After running Debian as my daily driver with Kali Linux and CSI Linux VMs, I decided to test the latest Ubuntu LTS — Ubuntu 26.04 “Resolute Raccoon” — in VMware Workstation.
Here’s my complete experience and optimized setup guide:
Why Ubuntu 26.04?
- Modern, polished desktop experience
- Excellent hardware detection and driver support (even in a VM)
- Great balance between stability and up-to-date software
- Strong foundation if I ever decide to make it my main OS
Installation Highlights
- Downloaded the official ISO from releases.ubuntu.com
- Created a new VM in VMware Workstation (8GB RAM, 4 cores, 60GB+ disk)
- Installation was surprisingly smooth with very few issues
- Enabled full disk encryption during setup
- Post-install: Enabled Ubuntu Pro for extended security updates
Optimizations Applied
- Installed open-vm-tools for better integration (smooth mouse, resolution, shared folders ready)
- Switched to Zsh + Oh My Zsh + Powerlevel10k for a beautiful, fast terminal
- Installed gnome-tweaks, fastfetch, vlc, and restricted extras
- Reduced animations for better VM performance
- Fully updated with latest security patches
Current Verdict
Ubuntu 26.04 feels noticeably more polished than Debian for desktop use. The dark theme, modern GNOME 50, and overall responsiveness are excellent in VMware.
I’ll continue using it as a VM for a few weeks to test daily workflow before considering a full migration from Debian.
Would I recommend it? Yes — especially if you want a clean, modern, and well-supported Linux desktop experience in 2026.