Linux Mint is a user-friendly and community-driven Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It aims to provide a reliable and elegant operating system with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Featuring the Cinnamon desktop environment, Linux Mint offers a familiar interface for users transitioning from other operating systems. Known for its stability and comprehensive out-of-the-box multimedia support, Linux Mint is a popular choice among both beginners and experienced Linux users.
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What is Linux Mint?
Linux Mint is an open-source Linux Distribution based on Ubuntu and is one of the most popular Linux distros of all time. If you have used Linux for some time you must have heard about Mint, and for good reason. Linux Mint perhaps has one of the easiest and familiar familiar-looking desktops of all Linux distros, making it a go-to choice for anyone coming from Windows.
- All this doesn’t mean that mint is not for professionals or Linux power users it’s quite the opposite.
- Linux Mint’s ease of use, stable base, fairly consistent release schedule, and tons of customization options make it a great choice for everyone, from the Linux newbie to the seasoned pro.
- It’s with no doubt one of the best, if not the best Linux distro of our time.
History of Linux Mint
- Clement Lefebvre, commonly known by the nickname Clem, created Linux Mint back in 2006.
- Linux Mint version 1, code-named “Ada” was released to the general public and was based on Kubuntu. A few months into the project, it was re-based and started using Ubuntu.
- In its early days, Ubuntu dominated desktop Linux, and Linux Mint aimed to improve it, with a focus on modernity, elegance, and ease of use. From Linux Mint 4 to 9, the Mint team developed more software for their distribution, making it all the more popular.
- In 2011, the Gnome team transitioned to Gnome 3, thereby breaking many features Linux Mint was providing before. Mint Team learned from their mistake and separated themselves from Gnome and developed their desktop environment called Cinnamon for their users. In 2020, Linux Mint also became one of the first distributions to drop support for Ubuntu’s snap packages, reinstating their commitment to their community-first vision.
What are the Editions of Linux Mint?
There are 5 editions of Mint in total out of which 3 are flavors (that have a different desktop environment), one LMDE (that has a different Debian base), and an edge version for newer hardware.
1. Cinnamon Edition
Cinnamon is the flagship edition of Linux Mint and it is the default version of Linux Mint that gets installed when you download the ISO from their website. It was originally based on Gnome 2, but now it has a focus on making it feel familiar to a traditional Windows-like layout.
- It is relatively more resource-heavy than its counterparts like XFCE. But it does come with a lot of customization options and feels polished.
- A really interesting thing about Cinnamon is that it’s developed and maintained by the Linux Mint team itself, so you can always be sure that you have the best possible experience.
2. Mate Edition
As we said earlier, Gnome 3 was a huge departure from the beloved Gnome 2 desktop. Hence Linux Mint still keeps a mate edition for those who came to rely on and like the Gnome 2 back in the day. Even now it is a good choice for users. It’s fast, simple to use, and also uses less memory than Cinnamon Edition.
3. XFCE Edition
Linux Mint’s XFCE edition is the lightest version of Mint, it comes with the XFCE desktop environment which is known for its responsiveness and really low system requirements. For those using mint on an older machine, this is a perfect choice. Its slim and lightweight nature means that it can run reliably even on low-end hardware.
4. Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE)
The Debian Edition of Linux Mint, commonly known as LMDE was developed by the Mint team to ensure that if anything were to happen to Ubuntu. They do not lose their user base as well. Hence they created LMDE. LMDE is based on the latest Debian edition at the time and is more stable and open. It can be a good choice for those who prefer not to have an Ubuntu-based distro.
5. Edge
The Edge Edition of Linux Mint is essentially the same as Linux Mint’s Cinnamon Edition but with a newer kernel and improvements that make it more suitable for newer cutting-edge hardware. So if you have a relatively new graphics card or some other piece of equipment that isn’t supported by the standard min release, you may give Mint’s Edge edition a try.
Features of Linux Mint
- Ease of Use: Linux Mint has a traditional Windows-like layout that makes it more approachable and understandable for everyone. Even those with no experience with Linux at all get started with Mint with ease.
- Reliability: Linux Mint has a conservative and stable release cycle. Most updates are well-tested before release making sure, that no updates should break the system.
- Open Source: Linux Mint is open source which means, it has better transparency and respects users’ privacy. You can also look and audit their source code by yourself if you so desire.
- Software Manager: The Software Manager in Linux Mint simplifies the process of installing, removing, and updating software. It offers an easy-to-navigate interface, categorized software listings, and user reviews to assist users in discovering and managing applications.
- Update Manager: The Update Manager ensures system stability and security by providing a straightforward way to manage system updates. Users can choose update policies, view available updates, and apply them with ease.
Advantages of Linux Mint
- Security and Privacy: Unlike Windows and Mac OS, Linux Mint does not collect any kind of telemetry. It also generally has less malware developed for it due to its smaller user base.
- Free to Use: Unlike most operating systems Linux Mint is free to use and customize. It means that users do not have to spend anything, and still get a fully functional system for free.
- Software Availability: Another great thing about Mint is its wide software availability. It allows users to access the vast amount of software developed for Ubuntu and also supports Flatpaks by default.
- User-Friendly Interface: Linux Mint, especially with the Cinnamon desktop environment, provides an intuitive and familiar interface that is easy for users transitioning from other operating systems. The layout and design aim for simplicity and ease of use.
Disadvantages of Linux Mint
- Old Packages: Since Mint is based on the LTS release of Ubuntu, it’s fairly slow to receive updates. This means that sometimes the packages for specific software might be multiple releases behind.
- Sub-optimal Hardware Support: Linux Mint does not ship with the latest kernel, making it unsuitable for those with a very recent GPU or WiFi card.
- Poor Wayland Support: Unlike most modern distros, Linux Mint still does not have good support for the newer Wayland protocol making it unsuitable for those expecting a good visual experience.
- Less Enterprise Focus: Linux Mint is designed with a focus on desktop users rather than enterprise environments. Users looking for an operating system with specific enterprise features or certifications might prefer alternatives designed with enterprise use in mind.
Hardware Requirements
1. Minimum Specifications:
- CPU: 1 GHz (64-bit)
- RAM: 2 GB
- Disk Space: 20 GB
2. Preferred Specifications:
- CPU: 2 GHz (64-bit)
- RAM: 4 GB
- Disk Space: 100 GB
Conclusion
In conclusion, Linux Mint is a solid choice for everyone, whether you are a beginner, just starting your Linux journey or a seasoned professional with years of Linux experience. You can’t go wrong with mint. It’s extremely stable and infinitely customizable. And the best part is its huge and helpful community that will be there to help you along the way. So go on and give it a try, for most users, the cinnamon edition should be fine and for those with older hardware choose XFCE and you will be good to go. Overall, there is no doubt why Linux Mint is such a reputed distro, it does deliver everything you can ever want in a simple and easy-to-use package, for free.
Frequently Asked Questions on Linux Mint
Q 1. Whether Linux Mint free of cost to use?
Yes, Linux Mint is absolutely free of cost. It is a free and open source operating system and can be easily downloaded from their official website for free.
Q 2. Is Mint easy to use for someone coming from Windows?
Yes, Linux Mint is really easy to use for everyone. Specially for those coming from windows and trying to use Linux for the first time, Linux mint feels right at home. Most of the features and functionalities are similar to windows, including the familiar taskbar and start menu. It also has graphical applications for everything making it extremely easy to use.
Q 3. Is it safe to use Linux Mint?
Yes, Linux Mint is absolutely safe to use. In fact it is generally considered much safer than other popular operating systems like Mac-OS and Windows. Also you don’t generally need an antivirus with Linux since most software is downloaded from trusted repositories and also there is less malware for Linux in general.
Q 4. Will my Windows software run on Linux Mint?
For the most part it should, but it’s not necessary that every single piece of software you rely on will work on Linux. For example Linux mint does have a lot of popular programs like blender, chrome, vs code, etc, but at the same time it also does not have some other software like Ms office and Photoshop. However, since Linux is open source so it does have a lot of alternative programs written for it, for example LibreOffice and gimp.
Q 5. What are the system requirements for Linux Mint?
Linux mint has fairly modest system requirements. According to mint’s official website, you need a minimum of 2 GB RAM and 20 GB disk space, and the recommended system requirements for comfortable usage is 4 GB RAM and 100 GB of disk space.