I got introduced to Linux Mint about 8 months ago while searching for a new distro on DistroWatch. I had already installed Ubuntu on my home desktop and really liked the package manager from Debian so I wanted to stick to a Debian or Ubuntu based distribution. So I gave Linux Mint a try, attracted to their proposal to make audio/video work out of the box.
8 months later… I’m glad I made the choice. Linux Mint has evolved a lot in these 8 Months. The first version I was using was called Barbara and they have since then released Bea, Bianca, and Cassandra. I am still using Bianca (I need to upgrade asap!).
The folks behind Linux Mint work hard to differentiate the distro from others. Rather than merely packaging different software like a lot of other distros, these folks have been working hard to write new tools and improve their community. I feel like they are pulling all the right strings and other distributions should follow their example.
On the community side, they of course have the basic: a good website, a good forum, and a wiki. However, they differentiated themselves from other distributions by adding the following:
- A Newsletter published on their wiki a few times a month. This is great for folks who do not have time to go to the forum to learn what is new with the distro. One can simply read the newsletter when it comes out to see what is up with their favorite distro.
- Professional Support: if you want professional support, you can pay for it monthly or simply pay $5 if you have once incident. Great idea.
- You can buy a hosting package from Linux Mint for $30 a month.
- The Linux Mint Software Portal where one can install new software simply by browsing the portal and clicking.
- A magazine, mintMag, distributed via PDF.
- A soon to come podcast.
The Linux Mint development team also writes some very useful tools to make the distribution a breeze to use:
- mintDesktop:utility to make your desktop a better place.
- mintWifi:a utility to quickly get your wifi working using Ndiswrapper.
- mint3D: “Mint3D is a configuration tool which will be included in Bianca. It’s purpose is to detect your graphic card, see what driver you’re using and if your 3d acceleration is enabled.. and depending on all of that, to either set up Xgl or AIGLX for you.. or to tell you that you can’t have 3D effects.” –clem
- Add-on CD: an add-on CD so that a user can download additional packages even if they do not have an internet connection.
- mintSpace:this is an idea that has not been implemented yet but it would be a great addition. I can’t wait for them to release it. Here is the description from clem: “Basically, you would have yet another folder in your Home… which would be a direct link to an online storage place on linuxmint.com. You could drag and drop files and documents in it and the FTP transfers would be done transparently.” -clem
- mintConfig: a utility to help you configure Linux Mint (a control center).
- mintDisk: a utility that automatically mounts NTFS partitions when you login.
- mintMenu: an improved menu.
- Remastersys: a script to create a livecd/dvd from a working Linux Mint install.
While none of these efforts are truly revolutionary, but I find it to be a very dynamic distro that is doing a lot of things right. If you want to switch from Windows to Linux, I would highly suggest using Linux Mint. It is easy to use, based on Ubuntu (so lost of information online when you encounter difficulties), and very appealing aesthetically.
