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Viglen Genie Desktop PC Ubuntu Linux v14.04 LTS Review

I needed to upgrade my existing desktop computer, I just needed a little more power than my faithful old Dell OPTIPLEX 745 was providing. Although it is still able to keep up with all the usual software development tasks, it just doesn't really handle all the virtualisation tasks that well. I

have recently been doing a lot of work involving Virtual Machines, predominantly focused on using Laravel, Vagrant homestead environments. However, I have also been creating a simulated network environment.

I have been started getting involved in developing a number of video tutorial videos, so needed a desktop powerful enough to record, edit and publish videos. Which involve a lot of screen recording while running virtual machines. A task my Dell Optiplex really struggles with!

Information

Viglen Ubuntu Desktops have been discontinued

Why a Desktop

As remote freelance software developer I predominantly work from home with  occasional travel to customer sites. I already own a number of laptops and tablets which are great and I use them. However, I still require a permanent desktop, even though I have several docking stations  for laptops.

Historically, if I needed a Linux machine, I would invariably build my own or get a machine installed with MS windows and format it to install Linux. When exploring my options, I was delighted to discover that Ebuyer Business, are now offering new PC's with Ubuntu pre-installed or as an install-able option.

I wanted a machine with a beefy enough processor to handle software development, image editing, video editing and sound editing. I also wanted some good storage space.

The Viglen Desktop I purchased included:

  • Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz
  • 16GB RAM + 2TB HDD
  • mATX Case
  • DVDRW
  • Ubuntu Linux v14.04 LTS (DVD)

I use this machine daily and I have no complaints whatsoever. I leave my desktops on 24/7 as I work from home so I usually work for most of the day and into the night. The machine copes well with this.

I usually spin up and create Virtual Machines, using Virtual Box, this computer copes with that really well, there is no noticeable slow down in the VM's running or on the host. I have in fact had 3 VM's running and there was no noticable slow down. There is more than enough memory available to allocate to each new machine.

Alongside the virtualisation I also do significant amount of Containerisation using Docker etc, and have had no complaints.

Ubuntu 16.04

A few months after purchase, Ubuntu 16.04 was released and I therefore upgraded the operating system and had no real issues.  The only real issue I had, which I don't think was a issue with the machine itself but rather the third party graphics card I installed afterwards had some issues with Ubuntu 16.04, but after a little fiddling I seem to have got it work.

Information

Further updates: I still predominantly use this desktop as my standard software development workstation -2019

Ubuntu 18.04

I upgraded my computer to 18.04 and it worked seamlessly for 2 years before I upgraded to ubuntu 19.04

Ubuntu 19.04

I have upgraded to ubuntu 19.04 and still use the desktop daily no issues what soever. In fact, I have been using the wokstation more then ever these days, due in part that I am developing Artificial Intelligence applications using Anaconda and Tensorflow and Python.

Ubuntu 21.10

I am still using this machine as my daily driver and still working on it 12-15 hours a day, running multiple Docker containers and even orchestrating a Mk8s clusters and the machine still copes quite well. I have upgraded to all versions of Ubuntu from 19.04 without a single glitch or even any performance degradation. Probably one of the best machines I have ever bought in that respect.

Ubuntu 22.04

This machine is still going! I have upgraded to the latest version of Ubuntu, and I have not noticed any slow down at all. I still use this machine daily, but it is no longer my daily driver, but it is still used daily.

Viglen Genie Desktop PC Ubuntu Linux v14.04 LTS
  • Value for money
  • Design
  • Performance
  • Compatability
4.5

Summary

Viglen’s Genie range delivers ultimate performance with Intel processors. The Genie Range of personal computers has long been the choice for IT professionals looking for productivity and reliability. Complete product life-cycle visibility certified, stable platform, engineering change control, wide range of modern chassis styles, enhanced security fixtures and more than thirty years of engineering excellence.

This Viglen Business system comes with the very latest Linux operating system from Ubuntu. The Long Term Support (LTS) version of the Ubuntu operating system for desktop PCs and laptops, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS comes with five years of security and maintenance updates guaranteed.

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Gary Woodfine
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