Ubuntu 11.04 or switch to Mint?

wdhpr · 03. Apr 2011, 09:33 PM

If you are currently using Ubuntu10.10 and are curious about the upcoming Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" Beta 1. have a look here.

I think I'm going to pass on the Ubuntu upgrade and give Mint a try. Now I have to decide if I want to use Linux Mint 10 KDE, Linux Mint 10 LXDE or just Linux Mint 10. Not sure yet on which one to use. My hardware should have no problems with any of them but I would prefer performance over "bling"
Any thoughts?

MidnightCowboy · 03. Apr 2011, 09:44 PM

From my uneducated perspective there are several distros that do KDE better, like Pardus, Mandriva and maybe SUSE. I believe Linux Mint 10 to be the best choice.

Ritho · 04. Apr 2011, 06:08 AM

Don't forget there is LMDE as well. The Linux Mint Debian version is a rolling release, so you will not have to worry about upgrades anymore. I have been playing around with the xfce debian version a bit it works quite well.

wdhpr · 04. Apr 2011, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritho

Don't forget there is LMDE as well. The Linux Mint Debian version is a rolling release, so you will not have to worry about upgrades anymore. I have been playing around with the xfce debian version a bit it works quite well.

That is true, Debian is very deliberate and slow to evolve and thats ok because I'm more interested in stability and function and less about the flash and bling.

Ritho · 04. Apr 2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdhpr

That is true, Debian is very deliberate and slow to evolve and thats ok because I'm more interested in stability and function and less about the flash and bling.

The Mint developers are adding in most of the flash and bling. The debian version works and looks virtually the same as the Ubuntu version. However, I don't think the Ubuntu repos will work.

wdhpr · 05. Apr 2011, 01:38 AM

Sorry but I have to add this last thought to the subject.

I asked Dedoimedo If its me or has Linux made great progress in the last couple of years?

His reply was:

Quote:

There are two types of changes:

Your mindset
Actual improvements

For people using Linux many years, they have seen these improvements all the time, so the question is, where is the critical turning point? For new users, there's the steep revolution, followed by ups and downs.

I think there is a big change, but it happened in 2007 or early 2008.
I had to compile drivers and such back then, it kind of changed two-three years ago.
Since, Linux has been steadily improving, but no major breakthroughs.

I just wonder how the long time linux users must feel. I'm a rookie and these new distro's give me pause

bodis · 26. Apr 2011, 10:30 AM

I have tried few distros this week but none of them apart from ubuntu and SUSE comes with support for my wireless drivers preinstalled. And having used Debian based linux from the start it would have to be ubuntu. However, I did keep my mind open and tried Unity.... to great dissapointment... I just cannot get used to it.

Well... Xubuntu here I come

bodis · 26. Apr 2011, 07:09 PM

Well... I have to take back everything I said about Mint. I have tried Debian and xfce versions but never mint 10. Just downloaded live cd and vuala... it has picked up my wireless driver.

Shame I will have to wait full month for new release...

wdhpr · 26. Apr 2011, 09:41 PM

One of the best ways to test drive Linux distros is to install VirtualBox. I'm fairly new to VirtualBox myself and so I'm still learning the ropes but I can say for certain If you plan on using VirtualBox the most important thing to remember is to place you virtual hard drive file on a separate physical hard drive. By doing this it runs allot smoother and faster.

I've test drove Ubuntu 11.0 which I do not like and I will switch to Mint if Ubuntu insist on using Unity. Right now I have the new version of Mint running within VirtualBox and I really do like it. In the near future I plan on giving Mandriva a spin to see how much it has change since last using it a few years ago.

bibzgi · 07. May 2011, 06:06 AM

wdhpr, good suggestion about VirtualBox as an alternative for testing that requires adding another partition to the computer hard drive.

I was using Ubuntu for months until today, I switched my two partitions to Linux Mint.

I really like MInt! Soon a new linux os version will be available, as we all know.

I think Ubuntu is great but Mint is better.

Either system is a wonderful alternative to M$ Windows, in my experience.

BTW, lacking CD's, I'm using a pen drive to install OS"s with this wonderful program called UNetbootin. For those who haven't heard of it, see: "unetbootin.sourceforge.net"

I'm unfamiliar to Linux distros so I went for the main one.

Can somebody please describe the difference between the main one (Linux Mint 10) versus Xfce/LXDE/KDE/Desbian etc.?

03. Apr 2011, 09:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	Ubuntu 11.04 or switch to Mint? If you are currently using Ubuntu10.10 and are curious about the upcoming Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" Beta 1. have a look here. I think I'm going to pass on the Ubuntu upgrade and give Mint a try. Now I have to decide if I want to use Linux Mint 10 KDE, Linux Mint 10 LXDE or just Linux Mint 10. Not sure yet on which one to use. My hardware should have no problems with any of them but I would prefer performance over "bling" Any thoughts?

03. Apr 2011, 09:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 9,250	From my uneducated perspective there are several distros that do KDE better, like Pardus, Mandriva and maybe SUSE. I believe Linux Mint 10 to be the best choice. __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

04. Apr 2011, 06:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ritho Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 1,391	Don't forget there is LMDE as well. The Linux Mint Debian version is a rolling release, so you will not have to worry about upgrades anymore. I have been playing around with the xfce debian version a bit it works quite well. __________________ The smallest good deed is better than the greatest intention.

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26. Apr 2011, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
bodis Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: UK Posts: 173	I have tried few distros this week but none of them apart from ubuntu and SUSE comes with support for my wireless drivers preinstalled. And having used Debian based linux from the start it would have to be ubuntu. However, I did keep my mind open and tried Unity.... to great dissapointment... I just cannot get used to it. Well... Xubuntu here I come

26. Apr 2011, 07:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
bodis Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: UK Posts: 173	Well... I have to take back everything I said about Mint. I have tried Debian and xfce versions but never mint 10. Just downloaded live cd and vuala... it has picked up my wireless driver. Shame I will have to wait full month for new release...

26. Apr 2011, 09:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	One of the best ways to test drive Linux distros is to install VirtualBox. I'm fairly new to VirtualBox myself and so I'm still learning the ropes but I can say for certain If you plan on using VirtualBox the most important thing to remember is to place you virtual hard drive file on a separate physical hard drive. By doing this it runs allot smoother and faster. I've test drove Ubuntu 11.0 which I do not like and I will switch to Mint if Ubuntu insist on using Unity. Right now I have the new version of Mint running within VirtualBox and I really do like it. In the near future I plan on giving Mandriva a spin to see how much it has change since last using it a few years ago.

07. May 2011, 06:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
bibzgi Full Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 60	wdhpr, good suggestion about VirtualBox as an alternative for testing that requires adding another partition to the computer hard drive. I was using Ubuntu for months until today, I switched my two partitions to Linux Mint. I really like MInt! Soon a new linux os version will be available, as we all know. I think Ubuntu is great but Mint is better. Either system is a wonderful alternative to M$ Windows, in my experience. BTW, lacking CD's, I'm using a pen drive to install OS"s with this wonderful program called UNetbootin. For those who haven't heard of it, see: "unetbootin.sourceforge.net" I'm unfamiliar to Linux distros so I went for the main one. Can somebody please describe the difference between the main one (Linux Mint 10) versus Xfce/LXDE/KDE/Desbian etc.?