Mint 4.0 vs Ubuntu mini-review

(I installed Mint a couple of days ago. It's not really a review but the goal is to highlight main differences between Ubuntu and Mint)


I wouldn't say that Linux Mint 4.0 is vaguely based on Ubuntu; it's more accurate to say that it is Ubuntu, with some extras. You really feel Ubuntu behind it.


In random order:

The boot/shutdown process is fast (really similar to Ubuntu) and Gnome loads a bit faster for me.

Mint has its own unified theme for GRUB, boot splash, GIMP, OpenOffice.Org, gdm login screen, Firefox's start page,etc. and there is a good selection of Mint wallpapers and themes. Here you can see a couple of examples:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1786/screenshotbj0.png
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/130/screenshotappearanceprehf2.png
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/8482/screenshotdesktopls3.png
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5955/screenshotlinuxmintstardu1.png


It also includes a couple of additional tools: mintDesktop, mintInstall (to search for software and install it easily with one click), mintAssistant, mintUpdate, etc.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8161/screenshotmintinstallmr5.png
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/8702/screenshotlinuxmintmozigf6.png
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1301/screenshotmintdesktopkw1.png
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5202/screenshotmintupdatehf0.png


ENVY (used to install nvidia/ati drivers) is installed by default.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9347/screenshotenvyaq4.png


There is a graphical tool to install wifi drivers with ndiswrapper
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8889/screenshotwirelessnetwoov1.png


Many multimedia codecs are there by default to give a good out-of-the-box experience


Mint has a different menu than Ubuntu. Indeed, like you can see, everything is on the same panel. You can quickly access everything and it's less confusing for the beginner. It's also possible to access all settings in the Control Center (and there is a filter so you can type to find things).
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2716/screenshotmintmenufrontud4.png
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/1381/screenshotcontrolcentergz7.png


The installation process is the same as Ubuntu (easy). I know that Ubuntu has this feature but it's worth mentioning that Mint detects your Windows partition and gives you the possibility to import firefox bookmarks, internet explorer bookmarks, documents,etc. really easily.

One thing I noticed is that the backspace key was working the right way in Firefox (previous page) so it wasn't necessary to configure it ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=183898)
Also, desktop icons are configured to launch apps with double-click (like Windows), which I think (but not 100% sure) is different from Ubuntu

To sum up Mint:

-different theme (which I usually prefer over Ubuntu theme)
-”mint tools” let you configure more easily some settings
-easy installation of popular programs with one-click install (k3b, inkscape, rythmbox, picasa, opera, skype,etc.)
-easy installation of wireless drivers with a graphical tool
-easy installation of ati/nvidia drivers with ENVY
-multimedia codecs installed by default
-more efficient menu
-easy migration of some files/settings from Windows
-some other small details

If Ubuntu is simple, Mint is even simpler
If you're searching for a distro on which you will not have to use command line or only minimally, then Mint is for you

The differences with Ubuntu aren't major but they definitely do a difference for the beginner

 

I must say that teh ndiswrapper frontend on mint is buggy. I had to set it up via command line to get it up and running. But I'm glad that it is there, actually - I'm guessing it's just my particular wireless card that had problems.

I installed Mint on a friends' EEE. He knows nothing about linux, and it was his first foray. After tinkering with it, he said that using Mint is "dirt easy" [his exact words, that]. I did have to google a bit to figure out what the keyboard combination was, to activate Japanese input [It's Ctrl+Space]. I'm also sure that I installed some unnecessary packages; but that's what happens when you're new .

To sum up, I'll say waht my friend said - "Yeah, this is dirt easy". Last but not least - good work John.

 

Thanks, I was wondering what the user experience was with Mint vs Ubuntu