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Installation and First Run: Mint 12

Summary: Taking a first look at Mint 12.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Mint, now the most popular Linux distro that according to DistroWatch, has received a facelift with the release of Mint 12.

Check put the Mint 12 Installation and First Run image gallery!

Given the interest in Mint, I'm going to be taking the new release for a spin over the coming days and weeks, but for now let me whet you appetite for this new distro with a quick look at the installation process and the first run of the OS.

My previous Linux distro of choice has been Ubuntu. I like Ubuntu because it always seemed to me like it was the distro for the masses. But the problem with anything that tries to please everyone, is that it ends up pleasing no one. But I have to admit that after just a few hours of using Mint, I think that I might be a convert.

Here are some thoughts on the Mint 12:

  • Installation process was overall fast, easy and pain-free.
  • If you're used to installing other Linux distros (such as Ubuntu), the install process will look very familiar.
  • Stuff like this is a little rough and ugly.
  • I like the new drivers popup ... nice touch!
  • I like the install-time slideshow that guides you through many of the features of the distro. Note: If you want to check out this slideshow, here are the images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
  • The OS is snappy and responsive, even on low-end hardware.
  • I like the color scheme, brighter and easier on the eye than Ubuntu's ... earthy ... colors.
  • The MGSE (Mint Gnome Shell Extensions) is a bit of a surprise initially, but it's a cool way of discovering what's on your system. Yes, it's cliche and nothing that you won't find elsewhere (feels to me like an interesting hybrid of Windows combined with iOS) but it's still well thought-out and put together nicely.
  • Was a bit surprised that I had to pull in 95MB of updates given that this was only released the other day ... but such is life nowadays.

If you're interested in taking Mint 12 for a spin, you can download it here. You can take the .ISO file you've downloaded and burn it onto a DVD (use a tool like ImgBurn to burn it to a disc) so you can run the OS on your PC without overwriting you existing OS

I'll give you more of my thoughts on Mint 12 as I use the OS more over the coming days.

Related:

Topics: Software, Linux, Open Source, Operating Systems

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13 comments
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  • Installation of Linux MINT Q?

    Your example showed you installing on a complete blank hard disk...
    NOW what do the pics look like & your story read IF you already have a OS on the drive? [UBUNTU 10.10 USER]
    gkiefferjfk2@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @gkiefferjfk2@... do you seriously not know how to dual boot? just do the install into the / partition (assuming you partitioned your HDD) and have it sit with your current distro and that way they share /Home and Swap. easy as heck dude.
      Win8AnUglyDisaster
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @gkiefferjfk2@... don't worry .... just make sure the bios is setup to boot from your DVD/CD, you will be then presented with choices of how you want MINT 12 installed. One of the choices is keep your existing OS and have MINT 12. The installation will take care of the partitioning.
      pantelis216
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    You might also want to look at LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition):<br><br> "Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is a rolling distribution based on Debian Testing.<br><br>It is available in both 32 and 64-bit as a live DVD and features a Gnome and an Xfce edition."
    S_Deemer
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    Thanks for the article. It looks pretty slick. I'm still not budging from Slackware Linux, though.




    :)
    none none
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    What to say. Installed it. Played around for 15 minutes.<br>Aside the nice backdrop, the user experience is so "passe". Nothing new here.<br>Move over, unfortunately nothing to see there. Not for me.
    TheCyberKnight
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @TheCyberKnight That is the point of this release, it takes the extreme changes of Gnome, (avoids altogether the strark changes of Ubuntu's Unity) and makes them into a more middle of the road experience, purposely passe. For cutting edge see Fedora, or tablet-like interfaced linux Ubuntu or some up and coming distro with really customisable features Bodhi Linux
      michaeljking
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    What I'd like to know is what do all these spin off distributions really do for Linux? I know what they do to restrict growth, but what do they add that justifies their existence? What can I do in Mint that I can't already do in Genuine Debian? Because if there isn't anything, and I know that there isn't, then the only thing all these splinter distros are doing is holding Linux back using the old axiom of divide and conquer.

    Go ahead and argue with me and prove my point :)
    paulfx1
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @paulfx1
      Regardless of what anyone says, you have already made up your mind. Why would anyone waste there time trying to explain there point of view to you. Stay with what works for you and all will be happy.
      daikon
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @paulfx1

      Your first mistake is assuming a Linux distro has to justify its existence.



      :)
      none none
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    I agree with paulfx1, just trying to decide which flavor of linux to download can make your head spin. And that's why I still use windows!
    touchdown_twc
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

      @touchdown@... Which Windows? Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Pro, Enterprise, Ultimate? Why so many choices? Why does Ultimate cost 4x as much as Starter? All too confusing. I'll stick with my Fedora. One stop does it all.
      anothercanuck
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Installation and First Run: Mint 12

    Linux Mint 12 was released without much thought. Installed it only to find the top panel and Mint's menu is unreadable. Mint version 11 was no problem. With Gnome 2 vastly disappearing and Gnome 3 coming into the play arena, which nobody likes - lack of configuration, there is not much choice. I think Ubuntu should continue with Unity and keep improving it. It is not bad but it can be improved for better configuration support. It is about time every distribution comes up with there own desktop and do away with Gnome & KDE. This way they will be able to be in control of their own software. It only takes one nutty idea to destroy a product.

    If Ubuntu makes Unity more configurable in the future I think they will come out ahead in the long run.
    Lets face it, Ubuntu saw what was coming with Gnome 3 and they took it upon themselves to do something about it. Instead of complaining, everyone should applaud Ubuntu for trying to come up with something different.
    marlorcomp
    Reply Vote
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