Linux Mint 7 Gloria – Review
Since we’re between releases with openSUSE Milestone 3 and 4 (which is due out anytime this mount) I’ve decided to download and install Linux Mint 7 into Virtual Box.. I captured a bunch of screenshots.
Screenshots from Live CD Installation:
Screenshots of post installation:
My Gripes During Installation:
LVM.. come on, are you serious? No LVM support? Even Ubuntu gives that with a command line installer. I haven’t installed without LVM in QUITE a while now.. have you?
My initial thoughts were:
It’s not too bad, it seems like Ubuntu with a “Mint Tint” to it, with a menu that is starting to mimic SUSE’s.
Some thoughts after playing with it:
Really, this is boring and much like Ubuntu once you Install the fun pretty much stops unless you’re willing to play around with the PPA (which I think is no where near the level of openSUSE’s Build Service).
My Overall prognosis:
Again much like Ubuntu I think this is a great OS for people who are just starting to work with Linux, but many will get bored rather quickly if they want to do “more” with their system.
Here are some highlights:
Linux Kernel 2.6.28
GNOME 2.6.26
Built off of Ubuntu 9.04
Firefox Ships with Moonlight (Support for Silverlight 1.x)
Overall I’ll give it a 8 / 10 for new users & a 6 / 10 for experienced users.
Updates:
Thank you LinuxOSman for your comments and recommendations to include that Linux Mint (non-Ultimate) ships WITH all Codecs etc built into the installation, and does away with some things like the top and bottom bars (which is more of a default GNOME thing, and not an Ubuntu thing).
I do agree in a controlled environment or for users who don’t need the “latest and greatest” Linux Mint is a great distribution, and I think it’s a step above Ubuntu (in both regular user, and enterprise user space).
Keep the comments coming.
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13 Comments
your review misses some of the key elements to do with Mint. First I never use LVM or the Newbies I setup on linux. 2nd mint comes with all the codecs installed and works out of the box. Ubuntu does not. The simplification of what mint does over ubuntu along with getting rid of the Totally diferent top and bottom menu and setting all to the bottom is a big help in getting users to switch to linux. I have currently over 700 clients I have turned over using Linux Mint and it by far has succeeded far better among new users then the first 300 I turned to linux with ubuntu.
Best Regards.
P.S. I by no means covered all the polishing that mint has to offer. There is so much you would just have to try it to enjoy it all.
On a 2nd note. I tried SUSE. With all the aggreements it has during install or anything you want to add. let alone the very slow update to add/remove programs I give this distro the less likly out of the few hundred I would install on my system.
All 3 latest versions.. I have had video issues. stalls in the distro. And many of times unable to update to there resp servers.
I would give SUSE a 1 out of 10
These are top 3 flavors I would recommend from beginners. as well. Note if you are past beginner then you done know…None of the distros limit you to what ability you can advance to. For by this time you will know how update your package fluently. So I really don’t get the remark about good for beginners only.
anyway on to top dist
1. Linux Mint
2. Ubuntu
3. Fedora
Rest derive off of rpm or debs that you can add resp for or remodel if your pro.
@LinuxOSman
Thanks for your suggestions and recommendations I’ve added the “codecs and others” to the original posting.
I do agree the Linux Mint is a step up above Ubuntu, and it is great in production work environment that shouldn’t have many changes. But for the “at home” power user that has a update complex and must always try to have the latests and greatest (release not alpha / beta) I think that openSUSE offers that.
However, I am also in agreement that the package manager (although improved) is still slower then the .deb counterparts, but think the delta upgrades that SUSE has implemented is the right step, and zypper has also brought many performance fixes to the rpm package management stack, but there is still more to be done.
I actually like having the choice of what to install prior to installing, and that’s one of the main reasons I like openSUSE. I don’t like installing the base stuff then having to go back and remove it (although this is a one time thing on a personal machine for myself).
Yes.. no linux distribution will limit you if you’re past the “beginner” stage, but taking the next step and doing more (partitioning with LVM’s etc etc) isn’t even included in the base Linux Mint and Ubuntu installs and this is a vital part of going “beyond” and trying to learn Linux for the enterprise (as servers (at least the ones I install) are all LVM based).
Thanks for the comments, they are great ones and quite enlightening to area’s I may have missed with Linux Mint.
@LinuxOSman
I’ve tried so many Linux distros, inc. all of the main distros.
Even tried OpenSolaris 2009.06 [sound problems galore], and finall settled and happy with LinuxMint 7 (64 bit)…/gc
About 6 months ago I lost a hard drive, and refused to pay for windows, deciding to learn some linux, unfortunally, my girlfriend (not computer friendly) and my two daughters (8 and 4) were lost when I installed Puppy Linux. I tried every live CD I could download. At the same time I decided to get some extra computers running, and Mint ran 100% on everything I put it on. 3 computers, with decent memory and low end video cards, ranging from 2 years to 8 years old. And it’s “windows-like” enough for the whole group. I’m a fan, and it works perfect with everything I’ve tried to do with it. I’d say I’m an intermediate level user.
So what’s the verdict for those that are not nubies on Linux?
I’ve been using small computers since 1975 with the following samples of OSes: C64, CP/M, MsDos, DrDos, Win31x/95/98/XP, Mandrake, Mepis, Kanotix, another 2 or 3 dozen linuxes, sidux, the Ubu’s, Debian testing, and now Linux Mint 7. I run openSuse11.1 in a Vbox for support purposes only.
Why Mint 7?
Because I just want it to work.
Tired of Kde4x.
Tired of breaking/fixing things.
Out of the box has my normal tools, except Krusader.
Anything else is only a synaptic browse away.
After switching from Ubuntu Jaunty to Linux Mint 7, I rightly detect this DIstro is better suitable for me than Ubuntu.
1. IPTV is fixed with HD Channels (that was failed on Jaunty 3D) and my LCD Acer 19″ (1388×768) is regconised and good output compare with Ubuntu before
2. All codecs can be using straight away.
3. A strange fella who pays a visit my home can use it as if it is a Window Box (sorry I do not mean window$ is easy GUI to use but atleast it is most popular for ppl)
4. I can use GIMP everyday (In Ubuntu, I get stuck with GIMP with no hope to fix it (see Ubuntu Launch Pad etc…)
yea I’m with everyone else…….this review = FAIL
I have struggled with many distros getting everything working, errors everywhere.
Mint just works, and I mean everything works.
Even radio streams…..OMFG…..radio streams work….I mean wow lol WTF.
The only thing that didn’t work was my Mad dog entertainer 7.1 Envy24 (ICE1724)
but then again that card simply does not work with any distro….alsa….oss….PA….
It’s definately what I’ll be keeping till Mint 8……I’ll prob keep that too as long as Mint simply works.
I started out with a Ubuntu 9.04 Live CD that was delivered to me for FREE here in Nairobi, KENYA — within 1 week. Amazing. That installed very well on my Toshiba L305-S5944 lappie — everything was detected perfectly. I did the software upgrade to Karmic Koala without any problems. But I had a teenie issue with Gnome-panel applet because I was mucking around and so I couldn’t get back to using my desktop. Then I heard about Linux Mint, read the plethora of reviews and happily installed the new release, Helena version 8.
All I can say is WOW!!! Mint is the freaking sh!t — period. My hats off to the Ubuntu team & Debian pioneers for making such a world class Operating System. I think 2010 is going to be the year of Desktop Linux. Already, Linux Mint 8 X64 is out and the reviews are very positive. I see Mint as taking Ubuntu and cleaning up a few warts here and THERE. Oh, I ran XP-SP2 in VirtualBox under Ubuntu and the speed was so fast. My setup is a 250 GB HD, 2.16 GHz Intel Duo Core, 2GB RAM, WIFI, etc. XP simply flew and then I showed it to lots of peeps down here in Nairobi — and they LIKED it a lot. Suffice to say that I’m now sloowly installing Linux Mint 8 on laptops and desktops because people are fed up with antivirus and spyware apps hogging their Windows memory plus all those USB flash drive viruses/worms/trojans. (cont’d)
As we speak, I’m writing this comment on the laptop of a CEO from a company down here. Her specs are: Toshiba Portege A600-135, Core 2 Duo U930 @ 1.20GHz, 250 GB HD, 2 GB RAM, Webcam, WIFI, Bluetooth, Finger Print reader, SD Card reader, etc. The only thing it probably doesn’t detect is the stupid finger print scanner/reader. Big deal! I’m freaking amazed that it has the bluetooth icon showing that it’s turned on but no devices are in sight. It simply saw the WIFI connection and then I added the WEP key — connected to the Net with no problems. Then I browsed her Windows Vista partition and opened some of her Powerpoint presentions in Open Office 3.0 just to show her that she’s not losing out on anything from Windoze. I showed her RythimBox, Gimp, F_Spot, FireFox (with FLash already woriking out of the box), Open Office Spreadsheet, Writer and some other goodies — all ran crisp and looked great on her 1200 X 800 screen. And this is just a LiveUSB demo. I want her to get rid of X-Pee from her office PCs and this demo gave her something to think while she breaks for XMas. (cont’d)
To conclude, Linux Mint has arrived and it deserves all the praises because its creators went the EXTRA mile to make everything run PERFECTLY out of the box. Oh, those Huawei USB 3G/EV-DO modems are automatically detected by Linux Mint (and Ubuntu too). Simply amazing. If I attach my Nokia 6070 EDGE celly to my laptop using a CA42 cable, Mint already sees it and I just have to enter the APN, user name/password for my mobile operator. Wicked!!! On Windoze, I have to bloody download a 35 Meg Nokia PC Suite just to connect to the Net. Eeew!
I simply don’t know what the Mint guys can do for version 9. Right now, version 8 (Helena) is as GOOD AS IT GETS. And I simply haven’t felt the need to install VirtualBox on my lappie. I’m just waiting to find out if Ext4 is ready for prime time and then I’ll switch from Ext3 file system.
Cheers!!
- Max (aka Max “The IT pro”)
Wow great writeup Max.
Thanks for the contribution. If you want to talk more about it.. let me know and we can post it as a blog entry.
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[...] Linux Mint 7 Gloria – Review I do agree in a controlled environment or for users who don’t need the “latest and greatest” Linux Mint is a great distribution, and I think it’s a step above Ubuntu (in both regular user, and enterprise user space). [...]