Linux Mint

[g0lrk]

Anyone out here using Mint?
I've been using it about a year now and really impressed with it.
Does everything I want of an OS and straight 'out of the box'.
Easy to install and found 99% of all my hardware and set it's self up all nice and easy.
No problems at all, comes with all the codecs built in ready so I didn't have to download anything just ran the live cd, checked I was happy and installed it.
Running version 4, [Daryna], though I know that version 5, [Elyssa] has just been released.
Just not got around to installing version 5 yet as still happy with 4!
Another good thing is if you have any problems the developers virtually live on their Forum and answer any questions anyone have re Mint really quick, [by the way I am nothing to do with any of them!].
Like I said at the beginning just wondered if anyone is running it and their experiences with it.
Kevin.

[directhex]

it's ubuntu with a smattering of legally dubious stuff out of the box. and some different artwork

[g0lrk]

I don't think there is anything 'legally dubious' really in it as such! And there is a lot more than 'different artwork' also, they developed their own format for installing software to make things easier, rather than use apt-get. It uses it's own gui which is much better at the job really I think.
Also with coming with the codecs already installed you are not having to mess around trying to install them yourself, surely that is easier? Last time I installed Ubuntu for example I still had to mess around getting different codecs to make it so that I could watch some of the videos on I think CNN, not on Mint though.
OK it's based on Ubuntu, which itself is based on Debian, but they are all forking off from Debain in small ways and in parts it is going to be ultimately large ways eventually because of the differences.
There are some of the commands in Debain that don't work anymore the way they should in either Ubuntu or in Mint, or I suppose a lot of the other Distros either!
Anyway I digress, sorry, back to Mint, yes the developers I believe have done, and still are doing, a very good job. Also like I mentioned any worries you can't do this or that mention on their Forums and their developers or someone much cleverer than certainly me will get back virtually straight away, that I think is good. You want to suggest an idea for the next version you mention it on their Forum and they pick it up and they might well run with it.
That's because it's such a reasonably, small friendly Forum.
Anyway I am waffling away too much, sorry!
Kevin.
p.s. As you can tell I REALLY do like Mint-it is worth a try.

[TheAnimus]

I've been considering trying mint, because as a programmer by day, by night i hate most linux distro's because they expect me to have to do day type work to get them to install, thats why i always liked debian.

but like hex, one of the reasons i liked debian is because they kept to their religous high ground regarding FREE and non-free.

Mint is a bit more mixed.

[mycarsavw]

it's ubuntu with a smattering of legally dubious stuff out of the box. and some different artwork

x2

I got it just to have a taste and didn't like it. Too green for me

[Stringent]

Makes the computer smell nice. I'll be sticking with Ubuntu for now.

[peterb]

---snip----

Also with coming with the codecs already installed you are not having to mess around trying to install them yourself, surely that is easier? Last time I installed Ubuntu for example I still had to mess around getting different codecs to make it so that I could watch some of the videos on I think CNN, not on Mint though.

----snip-----

Its the codec issue that may make it 'legally dubious'. For example the mp3 codec is covered by a patent, and so while it is a published standard, it is not open and unencumbered. Similarly with some of the video codecs.

That is why distros such as Debian and Fedora ship without them - as installed they are totally open source, and the shipped applications are licenced under the GPL. That isn't to say that the codecs aren't available, either to compile yourself from source, or downloadable as an RPM or APT package from other repositories (livna.org for Fedora for example).

However if Mint floats your boat, and you are happy with it, then enjoy!

[aidanjt]

Thankfully patent laws here are much more sane than they are in the US, defacto standards aren't protected by patents for obvious competition reasons. That's why Mint is able to 'get away' with bundling 'restricted' packages.

That said, Mint ain't my cuppa tea.

[Bluecube]

Legally dubious in the US AFAIK, perfectly fine everywhere sane

Can't say I've used Mint but it's always attracted me because it looks very professional. Unfortunately I've just moved from Ubuntu to Fedora so i won't be doing another move for a while.

[looney]

Havent tried MInt, yet mainly cos i dont gnome interface.

But ive tried the likes of PCLinucOS, Fedora 9 (kde 4 looks fab), Ubuntu, Freespire, and OpenSuse 10.3, and i became very fond of OpenSuse, until i tried out mandriva yesterday on the livecd, and found it brilliant! if it has a similar grub as opensuse, its gonna become my second os.