Linux Mint and the meaning for Linux users.

In the world of operating systems, each mass-marketed system of software has its unique nuances. It’s these nuances that are played the most to potential buyers. If you love messing with your computer, but don’t have a degree in computer science, then you’re probably a Windows guy. If you know absolutely nothing about computers and how to customize your software to your liking, you’re probably a Mac guy. And then there is the Linux crowd…

People who operate Linux operating systems are the kind of people that really know what they’re doing. They understand computers and have probably studied them in great detail, more than likely obtaining a degree in something computer related. The people that appreciate Linux are the people that want to get the most out of their machines.

Now lets talk about the latest Linux Mint release.

I looked at Linux Minx and I fail to see the reason for it existence, it is the same old Ubuntu repackaged with a different theme. Nothing else.

The finer points of Linux Mint don’t really matter, because it’s based on the Ubuntu desktop. That makes the Mint platform less desirable as its less unique right out of the box.
The latest version of Linux Mint is mainly only cosmetically different. The menus are slightly different. The installation process is slightly different. The most irritating part is that the language used during installation leads the user to believe that they are getting something they are not.

Linux Mint has the capability to give users what they are asking for, but they don’t. Why? Because the creator if Linux Mint is using Ubuntu Linux with small tweaks and different theme and he is trying to convince it’s users that it is a totally new Linux distribution. No don’t get me wrong, the theme is nice – but it is not a new distribution, rather it is a new Ubuntu theme.

If you will check Distro News these days, you will find out a huge number of Linux distributions based on Ubuntu Desktop, is it good or bad? Well it depends, I guess that you can look at the positive sides of the story – Open source, free software, free distribution, change as you want or need. But lets think about it – we are talking about zero functionality change here, nothing new, there is not progress in these distribution – there is just some people riding on the success of the already developed Linux distributions. In Ubuntu case it is a very well developed and friendly distribution that happens to be supported by commercial company and giving full support to the distribution. Do not forget that Ubuntu is also fully customizable so again – no need for the countless numbers of Ubuntu Linux copies and of course there is no need for Ubuntu Mint distro. Opps.. I meant Linux Mint distro. See, it is very confusing.

This version is basically the same old shtick repackaged. If you are in the market for picking up Linux Mint, save your time. Ubuntu will give you the same thing with Canonical support if needed without the remade menus and same stuff with different design. Just install Ubuntu and change the default theme if you don’t like it – that’s it, mission accomplished.