Linux Mint

Screenshot of the default desktop of Linux Min...
Image via Wikipedia

Linux Mint is a Ubuntu derivative and shares many of the characters of that top rated distro.

Similar to XP

Mint tries to be more "Windows like"  XP in its lay out and appearance and while I am not sure they entirely succeed in this (and even less sure they need to) Mint should at least be slightly familiar to migrating Windows users. Because Mint is a Ubuntu variation, anyone coming over from that Distro family will find lots of familiar elements.

Lots of free stuff

With Synaptic handling the downloads, Gnome as the desktop environment and the usual collection of impressive software including the Open Office productivity suite, the Firefox internet browser and eye candy provided by Compiz. Mint's other claim to fame is the use of non free software which ensures that Mint works out of the box. DVDs will play, MP3 will work and other usually restricted codecs and drivers will be available.

This move makes it something of a heretic in the distro universe. although its a fact that one of the first things a user of Ubuntu or SUSE is likely to do is ensure they can listen to their music and watch their DVDs.

Mint the heretic Linux.

The choice between Mint and Ubuntu probably boils down to whether you want to be on the bleeding edge of the distro or working with the tried and true. Because Mint is a spin off distro it will always be a little behind Ubuntu whether that's a problem is entirely up to you.

I have used both Mint and Ubuntu for work and home and tend to find that Mint works well on laptops and mobile devices while for my main machine I prefer Ubuntu. Since both systems have intelligent install programmes, its possible to install both on your machine or dual both with Windows.

Word of advice, because of the way that Windows works, install your MS operating system first then your Linux one. GRUB will handle the dual boot menu and should, if all has gone well, present you with an option to boot into either system as you need.

I can provide you with a ready to copy of the latest Mint OS Linux Mint 10 ("Julia") released November 12, 2010 at low cost help with any install issues. Just JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING

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