why doesn't it simply "work out of the box"? It the distro bills itself as immutable, then shouldn't it detect one's current computer hardware and set it up such as it's base-namesake would? Due to the inability to install the needed audio software on the system, or for the system to make allowances for such changes to be made, there was no way to correct this problem.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-01-02
Votes: 4
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First impression:
Install (on a flash drive) went smoothly.
Nice looking desktop, not sensational, but no ways found for creating customized desktops, e.g. with icons or other adaptations. Choosing an other background is a poor facility.
But de restrictions are unacceptable for daily use. Several times trying to install Libre Office - it was on the list for first install - was unsuccessful. The installer seemed to be working, but nothing appeared. Tried it on two laptops. Rebooting didn' t help.
The number of usable applications is limited. No font installer; no pdf-viewer (use the browser),
The simple browser refused to accept several websites/webapplications. Vice versa. Even Distrowatch was reported as untrusted.
Some webplayers produced sound, but other webplayers kept silence.
The philosophy and intentions are laudable, but I hope for more adaptibility and usability.
I send this review, using an 8 year old laptop with Vanilla.
More experimenting seems to be useful. But Vanilla can't be a serious alternative for daily work right now, I'm afraid.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10-r1
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-01
Votes: 3
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Ubuntu immutable with stock GNOME? This is everything I wanted. Of course the first release was a little bug but they fixed them all in less then 24h. What a record.
ABRoot is more than just a good concept, A/B partitioning is a breath of fresh air in the Linux world and a container based package manager to install packages from the main distributions like Arch Linux and Fedora is something I've always wanted and I can't believe we had to wait so long to see such a concept.
As they announced, updates are not just automated, they are truly smart! This is by checking if the system can manage an update, by doing multiple checks like cpu, ram, connection.. again I can't believe we had to wait so long to see such a concept.
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 1
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Just installed it this morning, coming from Mint.
It won't install Wifi at first run, you have to connect your PC with LAN-Cable to get through the Installing process.
But after reboot and a few updates (and Libreoffice) you can choose Wifi as well.
The Gnome Store works fine like in Fedora, nothing new.
Nice design, runs smooth and flawless (till now).
No bugs so far.
Kernel is 5.19.
But nevertheless in my opinion It's nothing special, runs as good as Mint or other Distributions.
By no means the holy grail of Linux distributions.
Will keep it for a few days more.
However, the distribution is not yet fully localized, some menu items still in English, although I had chosen German.
Also, as mentioned by other users, at least three consoles.
Also, the browser "Web" can not be uninstalled, shows up in the Gnome store, but as "not installed"
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10
Rating: 3
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 0
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They released this thing half-baked,,, custom partitioning is non functional.. only option is to replace entire disk.. one of the first apps I tried to install was variety wallpaper changer and it was a no-go.. variety works fine on all other main distros based on ubuntu.. my impression is that you will find a good deal of bugs in this release its half-baked
Maybe they will fix the bugs in future releases,,, I am all for linux distros shooting for the moon but this project is not ready for prime-time
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10
Rating: 2
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 0
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This distribution is not ready for prime time, especially if you have an nvidia card. The drivers don't install, even though the setup app says they have. Plus the "Additional drivers" page of the setup app is blank (although I hear this has been "fixed". The drivers display, but still can't be installed). Also, the default drivers cause horrible flicker and artifacts until you select GNOME on Xorg at the login prompt. Of course, that doesn't stick, so you have to select it again on reboot.
Put this back in the oven and bake it for a few weeks more...
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Project: Vanilla OS
Version: 22.10
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-12-30
Votes: 6
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Of course, this is not a review, but more of a 'first impressions', as it only came out today. The first impressions where not so great. The installation program and first setup is amazing! But once that has completed, the system reboots and I wouldn't expect to still see the first setup wizard still there in the applications menu. I thought that it might still be there to allow users to make changes, but after running through the wizard again and changing a few options, I rebooted and found that nothing had changed, therefore making this program useless to users after first usage.
The system is a breeze to use, responsive and elegant - I love the default light and dark themes / grub splash screen etc. they are so beautiful, but I cannot understand why 4 terminal emulators are installed: there is xterm, uxterm, gnome-terminal, and a new one called console too. This to me is a little too messy, and although they could easily be removed, they are unnecessary.
I do have high hopes for this distro, and will continue using it for the time being.
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