Favorite Blend of Linux Desktop

[Xiahou]

Try LinuxMint and you'll never look back.

[Lemur]

Try LinuxMint and you'll never look back.

Oooh, I heard about this distro ... thoughts? Mini-review? Highlights?

[Xiahou]

It's the most intuitive distro I've used to date. It's easy to install, has a clean intuitive interface and either comes with most everything you need loaded or has it readily installable. If you can run Windows7, you should be able to run this. It's like they actually set out to make an easy to use distro.... I know right?

I've always used MATE desktop, but if you want more shiny things, don't be afraid to give the Cinnamon version a try.

[caravel]

I know we have more than a few Linux users here. Not super-impressed with where Ubuntu is going.

Oooh, I heard about this distro ... thoughts? Mini-review? Highlights?

The main issue you will have with mint, is that it is in fact ubuntu with some extras (cinnamon, etc). It uses the ubuntu repositories directly.

If it's just the unity shell you dislike, then yes mint will be one way of solving that, but you just as easily install a different desktop. Personally of the DEs I prefer XFCE or KDE to gnome-shell and mate (gnome 2 fork), but YMMV.

[wudang_clown]

If anyone's interested in previewing a distro before installation, then distrowatch.com provides good info on many different distributions. Also, it's possible to try out a distro directly, without any trouble - just use any software which allows setting virtual machines, and you can check out any distro you like and as many as you please.

[Lemur]

Hey, @Xiahou, I'm going to try out your favorite distro, Linux Mint. Goal is to resuscitate and revitalize a netbook for the kids, on which Win7 is dragging like a tired dog.

Goal is an easy experience with lots of multimedia playback. Major netbook use for kids: Playing Flash games and watching (local) movies in .mp4 or .mkv containers.

Question: What's the diff between Cinnamon and MATE? Given my goals, which is more appropriate?

[Xiahou]

Well, MATE is forked from Gnome 2 and is thought to be the more stable and less flashy of the two.

Cinnamon is based on Gnome 3 and is supposed to be flashier and it seems to get more updates (a MATE fan might argue that's because it has more bugs).

MATE will probably be lighter on resources, if that's your concern- but Cinnamon will have more Zazz!.

If you want to see some side-by-sides before you decide, check youtube for comparison videos.

[Lemur]

Roger-roger, reading you loud and clear.

Installing the Cinnamon version now, because you really can't argue with zazz.