I personally think that Linux Mint is one of the most overrated distros in the eyes of more advanced Linux users due to simple thing it being the most newbie/normie distro that targets people who used windows and have no experience of using Linux at all. When i started using Linux for my PC i tried Ubuntu, EndevaourOS, Manjaro, Fedora, Pop_OS! but ultimately i stayed with Linux Mint. And thats because it is the only distro that gives me the windows xp/vista/7 vibe when i use it.
@Deathwalker666666 If you want windows, just use windows lol I personally stay away from kde (even though it has more feature then gnome) partially because i was fed up with windows and wanted to get the farther away i possibly could. Now i descovered open suse (because it's one of the four distros which allow to easily install hyprland) and now i just love it
The biggest issue here is, that you think about distros in a opposite way Mint does. Your idea of a distro is a vessel that merge old and new tech in a way, that allows users to, well, use the new stuff. But Mint works kind of backwards, it is, what it is, and adds new tech only when it actually improves user experience or is linux wide switch and the tech is ready for it. Mint team work as a filter between cutting edge and users, adding things only when ready. I would be really interested in a discussion between you and someone from Mint team about the Mint development philosophy. An exploration of this fundamental difference should make quite an interesting video.
I've been using Cinnamon Mint for two and a half years now. Every time I look at some other distro, I contemplate trying it on a spare computer--if I ever get around to acquiring a spare--but Mint works too well for me to disrupt my main machine. This is the beauty of so many distros. I get what I like; you get what you like, and we're both keeping overall GNU/Linux alive.
Joe Collins and DT recommend Linux Mint to folks new to Linux as a the best transition from Windows to Linux. There is no distro better. Being based on Debian, then refined by Ubuntu, then further refined by the Mint developers, it is a rock solid distro that is a great overall distro for most use cases. You failed to point out how complete and ubiquitous it is in terms of playing well with things like software dependancy. The two flavors of Ubuntu and Debian versions are an intelligent way of forward thinking and future proofing their project. A majority of LInux users aren't super nerds and so they don't want to learn everything under the hood. Also, there is a deep problem of elitism in Linux that knocks Mint for being simple. Yet the target audience is never going to install Arch and Gentoo and customize a tiling manager, those are the pool of nerds that want to learn everything under the hood. Yet most people have demanding jobs and a workload that they need to get done, and a solid point release stable version is all they need to rely on, and not a rolling release OS with bleeding edge apps.
InfinitelyGalactic is another good one who these days speaks to how good and complete the Mint experience is. Sure it moves slow, sure it is incremental but Mint has always been a slow march forward listening to its users.
@@folksurvival Also a good place for the advanced user who has been on Linux for decades and is simply tired of the BS and just wants their computers to work.
Cinnamon is, so far, my favourite desktop environment. Gnome 3 really soured me on Gnome (maybe it's better now but I haven't tried it), and it has more features and looks nicer compared to XFCE. My biggest complaint with KDE is that, while I get the sense that I could eventually make it look and behave exactly like what I would want, it would take me a weeks of fiddling to get there, whereas Cinnamon gets me 99% of the way there in a couple of clicks and then I can get on with my life. If I do decide to spend enormous amounts of time ricing something, I would prefer to start with a tiling window manager. This ties in with the reason I personally like Linux Mint. It was the distro I started with, and I still use it because it just works. One of the joys (and curses) of Linux is that everything can be fiddled with in a config file somewhere or another. Having that option is nice, but the fact that there are distros that allow you to not do that is also a good thing, and when I want to not spend my time configuring, I turn to Mint.
Cinnamon was my first DE and I came to hate it, because of the constant crashing and bugs. So I switched to XFCE and installed a nice theme and made it look even better. Perhaps cinnamon has come a long way since then, though.
That 2nd sentence is relatable. The first time I tried Gnome 3 years ago it was basically just Unity but less shit so I didn't even consider it when I got back into Linux.
I've felt like Cinnamon is like if GTK and KDE had a baby of sorts. Lots of customization but apps by default are simple.
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I'm not a diehard Linux Mint guy. I have 2 laptops, one an older Lenovo ThinkPad t470. I had Windows 10 Pro on it. It's not upgradable to Windows 11. I love the ThinkPad keyboard. I'm a writer and do a lot of online research. I was in corporate for many years and worked IT related positions, mostly finding tech solutions, creating websites, inhouse apps creation for data analysis, and taught digital marketing classes to our clients and our staff etc. etc. All of the companies I worked for were in the Microsoft environment. I left corporate about a year ago and on the ThinkPad I nuked Windows 10 and installed Linux Mint Cinnamon. I love it cuz it worked right out of the box. I've been around for a while and remember DOS and Windows 1.01. We spent more time dinking around with the OS than we did actually getting things done. It was fun, but again, actual productivity was questionable. I didn't want to, nor do I have time to dink around with a Linux OS all day, I got stuff to do and thankful I found a solution. I'm sure as time goes by I'll get more curious about the innards of Linux and want to tinker more with things, but first things first.
I second this wholeheartedly. A lot of Linux elitists act like Mint or Ubuntu are for noobs, and you're only a real power user if you've built your system from the ground up, preferably with a highly customized tiling window manager (that ends up looking pretty much like everyone else's). I got caught up in that myself, and spent about a year hopping around between distros and spending tons of time fiddling with the OS or the desktop. Finally it dawned on me how little of that time was actually productive, and I switched to Mint because it just works and gets out of the way so I can use my computer for more productive things. There's nothing wrong with tinkering and experimenting, but when it's time to get work done I need an OS and desktop that isn't going to be a distraction.
You have to remember Matt the Main Idea for Linux Mint is for Windows users to come over and find familiar desktop environment and make it easy for them. It's not for people like you and others like me. Sticking with one version would be nice but it's like saying to people stop distro hopping.
I have LMDE 32bit on my mom's two 1885 era PCs and they are great little machines. One is connected to the big TV (a Linux Mint Smart TV now) and one is in her office for typing stuff. She is 86 years old and still clicking.
I use Linux Mint and I think your reasoning makes sense. I’d also like if Debian was Linux Mint’s base instead, and pulled from Ubuntu repos. It’s probably just easier for them to build it on top of Ubuntu until they have a reason not to; the Debian version keeps them fresh on how they could immediately switch away from Ubuntu if they had to, like you said.
As a mint hater I think I agree with what point. I'd love canonical go the redhat route and stop the Ubuntu clones. There's too many and none of them make substantial contributions to the community but just get this hype because people want to look cool for hating canonical and Ubuntu while still low-key needing canonicals man power. They will fail mostly and Ubuntu locking up like redhat would weed out all the unnecessary distros and leave us with the ones that actually mean something. Mint dying today won't make people stop moving forward, its a small team that can't do anything meaningful out of adding closed source software,drivers changing themes to Ubuntu
UI'm a Zorin user. Thanks to distros like this I be able to switch windows to Linux. Personally I don't like cinamoom desktop but I respect mint devs work and I agree with you in some points.
I really like Mint, and it's probably the best Distro I've tried in my albeit recent Linux career, but I totally agree with you on Ubuntu as a base. It's holding them back and they should focus on their Debian version.
i use lmde and i think they should focus on that. mint is based on ubuntu which is based on debian, why not skip the middle man? would love to see a kde version too. rip indeed.
Linux Mint DE edition was meant for testing, not to be a premier "front line" release of Mint. From their site : "It allows us to assess how much we depend on Ubuntu and how much work would be involved in such an event."
The biggest concern that I have is after a successful install, when the time comes to update the OS, the local mirrors almost always refuse to download all the packages, leaving me only the choice of another distro.
I used to use Debian and would usually just move to testing to get newer packages. The problem with a recent install is it didn't recognize my wifi card and I just choose LInux Mint because of a wide user base and ready to go wifi drivers. I dunno, it's feels like a more refined unstable Debian which I like. It combines the best aspects of both. As long as I can use apt....I can use it. I'm just a basic desktop user from the MS/DOS days. I'm not a power user.
Linux Mint will be better once they decide to just go Debian and stop messing with Ubuntu, using Ubuntu as a base now means it takes more effort trying to take out all their crazy stuff than it is to just build from scratch off Debian.
In my view, the most of important thing in my find is: - Does it do the right job - Does it do the job right For some people, they like to tinker with what happens underneath the hood. Other people loves to develop software. Some others only want to play games. And also some others just want to get work done. If use Arch, b.t.w. ... and Fedora, Mint, Rocky, Ubuntu, Kali, Debian, OpenBSD, MacOS, and wait for it ... Windows. My view is that people should use what they want. The reason that I use Mint, is that Cinnamon suits my workflow the best. It is clean and customizable. Also, their implementation of multiple desktops is really awesome. So for work, I use Mint. I do not have time to struggle with drivers, etc. when I need to get work out. And from protecting your distribution, it makes perfect sense to cut Ubuntu out of the pipeline when it is the right time.
I'm fairly new to linux and linux mint was the first distro I tried which didn't break on me after a week of use. That was me main reason for me to keep it around, for its stability and clear user guidance.
As a person who's looking forward to switching to mint from windows, I don't want to get indecisive once again by some flaws of a distro. I'm still stuck on windows since I'm still doing work and I don't have the time and luxury to set up my desktop if I switch right now. I have tried Ubuntu, but there was a lot of issues and it's way too unfamiliar to me, so I had a rough time and experience on linux and went back to windows. I didn't try distro hopping since I consider it a waste of time. So I ended up looking up and watching reviews on distros for people who wants to switch from windows to linux, and Linux Mint seems to fit my choice if I want to start using linux without getting too overwhelmed.
You are wise not to jump into Linux with both feet since you need your computer for work. Regardless of which Distribution you use, Linux is a completely different OS than Windows. As with Windows, Linux has both its strengths and its weaknesses. Having said that, transitioning from Windows to Linux is a process. Despite how the desktop is designed, it is different as is the community that supports it. Given that only around 3% of desktop computer users use Linux, it should be no surprise that it isn’t for everyone despite years of trying to make it so. So, I would suggest putting Linux on another computer when you are ready to jump in. If you approach it from the perspective of a student and a tinkerer, you’ll get further. Play with it. Try things. Don’t be afraid to break it. Have fun. Get to know some Linux users. There are some great people in the community as well as some not so great people like any community. They will help as well. That’s my perspective for what it’s worth. I started playing with Linux 20 years ago. I dropped Windows when Windows 10 decided it had better things to do than to download a file I needed. Shrug. My value system. Finally, use what works for you. There are people who use Linux, Mack, and Windows for different purposes like Mack for video production, Windows for gaming, Linux for software development. Whatever you decide, have fun and enjoy.
Nice! That is my planned setup, currently I have Windows 10 running on my laptop and Mint on a separate machine, but as soon as I get an ssd upgrade, I want to put Mint as a dual boot
Thanks for opinion. But people who are really new to linux, mint does a greay job of feeling us welcomed in the linux world. The things is Cinnamon just works amd I love it. I have jumped around a lot in between most of the debian and Ubuntu based distros and Mint is just amazing. So kudos to mint developers for that.
New users from windows still run Ubuntu just fine. Mint isn't necessarily needed. I've seen too many noobs go for something else over mint. It's just in your minds as mint fan boys
Mint has been my go to for the last 7-8 years and was a solid platform and continues to be so. Until I moved to the KDE Plasma desktop. I saw little point running Plasma on Mint, a forked distro from Ubuntu which in turn is forked from Debian. Now I run Debian with KDE Plasma cutting out the middle men. But as you say "use what you want".
I've come to the conclusion the DE is the most important element to an OS from a users perspective. I agree with you that they should purely dedicate to one or the other, preferably Debian, but II love Mint as it was my virgin distro and I'll always have a dedicated drive for it on my multiboot system, but KDE is the be all and end all for me. Any arch based distro with KDE is the only option for my main boot.
a bit of criticism: I really don't think you can really judge their development for it unless you're actively looking at the process. but criticizing mint for being too slow to develop is completely fair game since it's just the facts and the reasons don't matter. of course, you can definitely suggest some reasons on the assumption that you're very possibly wrong and they have a good reason why they do a certain thing, but otherwise if you're not actively looking at the development I wouldn't go beyond that. Either way, I think you should have kinda "flipped" the way you criticized it and mainly explain why you think the pace it develops is too slow rather than talk about the reasons for the slow development, and I would agree 100%.
The only reason why I am not using LMDE is because I wanted a Debian Testing based distro, hence why I am still a happy with SparkyLinux as of 12/2023! :) But if I need a Debian Stable based distro, I would go with LMDE because, like MX Linux, it has more app choices than regular vanilla Debian. But unlike MX Linux, LMDE does a better job upgrading via used of mintupgrade.
6:44 snap isn't offered in Mint by default because it adds useless overhead and does things that are weird. The Mint blog has a comprehensive explanation for their reasoning, so there's no need to expand on that here. They would prefer to do less work on the distros they base upon, so they can work more on their Mint software, but sometimes extra work is required to keep things sane and more user friendly. Others, who don't even use Mint, have expressed similar concerns and disapproval to the way Canonical handled snap. So they're not trying to turn Ubuntu into Debian, this is just a misunderstanding on your part. To be fair, if you don't follow them closely I'm not surprised you're unaware of various decisions that shaped the distro along the way - it will be 18 years old later this year. Their vision has always been a general purpose OS that is easy to use, that doesn't periodically throw surprises at you in terms of workflow/productivity, even if you're a regular/non-experienced user. That's why Cinnamon has so many common features to Gnome 2/MATE, because it was meant to offer that familiar experience on top of a more modern software base (GTK3 vs the older GTK2).
Why don't they offer both snaps and flatpaks so people pick? You praise mint for removing choice but wanna shun canonical for it. Mint fan boys are hypocrites.
@@UbuntuPersonNoMint You writing nonsense from a burner account makes you the hypocrite, especially when the answer to your question is in my initial comment. Mint, as other distros, use Ubuntu as they see fit. There's nothing wrong with that in the free and open source world.
@@kneekoo dude. You want choice right? Then tell them to leave the choice of snaps too like Ubuntu does with flatpaks. It's not b.s, b.s is you letting one distro do what you're constantly hating another extremely popular distro for. There's people who like snaps, what if they want to try this garbage os called mint shouldn't they get a say?
You did make a very well thought out video and you made some good points. Ive used Linux Mint breifly once before and i kind of have mixed emotions about. I can see why its usually the distro the greybeards suggest to newer members of the community, but im not totally in love with Mate or Cinnamon (dont hate me). Everyone has an opinion even though nala as a package manager is the right choice. Keep up the good work, Matt!
Mate and cinnamon look like windows 98 ordered from temu. I dislike any desktop environment that tries to be a rip off of mac and windows. No originality whatsoever
I use linux mint for several years now (+10) and I tested a lot of other distros. Never as good als linux mint cinnamon. For me it works and much better than the rest (windows inclusive). But everyone is free to struggle, like you said!!!!!
I'm using lmde because i have enjoyed it since 2 on and off. i still run arch my laptop but my wife is running LM on her laptop and she loves it. appreciate your views though.
Using LMDE6, have used LM but since Ubuntu is heading to a cloud philosophy, I also believe they will at the end leaving Mint-Ubuntu and going to Mint DE.
Thanks for your opinions, Matt! I'm a bit of an odd duck as far as "Linux guys" go - I'm a "disciple" of Linux and encourage others to switch but when it comes to packages and tools, I'm fairly agnostic. Rather than the cutting edge of everything, I prefer stuff that's easy and 'just works'. Since I switched to Linux in March of '22 I've used Mint with awesome wm and have rarely if ever had a problem with it. I'm quite happy with Mint and intend to continue using it in perpetuity, because it's what I'm comfortable with. But I totally get that other Linux people might prefer distros with newer tools that they can rice. One of my personal mottoes is: to each his own.
As a Linux Mint Cinnamon user, my take is that LMDE is a work-in-progress to eventually completely replace Mint Ubuntu. Right now LMDE isn't feature-equivalent in my experience...maybe 75%. When you compare the two side-by-side, LMDE has a LOT of rough edges, but Clem's stated desire is that LMDE reach feature-parity with Mint. I mean, when you first boot into your new LMDE install and you immediately have to enable the root account when in Mint that's already set up...as it should be (how intimidating is that to a brand new user?)...you know you're going to run into some odd trippings on the curb. And you do. So for the sake of just getting on with productive work instead of having to Google-Fu all of the little details that are already set in Mint, I'll just run Mint and check in on LMDE at every Debian update. Why do I run Mint at all? On MY equipment it's really the only distro that silently accepts and sets up all of my peripherals, including a Brother printer that many distros just don't like. With very little manipulation it runs a particular Windows program I use in my writing. It's smooth. It's power electric windows and locks instead of cranks and knobs.
I get what you're saying. But in general Debian is better if you're using it for servers. Mint has a lot more focus on the desktop experience and works a lot better in that use case.
I think Mint should just pick the Debian base. It will make Mint a better competitor to Ubuntu and will steer more people to m Mint. Especially with all the Snap controversies. My wife's ThinkPad is running Linux Mint, and it runs great. ... But she is not supposed to know that. She thinks she's using Windows and she told me she hates Linux.
IMO they should dump Ubuntu based and fully concentrate on LMDE. BTW I don't think any distro is useless because there are people using it and they like it, so it's not useless😉 I use KDE Neon and I don't care what people say or think about it. I like it and that's what counts.
Matt with another hot take on Linux Mint lol! In all seriousness I'm ok with Matt's opinion on the subject. He can enjoy Opensuse all he wants to (since I've never had a good experience) but I will continue to use Mint like i have since 2015. He does have some good points here and I am all ears to hear criticisms. We all hope some day the Mint Team will move to the Debian base but until then the LMDE is just in case of Canonical Emergency.
Thanks for your perspective on Linux Mint. I prefer the Debian version, it is stable, works well and the installation is smoother and clearer than the Debian installation. The Cinnamon edition is complete, but I find the environment a bit boring. KDE gives more setting options, which is more to my taste. However, the stability of Linux Mint is, in my opinion, its strongest asset, not so much the desktop environment. I have never had any problems with hardware, while this is the case with other distros. I'm going to say a very bad word in the Linux community, but currently I'm using Manjaro on my production machine. I mainly use flatpaks and software from the Manjaro repo itself and not from the AUR. Very stable so far, a good up to date operating system and KDE, which is my preference. However, I can very well understand when people use @Zaney Linux Mint on a production machine. You are financially dependent on it. And what that boy had to go through to arrive at a distribution that will probably work. But hey, he has enough Nuggies ;-)
While I don't use Mint (even when I was just entering the world of Linux, my first one was Ubuntu), I still love it. It is nicely made and put together into an useful and feature-full OS, appealing and welcoming to Linux newcomers and it is great, that we have it. The other one such distro is Ubuntu, but it comes with its controversies. My opinion in short is, that Mint should gradually focus more out of the main line and focus more into the LMDE. When corporations are involved into FOSS, esp. when it comes to Linux distros, I think at the end their input is more on the negative side, than not. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is. For whatever reasons, what is best for a corporation, and what is best for the people doesn't align well with each other. With that said - for reliance reasons, it is best that Mint focuses mainly on its LMDE version and make it primary.
I've used Mint for a few years now and always liked it, but seem to have some random issues with the latest version. I'm about to install Debian 12 and try that after now using Debian for years. If that doesn't cut it, then I may try LMDE.
I started my Linux journey with Mint. Whether Ubuntu or Debian based, it's a great distro for people just starting out with Linux. I still consider myself a noob, even though I've been using Linux full time for 7 years now...I've distro hopped several times, and at various points ended up coming back to Mint, especially on my laptop, because it just works. I've been running Debian on my main PC for about 8 months now, I just decided to go to the source instead of using derivatives (I believe Chris Titus made a video about that), but I still recommend Mint to anyone just starting out, strictly for the stability of it. I do agree, though, that they should just stick with the Debian edition. If they're going to strip out everything that makes Ubuntu, Ubuntu....why not just move to Debian and be done with it? But, like you, I'm not a developer, so....what do I know...?
Okay, 5 days late here in given my two cents in regards to this video of yours about Linux Mint. From the start to the end of this video, only one word comes to mind about how you truly feel about the Linux Mint Distro, that is "Frustration". An I get that, what I mean about that is you are not an average or beginner user of a Linux OS anymore, you are more of a upper intermediate to even an advanced user looking for something more cutting edge and new to sink your teeth into, and Linux Mint just does not do that for you anymore. So as I have said before, I get it...
Linux Mint is one of the more reliable distros, partly because it is Ubuntu based. I'm neutral about Cinnamon, but if I want that kind of desktop, I load my Windows XP VM again :) Sometimes the Mint Team behaves somewhat short-sided, like with snaps, but they have the full right to take dumb decisions for their own distro :) To finish positively, I have Linux Mint for years in a VM and only 1 in 5 distros survive that long, most develop some problems and are deleted by me.
11:11 They chose Ubuntu as their main "foundation" because it has newer packages compared to Debian, and it has a reliable release cadence. This also made it attractive to other developers, who target Ubuntu with their software/games. So it was less work to put out a user-friendly distro based on Ubuntu, compared to Debian - which has been historically against non-free packages and you had to do a lot of extra work to support a wider range of hardware, and offer more software. There was only one developer when Mint started, so clearly Ubuntu was the right choice. Debian has only now begun delivering non-free wifi drivers so people no longer struggle installing it on their PCs. We'll see how it turns out in the future, but Ubuntu is still the right choice as Mint's foundation.
Linux mint is good for people who don't like change. it stays mostly the same over the years and will continue to stay that way. it's not cutting edge or anything but it does it's job and gets out of the way. that's to say, if you've installed linux mint from a decade ago and compare it to now, it's largely had the same workflow, just more features as they see fit.
Say what you will about Linux Mint it works and works well. My everyday driver is Manjaro KDE. I recently repurposed an older MacBook Pro and Linux Mint LMDE is the ONLY distro that installed and worked perfectly on that laptop. I tried 6 different distros. It works, its super stable, no running out trying to find drivers. Linux Mint has moved more people over from Windows than any other distro by far.
I love mint. What keeps me on mint is it's slow but sure updates. I did something that is unusual though. I upgraded to mint 22 right away instead of waiting for the .1 release only because 22 is so (much better than suse) good.
Mint is absolutely amazing. The only reason I stopped using it myself was because I like my software up to date as possible but not to the point shit can break like with arch and of course I want my stuff simple since i rather spending time with the actual programs instead of getting knee's deep in to configurations to fix shit at random. So I went with fedora because it's still simple and stable plus everything is much more up to date. But mint is fantastic for new ppl to linux since its simple and stable plus the intro sets you up real good with a simple firewall and so forth.
Poking the Distro war bear is like a Linux channel T ball. Could not think of a good video topic this week? You started the video saying what you use does not matter. Well why make a twenty minute video about it then? We should promote unity in open source IMO. Mint is a great so is every other distro.
I never used Ubuntu as a daily driver. I did use Mint for a few months though in my early Linux days, and it was what I would recommend it to new Linux users coming from Windows. But Ubuntu has a Cinnamon Edition now and aside from the color scheme and snaps, they are both very similar. I think the Mint team should just switch to LMDE as the main focus, but that's just my opinion.
As a daily driver, or in general for my own regular use, I'm not really a fan of Mint, or the Cinnamon DE (apart from the weather applet). I find it too slow-moving for the distro, too mouse-based for the DE (I use Manjaro Plasma on my desktop and Mabox on my laptop). Buy Mint has long been the distro I've recommended to new migrants to Linux, and it's my default go-to when someone asks me to install Linux on their machine but doesn't know what exactly. It's unparalleled for _that_ purpose.
I see a day when mint is a mother brach itself! I think and hope this is artfully planned, hear me out; they're on "W" (wilma) in the Ubuntu versions, and they're on "F" (faye) in the abc scale of debian editions! I really hope Ubuntu editions end with Z and when they reach Z on debian editions they'd go completely rouge! that's the dream baby!
I think most people that use Linux Mint/LMDE wish they would just switch to LMDE. I use LMDE because it is the easiest way to get a desktop like Windows only better because it is easy to customize the panel the way you want it to work and easy to set up to log in without a password something I don't see on Debian + cinnamon.
I think Linux Mint itself WANTS to make the choice. It's just not ready yet. If tomorrow morning they took Linux Mint offline entirely, stopped developing it, and directed current Linux Mint users to install LMDE instead, they would be forcing these users to have a lower quality experience. Linux Mint wants to have an alternative in case Canonical does something bad that Linux Mint can't reasonably reverse. This is just like new Linux users dualbooting Linux Mint and Windows, in case Microsoft does something that makes Windows no longer an option for them. If the day comes, or a day comes when the difference between Ubuntu and Debian (for the purposes of Linux Mint) is non-existent, then Linux Mint will make that decision. But until that day, they're prepared, and it's good that they're prepared.
I believe Linux Mint is a great choice for people who are new to Linux, especially if they are coming from Windows, as you said. I do agree with all the points you made so far.
People say this way too often. It's great for advanced users as well. In general it just works. Some people appreciate an OS that just works and you don't have to constantly mess with and fix to make it work right.
I hear what you're saying and it makes sense that they should pick a side. However they have so many users on Ubuntu that it wouldn't be easy to move. Also they like to offer their users an annual upgrade which you don't get on Debian. They are at this point basically a Debian-style slow release distro but slightly faster. Personally I use Linux Mint Debian Edition because I want to get as far away from Corporate distros like Ubuntu and Fedora as possible. I'm fed up with their BS and only want 100% community based from now on. Opensuse is also great. It's now privately owned again and the community is massive. So many people love opensuse. To me Mint and opensuse are the 2 leading Linux distros. One is an LTS slow moving distro and the other a fast moving, on the forefront of technology distro, wedding pushes the boundaries of system testing and implementation. But both have massive communities behind them and they both cherish Software Freedom. IMO Mint will have to move to Debian eventually given that Ubuntu will become a full snaps distro eventually.
Watched the whole video, no pitchforks, but definitely confusion haha. The (admitted subjective) criticisms you've brought up don't matter at all to Mint users. "Oh no, it might be a few months before an update!" I wait a few months AFTER an update comes out to make sure it won't break anything. Sounds like you're complaining that a hammer isn't great because it's hard to drive in a screw. Most Mint users want stability first and foremost - not needless shiny features that results in crashes. Even the concept of distro hopping is stressful to me - why would anyone want to install and configure 80 programs each time they go from one distro to another? If all a user uses is a browser, I guess it's not a big deal - but for those that run a lot of different applications that's a big no. For example, the idea of running Arch, being in the middle of a huge work project, and then having to fix a mission critical application due to a an update breaking something sounds like the hell I left Windows over. But apparently there are some who like the additional work for whatever the reason. I run LMDE because I don't want the additional layer of Ubuntu, and frankly don't trust Canonical to not pull a Red Hat in the future. My top concern when I was choosing was long term stable support, which Debian does, and having the UI of Mint made the transition from Windows visually seamless.
I think people is very passionate about the tools they use, which in some sense is great because that means that the project author(s) did a great job and others love the project, the issue comes when there is too much passion...hahahaha....they want to burn everything that is not the same as they like. The great thing about OS community is that there is something for everyone. I'm not a Mint user. Enjoy whatever distro makes you happy
Well. as much as i love my Pop!_OS. When it comes to introducing linux to beginners. Linux Mint to me is the distro for then to learn first. Other than that, its linux, use what you want.
I started my Linux journey with Mint about 2 years ago.. Two desktops, two laptops and conservatively speaking, 30 distro hops later, I'm back on Mint as a daily driver. The more things change, the more they stay the same : ) I like it. The world don't move to the beat of just one drum with Linux.. Too many choices out there. The only time I'm affected by people speaking about a distro is when they are giving factual information. Opinions can be interesting fodder for discussion, but that's about it really. I've never understood the tribalism in the Linux community. It's just plain weird, IMO. 'I use Arch, BTW..' 😀
I use Linux Mint , LMDE , Lilidog ,MX Linux , Fedora , OpenSUSE and Garuda and all are good and all have faults. Ubuntu have gone over the top with their control over what you can use .
i myself use linux mint mate or xfce, currently using mate. I love mint, but i do not like there Debian version nor cinnamon version either. i am not a snap fan personally, its kinda bloated for taste. like you said, its my opinion lol i also find that noobs find it alot easier to switch over from windows using linux mint. the reason i don't care for ubuntu is gnome, not a fan either. I like older style desktops personally.
I'm curious the limitation stopping them, Ubuntu must have a lib or tool specifically that enables it or makes it easier to implement at least. my only guess.
You messed up and said that Linux Mint is a useless distro, and now it sounds like you're not backing down and digging yourself a deeper hole. Linux Mint just works! You install it and it is good to go! I never had a problem with it.
Linux Mint is and always has been Ubunto with out the Corporation, Canonical. Mint is for people that like Stability, Stable OS that works with out the interruptions and problems that happen with many other Systems. The majority of people do not like flashy gimmicks that get totally over hulled every 4 years. There are plenty of choices in Linux for that. Debian is a little to behind and does not get updated much.
Honestly, it doesn't matter how many times you repeat that your opinion doesn't matter, it just feels like a cop-out. If you are a communicator, your voice is heard from a privileged place. It comes with a platform and some amount of trust. There's the implication that what your are saying is taken with some responsibility. For sure, the audience has a responsibility as well, to use critical thinking and not blindly adopt any opinion they come across. But that's besides the point. That's the only part I don't like about the video, I feel like you are weaseling out of your responsibility as a social communicator, opinion leader, or whatever else you want to define yourself as. For the rest, I think it's all perfectly reasonable. You give your reasons, explain what you like and what you don't, and why. People watching can take that and see if they agree with it or not. I feel you did a good job not just telling us what to think, but instead giving us stuff to think about.
My problem is with the cinnamon desktop environment. To me it feels like a watered down version of KDE. Also I wish it wasn't based on Ubuntu (and yes I know there is also a Debian version but still primarily Ubuntu.
My journey has taken me from Windows, to Ubuntu, to Mint, and I tried Fedora KDE. Ubuntu had little customization, Mint had a fair bit, and KDE just lets you do whatever the fuck you want. The problem is that KDE is a bit too much. If you think that what KDE offers is what you should get, then yes Mint is going to feel "watered down". But if you come from the opposite perspective, then it's like you've gone from having a box of good tools to having infinite access to a hardware store: There's just too many things and finding the one thing you want takes too long, and there's a million things you will never use.
Putting all of my Linux Mint hot takes in one video! Also, NEW Eternal Linux Noob T-Shirts Now Available! - shop.thelinuxcast.org
I personally think that Linux Mint is one of the most overrated distros in the eyes of more advanced Linux users due to simple thing it being the most newbie/normie distro that targets people who used windows and have no experience of using Linux at all.
When i started using Linux for my PC i tried Ubuntu, EndevaourOS, Manjaro, Fedora, Pop_OS! but ultimately i stayed with Linux Mint. And thats because it is the only distro that gives me the windows xp/vista/7 vibe when i use it.
@Deathwalker666666
If you want windows, just use windows lol
I personally stay away from kde (even though it has more feature then gnome) partially because i was fed up with windows and wanted to get the farther away i possibly could.
Now i descovered open suse (because it's one of the four distros which allow to easily install hyprland) and now i just love it
The biggest issue here is, that you think about distros in a opposite way Mint does. Your idea of a distro is a vessel that merge old and new tech in a way, that allows users to, well, use the new stuff.
But Mint works kind of backwards, it is, what it is, and adds new tech only when it actually improves user experience or is linux wide switch and the tech is ready for it. Mint team work as a filter between cutting edge and users, adding things only when ready.
I would be really interested in a discussion between you and someone from Mint team about the Mint development philosophy. An exploration of this fundamental difference should make quite an interesting video.
I've been using Cinnamon Mint for two and a half years now. Every time I look at some other distro, I contemplate trying it on a spare computer--if I ever get around to acquiring a spare--but Mint works too well for me to disrupt my main machine.
This is the beauty of so many distros. I get what I like; you get what you like, and we're both keeping overall GNU/Linux alive.
IF it works it works, that's why I use it too!
Joe Collins and DT recommend Linux Mint to folks new to Linux as a the best transition from Windows to Linux. There is no distro better. Being based on Debian, then refined by Ubuntu, then further refined by the Mint developers, it is a rock solid distro that is a great overall distro for most use cases. You failed to point out how complete and ubiquitous it is in terms of playing well with things like software dependancy. The two flavors of Ubuntu and Debian versions are an intelligent way of forward thinking and future proofing their project. A majority of LInux users aren't super nerds and so they don't want to learn everything under the hood. Also, there is a deep problem of elitism in Linux that knocks Mint for being simple. Yet the target audience is never going to install Arch and Gentoo and customize a tiling manager, those are the pool of nerds that want to learn everything under the hood. Yet most people have demanding jobs and a workload that they need to get done, and a solid point release stable version is all they need to rely on, and not a rolling release OS with bleeding edge apps.
Exactly
InfinitelyGalactic is another good one who these days speaks to how good and complete the Mint experience is. Sure it moves slow, sure it is incremental but Mint has always been a slow march forward listening to its users.
Mint is definitely the best place for a new person to start.
@@folksurvival Also a good place for the advanced user who has been on Linux for decades and is simply tired of the BS and just wants their computers to work.
@@dragonballjiujitsu Agreed.
Cinnamon is, so far, my favourite desktop environment. Gnome 3 really soured me on Gnome (maybe it's better now but I haven't tried it), and it has more features and looks nicer compared to XFCE. My biggest complaint with KDE is that, while I get the sense that I could eventually make it look and behave exactly like what I would want, it would take me a weeks of fiddling to get there, whereas Cinnamon gets me 99% of the way there in a couple of clicks and then I can get on with my life. If I do decide to spend enormous amounts of time ricing something, I would prefer to start with a tiling window manager.
This ties in with the reason I personally like Linux Mint. It was the distro I started with, and I still use it because it just works. One of the joys (and curses) of Linux is that everything can be fiddled with in a config file somewhere or another. Having that option is nice, but the fact that there are distros that allow you to not do that is also a good thing, and when I want to not spend my time configuring, I turn to Mint.
Well said!
Cinnamon was my first DE and I came to hate it, because of the constant crashing and bugs.
So I switched to XFCE and installed a nice theme and made it look even better.
Perhaps cinnamon has come a long way since then, though.
XFCE has more features than cinnamon
That 2nd sentence is relatable. The first time I tried Gnome 3 years ago it was basically just Unity but less shit so I didn't even consider it when I got back into Linux.
I've felt like Cinnamon is like if GTK and KDE had a baby of sorts. Lots of customization but apps by default are simple.
I'm not a diehard Linux Mint guy. I have 2 laptops, one an older Lenovo ThinkPad t470. I had Windows 10 Pro on it. It's not upgradable to Windows 11. I love the ThinkPad keyboard. I'm a writer and do a lot of online research. I was in corporate for many years and worked IT related positions, mostly finding tech solutions, creating websites, inhouse apps creation for data analysis, and taught digital marketing classes to our clients and our staff etc. etc. All of the companies I worked for were in the Microsoft environment. I left corporate about a year ago and on the ThinkPad I nuked Windows 10 and installed Linux Mint Cinnamon. I love it cuz it worked right out of the box. I've been around for a while and remember DOS and Windows 1.01. We spent more time dinking around with the OS than we did actually getting things done. It was fun, but again, actual productivity was questionable. I didn't want to, nor do I have time to dink around with a Linux OS all day, I got stuff to do and thankful I found a solution. I'm sure as time goes by I'll get more curious about the innards of Linux and want to tinker more with things, but first things first.
I second this wholeheartedly. A lot of Linux elitists act like Mint or Ubuntu are for noobs, and you're only a real power user if you've built your system from the ground up, preferably with a highly customized tiling window manager (that ends up looking pretty much like everyone else's). I got caught up in that myself, and spent about a year hopping around between distros and spending tons of time fiddling with the OS or the desktop. Finally it dawned on me how little of that time was actually productive, and I switched to Mint because it just works and gets out of the way so I can use my computer for more productive things. There's nothing wrong with tinkering and experimenting, but when it's time to get work done I need an OS and desktop that isn't going to be a distraction.
Lmde simple and robust. It's all I need.
I have been using linux mint for roughly 3 years. It works well enough for me.
You have to remember Matt the Main Idea for Linux Mint is for Windows users to come over and find familiar desktop environment and make it easy for them. It's not for people like you and others like me. Sticking with one version would be nice but it's like saying to people stop distro hopping.
unfortunately, the older software meant that i had a worse time coming to mint from windows and meant that i instead had to start with kubuntu
I have LMDE 32bit on my mom's two 1885 era PCs and they are great little machines. One is connected to the big TV (a Linux Mint Smart TV now) and one is in her office for typing stuff. She is 86 years old and still clicking.
I use Linux Mint and I think your reasoning makes sense. I’d also like if Debian was Linux Mint’s base instead, and pulled from Ubuntu repos. It’s probably just easier for them to build it on top of Ubuntu until they have a reason not to; the Debian version keeps them fresh on how they could immediately switch away from Ubuntu if they had to, like you said.
As a mint hater I think I agree with what point. I'd love canonical go the redhat route and stop the Ubuntu clones. There's too many and none of them make substantial contributions to the community but just get this hype because people want to look cool for hating canonical and Ubuntu while still low-key needing canonicals man power. They will fail mostly and Ubuntu locking up like redhat would weed out all the unnecessary distros and leave us with the ones that actually mean something. Mint dying today won't make people stop moving forward, its a small team that can't do anything meaningful out of adding closed source software,drivers changing themes to Ubuntu
UI'm a Zorin user. Thanks to distros like this I be able to switch windows to Linux. Personally I don't like cinamoom desktop but I respect mint devs work and I agree with you in some points.
I really like Mint, and it's probably the best Distro I've tried in my albeit recent Linux career, but I totally agree with you on Ubuntu as a base. It's holding them back and they should focus on their Debian version.
i use lmde and i think they should focus on that. mint is based on ubuntu which is based on debian, why not skip the middle man?
would love to see a kde version too. rip indeed.
Linux Mint DE edition was meant for testing, not to be a premier "front line" release of Mint. From their site :
"It allows us to assess how much we depend on Ubuntu and how much work would be involved in such an event."
The biggest concern that I have is after a successful install, when the time comes to update the OS, the local mirrors almost always refuse to download all the packages, leaving me only the choice of another distro.
EXACTLY. And this has happened to me with quite a number of very popular distros, but Mint has to be one of the most prominent.
Mint user here, and I liked your video. At the end of the day, what makes Linux so good is these types of discussions.
I used to use Debian and would usually just move to testing to get newer packages. The problem with a recent install is it didn't recognize my wifi card and I just choose LInux Mint because of a wide user base and ready to go wifi drivers. I dunno, it's feels like a more refined unstable Debian which I like. It combines the best aspects of both. As long as I can use apt....I can use it. I'm just a basic desktop user from the MS/DOS days. I'm not a power user.
Linux Mint will be better once they decide to just go Debian and stop messing with Ubuntu, using Ubuntu as a base now means it takes more effort trying to take out all their crazy stuff than it is to just build from scratch off Debian.
I think LMDE could be the only distribution
i think if they focused on debian they could put more time into cinnamon as well. it would be a win win.
In my view, the most of important thing in my find is:
- Does it do the right job
- Does it do the job right
For some people, they like to tinker with what happens underneath the hood.
Other people loves to develop software.
Some others only want to play games.
And also some others just want to get work done.
If use Arch, b.t.w.
... and Fedora, Mint, Rocky, Ubuntu, Kali, Debian, OpenBSD, MacOS, and wait for it ... Windows.
My view is that people should use what they want.
The reason that I use Mint, is that Cinnamon suits my workflow the best. It is clean and customizable. Also, their implementation of multiple desktops is really awesome.
So for work, I use Mint. I do not have time to struggle with drivers, etc. when I need to get work out.
And from protecting your distribution, it makes perfect sense to cut Ubuntu out of the pipeline when it is the right time.
I'm fairly new to linux and linux mint was the first distro I tried which didn't break on me after a week of use. That was me main reason for me to keep it around, for its stability and clear user guidance.
6:14
one little sentence that sums up my thoughts on not just Mint, but Linux distros as a whole.
As a person who's looking forward to switching to mint from windows, I don't want to get indecisive once again by some flaws of a distro. I'm still stuck on windows since I'm still doing work and I don't have the time and luxury to set up my desktop if I switch right now.
I have tried Ubuntu, but there was a lot of issues and it's way too unfamiliar to me, so I had a rough time and experience on linux and went back to windows. I didn't try distro hopping since I consider it a waste of time. So I ended up looking up and watching reviews on distros for people who wants to switch from windows to linux, and Linux Mint seems to fit my choice if I want to start using linux without getting too overwhelmed.
You are wise not to jump into Linux with both feet since you need your computer for work. Regardless of which Distribution you use, Linux is a completely different OS than Windows. As with Windows, Linux has both its strengths and its weaknesses.
Having said that, transitioning from Windows to Linux is a process. Despite how the desktop is designed, it is different as is the community that supports it. Given that only around 3% of desktop computer users use Linux, it should be no surprise that it isn’t for everyone despite years of trying to make it so.
So, I would suggest putting Linux on another computer when you are ready to jump in. If you approach it from the perspective of a student and a tinkerer, you’ll get further. Play with it. Try things. Don’t be afraid to break it. Have fun. Get to know some Linux users. There are some great people in the community as well as some not so great people like any community. They will help as well.
That’s my perspective for what it’s worth. I started playing with Linux 20 years ago. I dropped Windows when Windows 10 decided it had better things to do than to download a file I needed. Shrug. My value system. Finally, use what works for you. There are people who use Linux, Mack, and Windows for different purposes like Mack for video production, Windows for gaming, Linux for software development. Whatever you decide, have fun and enjoy.
Stay on windows. Mint sucks
@UbuntuPersonNoMint dude, I've settled on popOS for a few months now.
LM since user 2008, it's thrown a few wobblers over the years but it's still doing what i need it to do.
edit: your desires are not theirs.
I have a dual-boot mint 21.2 / win 10 . It just works !
Nice! That is my planned setup, currently I have Windows 10 running on my laptop and Mint on a separate machine, but as soon as I get an ssd upgrade, I want to put Mint as a dual boot
you know what would make Linux Mint be even better? If they just focused solely on Debian as their base and not Ubuntu.
Thanks for opinion. But people who are really new to linux, mint does a greay job of feeling us welcomed in the linux world. The things is Cinnamon just works amd I love it. I have jumped around a lot in between most of the debian and Ubuntu based distros and Mint is just amazing. So kudos to mint developers for that.
New users from windows still run Ubuntu just fine. Mint isn't necessarily needed. I've seen too many noobs go for something else over mint. It's just in your minds as mint fan boys
Mint has been my go to for the last 7-8 years and was a solid platform and continues to be so. Until I moved to the KDE Plasma desktop. I saw little point running Plasma on Mint, a forked distro from Ubuntu which in turn is forked from Debian. Now I run Debian with KDE Plasma cutting out the middle men. But as you say "use what you want".
I've come to the conclusion the DE is the most important element to an OS from a users perspective. I agree with you that they should purely dedicate to one or the other, preferably Debian, but II love Mint as it was my virgin distro and I'll always have a dedicated drive for it on my multiboot system, but KDE is the be all and end all for me. Any arch based distro with KDE is the only option for my main boot.
a bit of criticism: I really don't think you can really judge their development for it unless you're actively looking at the process. but criticizing mint for being too slow to develop is completely fair game since it's just the facts and the reasons don't matter. of course, you can definitely suggest some reasons on the assumption that you're very possibly wrong and they have a good reason why they do a certain thing, but otherwise if you're not actively looking at the development I wouldn't go beyond that.
Either way, I think you should have kinda "flipped" the way you criticized it and mainly explain why you think the pace it develops is too slow rather than talk about the reasons for the slow development, and I would agree 100%.
The only reason why I am not using LMDE is because I wanted a Debian Testing based distro, hence why I am still a happy with SparkyLinux as of 12/2023! :) But if I need a Debian Stable based distro, I would go with LMDE because, like MX Linux, it has more app choices than regular vanilla Debian. But unlike MX Linux, LMDE does a better job upgrading via used of mintupgrade.
I would agree if the sound worked properly on my Linux Mint installation.
Thumbs up...from my Linux Mint Mate Machine 👍
Can't wait for the next installment of Linux Mint on " The Linux Cast "
Excellent video 👍 Thank you 💜
Agreed 👍
6:44 snap isn't offered in Mint by default because it adds useless overhead and does things that are weird. The Mint blog has a comprehensive explanation for their reasoning, so there's no need to expand on that here. They would prefer to do less work on the distros they base upon, so they can work more on their Mint software, but sometimes extra work is required to keep things sane and more user friendly. Others, who don't even use Mint, have expressed similar concerns and disapproval to the way Canonical handled snap. So they're not trying to turn Ubuntu into Debian, this is just a misunderstanding on your part. To be fair, if you don't follow them closely I'm not surprised you're unaware of various decisions that shaped the distro along the way - it will be 18 years old later this year.
Their vision has always been a general purpose OS that is easy to use, that doesn't periodically throw surprises at you in terms of workflow/productivity, even if you're a regular/non-experienced user. That's why Cinnamon has so many common features to Gnome 2/MATE, because it was meant to offer that familiar experience on top of a more modern software base (GTK3 vs the older GTK2).
Why don't they offer both snaps and flatpaks so people pick? You praise mint for removing choice but wanna shun canonical for it. Mint fan boys are hypocrites.
@@UbuntuPersonNoMint You writing nonsense from a burner account makes you the hypocrite, especially when the answer to your question is in my initial comment.
Mint, as other distros, use Ubuntu as they see fit. There's nothing wrong with that in the free and open source world.
@@kneekoo dude. You want choice right? Then tell them to leave the choice of snaps too like Ubuntu does with flatpaks. It's not b.s, b.s is you letting one distro do what you're constantly hating another extremely popular distro for. There's people who like snaps, what if they want to try this garbage os called mint shouldn't they get a say?
@@UbuntuPersonNoMint When it comes to hate, you're projecting and your blind hate for Mint shows. snap can be enabled, it's officially documented.
@@kneekoo I've used mint a couple of times I have no blind hate
You did make a very well thought out video and you made some good points. Ive used Linux Mint breifly once before and i kind of have mixed emotions about. I can see why its usually the distro the greybeards suggest to newer members of the community, but im not totally in love with Mate or Cinnamon (dont hate me). Everyone has an opinion even though nala as a package manager is the right choice. Keep up the good work, Matt!
Mate and cinnamon look like windows 98 ordered from temu. I dislike any desktop environment that tries to be a rip off of mac and windows. No originality whatsoever
@@UbuntuPersonNoMint Windows 98? Really? That's a bit of a stretch. Now Windows 2000 on the other hand...
@@keylowmike85 yea I guess I did push it back too far but yes windows 2000. Still old asf but some people can't seem to move on..
I use linux mint for several years now (+10) and I tested a lot of other distros. Never as good als linux mint cinnamon. For me it works and much better than the rest (windows inclusive). But everyone is free to struggle, like you said!!!!!
I'm using lmde because i have enjoyed it since 2 on and off. i still run arch my laptop but my wife is running LM on her laptop and she loves it. appreciate your views though.
Using LMDE6, have used LM but since Ubuntu is heading to a cloud philosophy, I also believe they will at the end leaving Mint-Ubuntu and going to Mint DE.
Thanks for your opinions, Matt! I'm a bit of an odd duck as far as "Linux guys" go - I'm a "disciple" of Linux and encourage others to switch but when it comes to packages and tools, I'm fairly agnostic. Rather than the cutting edge of everything, I prefer stuff that's easy and 'just works'. Since I switched to Linux in March of '22 I've used Mint with awesome wm and have rarely if ever had a problem with it. I'm quite happy with Mint and intend to continue using it in perpetuity, because it's what I'm comfortable with. But I totally get that other Linux people might prefer distros with newer tools that they can rice. One of my personal mottoes is: to each his own.
I have to agree with you on this Matt. I do not use mint I have in the past and used the Debian version over the Ubuntu version
As a Linux Mint Cinnamon user, my take is that LMDE is a work-in-progress to eventually completely replace Mint Ubuntu. Right now LMDE isn't feature-equivalent in my experience...maybe 75%. When you compare the two side-by-side, LMDE has a LOT of rough edges, but Clem's stated desire is that LMDE reach feature-parity with Mint. I mean, when you first boot into your new LMDE install and you immediately have to enable the root account when in Mint that's already set up...as it should be (how intimidating is that to a brand new user?)...you know you're going to run into some odd trippings on the curb. And you do. So for the sake of just getting on with productive work instead of having to Google-Fu all of the little details that are already set in Mint, I'll just run Mint and check in on LMDE at every Debian update.
Why do I run Mint at all? On MY equipment it's really the only distro that silently accepts and sets up all of my peripherals, including a Brother printer that many distros just don't like. With very little manipulation it runs a particular Windows program I use in my writing. It's smooth. It's power electric windows and locks instead of cranks and knobs.
I get what you're saying. But in general Debian is better if you're using it for servers. Mint has a lot more focus on the desktop experience and works a lot better in that use case.
I think Mint should just pick the Debian base.
It will make Mint a better competitor to Ubuntu and will steer more people to m
Mint. Especially with all the Snap controversies.
My wife's ThinkPad is running Linux Mint, and it runs great.
... But she is not supposed to know that. She thinks she's using Windows and she told me she hates Linux.
😂
IMO they should dump Ubuntu based and fully concentrate on LMDE. BTW I don't think any distro is useless because there are people using it and they like it, so it's not useless😉 I use KDE Neon and I don't care what people say or think about it. I like it and that's what counts.
Matt with another hot take on Linux Mint lol!
In all seriousness I'm ok with Matt's opinion on the subject. He can enjoy Opensuse all he wants to (since I've never had a good experience) but I will continue to use Mint like i have since 2015. He does have some good points here and I am all ears to hear criticisms. We all hope some day the Mint Team will move to the Debian base but until then the LMDE is just in case of Canonical Emergency.
Thanks for your perspective on Linux Mint. I prefer the Debian version, it is stable, works well and the installation is smoother and clearer than the Debian installation. The Cinnamon edition is complete, but I find the environment a bit boring. KDE gives more setting options, which is more to my taste. However, the stability of Linux Mint is, in my opinion, its strongest asset, not so much the desktop environment. I have never had any problems with hardware, while this is the case with other distros. I'm going to say a very bad word in the Linux community, but currently I'm using Manjaro on my production machine. I mainly use flatpaks and software from the Manjaro repo itself and not from the AUR. Very stable so far, a good up to date operating system and KDE, which is my preference. However, I can very well understand when people use @Zaney Linux Mint on a production machine. You are financially dependent on it. And what that boy had to go through to arrive at a distribution that will probably work. But hey, he has enough Nuggies ;-)
While I don't use Mint (even when I was just entering the world of Linux, my first one was Ubuntu), I still love it. It is nicely made and put together into an useful and feature-full OS, appealing and welcoming to Linux newcomers and it is great, that we have it. The other one such distro is Ubuntu, but it comes with its controversies.
My opinion in short is, that Mint should gradually focus more out of the main line and focus more into the LMDE. When corporations are involved into FOSS, esp. when it comes to Linux distros, I think at the end their input is more on the negative side, than not. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is. For whatever reasons, what is best for a corporation, and what is best for the people doesn't align well with each other.
With that said - for reliance reasons, it is best that Mint focuses mainly on its LMDE version and make it primary.
I've used Mint for a few years now and always liked it, but seem to have some random issues with the latest version. I'm about to install Debian 12 and try that after now using Debian for years. If that doesn't cut it, then I may try LMDE.
I started my Linux journey with Mint. Whether Ubuntu or Debian based, it's a great distro for people just starting out with Linux. I still consider myself a noob, even though I've been using Linux full time for 7 years now...I've distro hopped several times, and at various points ended up coming back to Mint, especially on my laptop, because it just works. I've been running Debian on my main PC for about 8 months now, I just decided to go to the source instead of using derivatives (I believe Chris Titus made a video about that), but I still recommend Mint to anyone just starting out, strictly for the stability of it.
I do agree, though, that they should just stick with the Debian edition. If they're going to strip out everything that makes Ubuntu, Ubuntu....why not just move to Debian and be done with it? But, like you, I'm not a developer, so....what do I know...?
Been here since 08 used them all but nothing is as simple and straightforward as Ubuntu.
"Im not spewing facts here folks"
Love this line.
linux mint is life!
Okay, 5 days late here in given my two cents in regards to this video of yours about Linux Mint. From the start to the end of this video, only one word comes to mind about how you truly feel about the Linux Mint Distro, that is "Frustration". An I get that, what I mean about that is you are not an average or beginner user of a Linux OS anymore, you are more of a upper intermediate to even an advanced user looking for something more cutting edge and new to sink your teeth into, and Linux Mint just does not do that for you anymore. So as I have said before, I get it...
Linux Mint is one of the more reliable distros, partly because it is Ubuntu based. I'm neutral about Cinnamon, but if I want that kind of desktop, I load my Windows XP VM again :) Sometimes the Mint Team behaves somewhat short-sided, like with snaps, but they have the full right to take dumb decisions for their own distro :)
To finish positively, I have Linux Mint for years in a VM and only 1 in 5 distros survive that long, most develop some problems and are deleted by me.
11:11 They chose Ubuntu as their main "foundation" because it has newer packages compared to Debian, and it has a reliable release cadence. This also made it attractive to other developers, who target Ubuntu with their software/games. So it was less work to put out a user-friendly distro based on Ubuntu, compared to Debian - which has been historically against non-free packages and you had to do a lot of extra work to support a wider range of hardware, and offer more software. There was only one developer when Mint started, so clearly Ubuntu was the right choice. Debian has only now begun delivering non-free wifi drivers so people no longer struggle installing it on their PCs. We'll see how it turns out in the future, but Ubuntu is still the right choice as Mint's foundation.
They should go for debian. Let Ubuntu be. Dont hate on canonical but expect them to foot the bill to make your shit distros work
@@UbuntuPersonNoMint Ubuntu can do whatever they want, Mint doesn't impose anything on other distros. You're nothing but a hater on a burner account.
Linux mint is good for people who don't like change. it stays mostly the same over the years and will continue to stay that way. it's not cutting edge or anything but it does it's job and gets out of the way.
that's to say, if you've installed linux mint from a decade ago and compare it to now, it's largely had the same workflow, just more features as they see fit.
Debian is the same. It's why I think LMDE is the way to go
Say what you will about Linux Mint it works and works well. My everyday driver is Manjaro KDE. I recently repurposed an older MacBook Pro and Linux Mint LMDE is the ONLY distro that installed and worked perfectly on that laptop. I tried 6 different distros. It works, its super stable, no running out trying to find drivers. Linux Mint has moved more people over from Windows than any other distro by far.
I love mint. What keeps me on mint is it's slow but sure updates. I did something that is unusual though. I upgraded to mint 22 right away instead of waiting for the .1 release only because 22 is so (much better than suse) good.
The reason is that Ubuntu was and still better than Debian regarding drivers, and for updated softwares.
Theres no such thing as opinions. Only.Facts!
LMDE is probably just not ready entirely. So they cannot just switch
Id like to have a mint lmde testing version
Mint is absolutely amazing. The only reason I stopped using it myself was because I like my software up to date as possible but not to the point shit can break like with arch and of course I want my stuff simple since i rather spending time with the actual programs instead of getting knee's deep in to configurations to fix shit at random. So I went with fedora because it's still simple and stable plus everything is much more up to date. But mint is fantastic for new ppl to linux since its simple and stable plus the intro sets you up real good with a simple firewall and so forth.
They'll have theirs
You'll have yours
and I'll have mine
and together we'll be fine! 🎶🎶
(Most of us, anyway : )
Poking the Distro war bear is like a Linux channel T ball. Could not think of a good video topic this week? You started the video saying what you use does not matter. Well why make a twenty minute video about it then? We should promote unity in open source IMO. Mint is a great so is every other distro.
Ever use an Amiga?
I never used Ubuntu as a daily driver. I did use Mint for a few months though in my early Linux days, and it was what I would recommend it to new Linux users coming from Windows. But Ubuntu has a Cinnamon Edition now and aside from the color scheme and snaps, they are both very similar. I think the Mint team should just switch to LMDE as the main focus, but that's just my opinion.
As a daily driver, or in general for my own regular use, I'm not really a fan of Mint, or the Cinnamon DE (apart from the weather applet). I find it too slow-moving for the distro, too mouse-based for the DE (I use Manjaro Plasma on my desktop and Mabox on my laptop).
Buy Mint has long been the distro I've recommended to new migrants to Linux, and it's my default go-to when someone asks me to install Linux on their machine but doesn't know what exactly. It's unparalleled for _that_ purpose.
I see a day when mint is a mother brach itself!
I think and hope this is artfully planned, hear me out;
they're on "W" (wilma) in the Ubuntu versions,
and they're on "F" (faye) in the abc scale of debian editions!
I really hope Ubuntu editions end with Z and when they reach Z on debian editions they'd go completely rouge!
that's the dream baby!
I use it since nvidia don't give me any issues on it, that's all. Not sure if there are any better alternatives for nvidia card
thanks
I think most people that use Linux Mint/LMDE wish they would just switch to LMDE. I use LMDE because it is the easiest way to get a desktop like Windows only better because it is easy to customize the panel the way you want it to work and easy to set up to log in without a password something I don't see on Debian + cinnamon.
IMO most people using Mint don't care about things like this, they just want an OS that works out of the box, has Windows like workflow and is stable.
"I have stickers to prove it" ROTFLMAO
Wait a minute.... You're telling me that you're not Mr.Beast? I have been fooled!
Me too. I thought for sure I was going places. lol
@@TheLinuxCast lol 😂🤣
I think Linux Mint itself WANTS to make the choice. It's just not ready yet. If tomorrow morning they took Linux Mint offline entirely, stopped developing it, and directed current Linux Mint users to install LMDE instead, they would be forcing these users to have a lower quality experience. Linux Mint wants to have an alternative in case Canonical does something bad that Linux Mint can't reasonably reverse. This is just like new Linux users dualbooting Linux Mint and Windows, in case Microsoft does something that makes Windows no longer an option for them. If the day comes, or a day comes when the difference between Ubuntu and Debian (for the purposes of Linux Mint) is non-existent, then Linux Mint will make that decision. But until that day, they're prepared, and it's good that they're prepared.
I believe Linux Mint is a great choice for people who are new to Linux, especially if they are coming from Windows, as you said. I do agree with all the points you made so far.
Not just new to Linux, it's just a great OS. Linux experts won't feel any less on it.
People say this way too often. It's great for advanced users as well. In general it just works. Some people appreciate an OS that just works and you don't have to constantly mess with and fix to make it work right.
@@happylinuxguy I will always suggest Arch for "advanced users"
I hear what you're saying and it makes sense that they should pick a side. However they have so many users on Ubuntu that it wouldn't be easy to move. Also they like to offer their users an annual upgrade which you don't get on Debian.
They are at this point basically a Debian-style slow release distro but slightly faster.
Personally I use Linux Mint Debian Edition because I want to get as far away from Corporate distros like Ubuntu and Fedora as possible. I'm fed up with their BS and only want 100% community based from now on.
Opensuse is also great. It's now privately owned again and the community is massive. So many people love opensuse.
To me Mint and opensuse are the 2 leading Linux distros. One is an LTS slow moving distro and the other a fast moving, on the forefront of technology distro, wedding pushes the boundaries of system testing and implementation.
But both have massive communities behind them and they both cherish Software Freedom.
IMO Mint will have to move to Debian eventually given that Ubuntu will become a full snaps distro eventually.
Watched the whole video, no pitchforks, but definitely confusion haha. The (admitted subjective) criticisms you've brought up don't matter at all to Mint users. "Oh no, it might be a few months before an update!" I wait a few months AFTER an update comes out to make sure it won't break anything. Sounds like you're complaining that a hammer isn't great because it's hard to drive in a screw. Most Mint users want stability first and foremost - not needless shiny features that results in crashes. Even the concept of distro hopping is stressful to me - why would anyone want to install and configure 80 programs each time they go from one distro to another? If all a user uses is a browser, I guess it's not a big deal - but for those that run a lot of different applications that's a big no. For example, the idea of running Arch, being in the middle of a huge work project, and then having to fix a mission critical application due to a an update breaking something sounds like the hell I left Windows over. But apparently there are some who like the additional work for whatever the reason.
I run LMDE because I don't want the additional layer of Ubuntu, and frankly don't trust Canonical to not pull a Red Hat in the future. My top concern when I was choosing was long term stable support, which Debian does, and having the UI of Mint made the transition from Windows visually seamless.
I think people is very passionate about the tools they use, which in some sense is great because that means that the project author(s) did a great job and others love the project, the issue comes when there is too much passion...hahahaha....they want to burn everything that is not the same as they like. The great thing about OS community is that there is something for everyone. I'm not a Mint user. Enjoy whatever distro makes you happy
IDK... "The devs are making it too hard on themselves" seems like a weird reason to not use a distro.
Well. as much as i love my Pop!_OS. When it comes to introducing linux to beginners. Linux Mint to me is the distro for then to learn first. Other than that, its linux, use what you want.
Linux Mint generally excels at the "give me software, I don't care" brand of "just works" order of operations.
I started my Linux journey with Mint about 2 years ago.. Two desktops, two laptops and conservatively speaking, 30 distro hops later, I'm back on Mint as a daily driver. The more things change, the more they stay the same : ) I like it. The world don't move to the beat of just one drum with Linux.. Too many choices out there. The only time I'm affected by people speaking about a distro is when they are giving factual information. Opinions can be interesting fodder for discussion, but that's about it really. I've never understood the tribalism in the Linux community. It's just plain weird, IMO. 'I use Arch, BTW..' 😀
I use Linux Mint , LMDE , Lilidog ,MX Linux , Fedora , OpenSUSE and Garuda and all are good and all have faults. Ubuntu have gone over the top with their control over what you can use .
You ever watch Spatry presents!
i myself use linux mint mate or xfce, currently using mate. I love mint, but i do not like there Debian version nor cinnamon version either. i am not a snap fan personally, its kinda bloated for taste. like you said, its my opinion lol i also find that noobs find it alot easier to switch over from windows using linux mint. the reason i don't care for ubuntu is gnome, not a fan either. I like older style desktops personally.
The debian edition really needs the driver manager
I'm curious the limitation stopping them, Ubuntu must have a lib or tool specifically that enables it or makes it easier to implement at least. my only guess.
lmde is fiyah dood
You messed up and said that Linux Mint is a useless distro, and now it sounds like you're not backing down and digging yourself a deeper hole. Linux Mint just works! You install it and it is good to go! I never had a problem with it.
I didn't say it was useless.in this video. You should watch it again. I said they should choose one. Those aren't the same thing.
Linux Mint is and always has been Ubunto with out the Corporation, Canonical. Mint is for people that like Stability, Stable OS that works with out the interruptions and problems that happen with many other Systems. The majority of people do not like flashy gimmicks that get totally over hulled every 4 years. There are plenty of choices in Linux for that. Debian is a little to behind and does not get updated much.
Honestly, it doesn't matter how many times you repeat that your opinion doesn't matter, it just feels like a cop-out.
If you are a communicator, your voice is heard from a privileged place. It comes with a platform and some amount of trust. There's the implication that what your are saying is taken with some responsibility.
For sure, the audience has a responsibility as well, to use critical thinking and not blindly adopt any opinion they come across. But that's besides the point.
That's the only part I don't like about the video, I feel like you are weaseling out of your responsibility as a social communicator, opinion leader, or whatever else you want to define yourself as.
For the rest, I think it's all perfectly reasonable. You give your reasons, explain what you like and what you don't, and why. People watching can take that and see if they agree with it or not. I feel you did a good job not just telling us what to think, but instead giving us stuff to think about.
they should leave ubuntu and focus on debian, and build 3 good editions, cinnamon, xfce and kde
My problem is with the cinnamon desktop environment. To me it feels like a watered down version of KDE. Also I wish it wasn't based on Ubuntu (and yes I know there is also a Debian version but still primarily Ubuntu.
I mean no one would use it in the beginner pie if it was arch based.
Cinnamon is perfectly balanced, as everything should be.
> To me it feels like a watered down version of KDE
And that is exactly why it's good: flexible enough without all the feature creep and bugginess.
My journey has taken me from Windows, to Ubuntu, to Mint, and I tried Fedora KDE. Ubuntu had little customization, Mint had a fair bit, and KDE just lets you do whatever the fuck you want. The problem is that KDE is a bit too much. If you think that what KDE offers is what you should get, then yes Mint is going to feel "watered down". But if you come from the opposite perspective, then it's like you've gone from having a box of good tools to having infinite access to a hardware store: There's just too many things and finding the one thing you want takes too long, and there's a million things you will never use.
KDE is overly saturated version of cinnamon
If it was not for Mint a lot of people would not be in Linux at all.
Mint repos lack Wi-Fi drivers and latest kernel. Mxlinux does
They have a linux mint edge edition which uses a newer kernel.
@@leemanwrong thanks. Realtek usb are the concern
so they should drop everyhting ubuntu... i think from your argument and super vamp it..
Leave linux Mint alone 😂😂😂 i am a huge
Fan off linux Mint but it has its problems but its
Far more stable for me as Ubuntu or Debian