Tech Broiler

Jason Perlow and Scott Raymond

Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

By Jason Perlow | May 26, 2010, 10:19am PDT

Summary: Linux Mint 9 offers an interesting and fresh spin on Ubuntu 10.04.

Linux Mint 9 offers an interesting and fresh spin on Ubuntu 10.04

On May 18th, the Linux Mint project released version 9, codenamed “Isadora” of their popular re-spin of the Ubuntu Linux operating system.

What’s the big deal about Linux Mint and why is it so popular among Linux users? It’s because that it includes a number of improvements and tweaks that aren’t set up out-of-the-box in the base Ubuntu distribution.

Also See: Linux Mint 9 (Gallery)

Linux Mint 9 follows Ubuntu’s 10.04 LTS release, and shares many of the same components including the source package feeds, so in effect it is a “Superset” of what already comes in Ubuntu 10.04.

Also See: Ubuntu Linux 10.04

However in Linux Mint, there are a number of differences, most notably the use of the SLAB menuing system that originated in SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and openSUSE 11.x. This menuing system and the bottom-of-screen layout is similar to the “Start Menu” of Windows, so Linux newbies may prefer this over the default Mac-Like top of screen layout in GNOME 2.3x.

A KDE 4.x version of Linux Mint 9 has not yet been released, but is forthcoming.

In addition to the use of SLAB, Mint has its own Software Manager as well as its own Software Updater that look different and are more streamlined than Ubuntu’s. Mint also includes its own software/file backup tool.

However, what may be considered the most significant improvement in Mint is the fact that many codecs and plugins are already preloaded, thus making for a better out-of-the box multimedia experience with Linux. Firefox 3.6.3 has been pre-loaded with codecs for DiVX, Quicktime, RealPlayer 9, Windows Media, MPlayer, Java Web Start (icedtea) and of course Macromedia Flash 10.

Linux Mint 9 is available for 32-bit and 64-bit Intel desktop platforms and can be downloaded here.

Have you downloaded Linux Mint 9 yet? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “Tech Broiler”

On Windows Blogging and Technical Competence

Roku issues major Netflix channel feature upgrades

Topics

Ubuntu, Linux, UNIX, Operating Systems, Open Source, Software, Jason Perlow

Jason Perlow, Sr. Technology Editor at ZDNet, is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies.

Full Bio
Disclosure
Contact

Vendor HotSpot

Here to help you with your Document Management Needs

Read the DocuMentor blog now

Learn More »

Talkback Most Recent of 117 Talkback(s)

Follow via:: RSS; Email Alert

Mint? NFW.

It's Ubuntu Lucid for me. bvvvvvvvvvvvt.
Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
26th May 2010
- Reply to
- Flag
Mint or Ubuntu? Either way Linux is about Choices!

@Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate

Well, I'm not a purist when it comes to Liinux. Since Ubuntu first came out, I hated the muddy dirt look and installing it was a nightmare by comparison to SuSE, Sabayon and others I've used. Even now, Ubuntu is too much work for me. Keeping the Open and Proprietary World segregated in this day and age is Linux's biggest mistake.

Mint turns the basic Ubuntu plain jane OS out of box experience into a pleasure!

Also Dietrich? You should change your title in your name to "Your Ubuntu Advocate". Cut to the chase out of the gate and state your one true love...... is Ubuntu!

I'll stick with Sabayon Linux, where no configuration is required if you install the full distro and then just delete Apps you don't want or use! .....and Sabayon is the most beautiful Linux distro out box on the planet. Mint though, comes in a close 2nd... that is when they get KDE version out the door for me. It's all about having 100's of CHOICES with Linux!
i2fun@...
27th May 2010
- Reply to
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

Yawn, another "me too" linux distro. Too bad its still linux and therefore not worth the time installing. Don't forget the week that it takes to actually configure it, and by then a new version will be out and you start the process all over again. I can't see why people put up with that nonsense when there are other operating systems that you just load and go. Now it comes preconfigured with products that you can't use like firefox but you can't get to the web because they don't have drivers for your NIC, or codecs that you can't use because it only plays one sound at a time. Good ol linux, bloating itself up one application at a time. Oh and don't forget to close your telnet port, biggest hole there is in linux.

Gentlemen, start your compilers!
Loverock Davidson
26th May 2010
- Reply to
- Flagged
Loverock Davidson is a well known troll and not a legitimate commenter.

I won't bother dealing with him anymore.
OS Reload
26th May 2010
- Reply to
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@OS Reload I actually think he may be double agent for the Linux foundation. Just sayin...
zak89
26th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@OS Reload Finally!
Loverock Davidson
26th May 2010
- Flagged
But you're trying to pass yourself as legitimate?

You're so anti-MS we don't even have to read your posts anymore to already know approximatelly what you're going to say.
John Zern
26th May 2010
- Flagged
There a big difference though

@John Zern

I state facts and also my own (biased) opinions. What Loverock writes are lies plain and simple.

Let's just say that we're not that different, the main difference is us being in different fields. Loverock is a whole different story though.
OS Reload
26th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

Remember my theory that he's actually someone's grad school project in an AI bot that does Natural Language Processing. His statements are so trite and repeated, they look like they come from a stock list. Compiling apps required to use Linux? Uh ... a very old stock list. Linux bloating itself up? That's why the Windows users who see me using it are shocked at how fast it is ... on my 2004 Dell GX270 with 1GB RAM.
daboochmeister
27th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@OS Reload
I have a different theory. I think he works for ZDNet. His job is to increase the amount of comments on a article. Maybe he's a contractor and is hired by the article's writer for the same purpose?
zdnet@...
27th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@Loverock Davidson:

Wow... I am speechless... You managed to write that whole thing without making one true statement.

Oh I take that back - you said "It's still Linux"... I guess that is true.

I just installing Mint 9 myself - spent a whole 10 minutes "configuring" (as if clicking "install drivers" or "add printer" qualifies as configuration...) it, and I haven't heard of a new version since.

And by the way, Linux plays as many sounds as you want to at a time - that's why proffesional studios use it for multitracking: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb04/articles/mirrorimage.htm

http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/open-sauce/36698-from-windows-to-linux-a-sound-decision

So, for future reference LD, Linux can play *many, many* sounds at one time.
zak89
26th May 2010
- Reply to
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@zak89 Everything I said is true and comes from experience. You only spent 10 minutes to configure right now to try to make a point. After you posted this you went right back to configuring it, downloading your software and compiling. As for your links, you realize you can still record with just one sound right? Just because you can do that doesn't mean its a good solution. Sorry but you have no point here.
Loverock Davidson
26th May 2010
- Flagged
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@Loverock Davidson Everything I said is true and comes from experience. You only spent 10 minutes to configure right now to try to make a point. After you posted this you went right back to configuring it, downloading your software and compiling

Not true at all. And I am a Linux noob of the 1st degree. Spent all my days in Windows and DOS. I loaded Ubuntu 10.04 on a Dell d610 laptop, did no compiling of software at all. Only configuration I did was the initial config, which is the same type of stuff you have to do in Windows.
Badgered
26th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@zak89 Don't even bother with Loverock Davidson. I mean if he thinks Linux is still at the stage where people are constantly compiling their own software downloads, rather than just installing from standardized packages, then he's about 7 or 8 years behind. And doesn't care that he is.
Snark Shark
26th May 2010
- Flag
RE: Linux Mint 9: A Fresh Spin on Ubuntu

@Loverock Davidson Your psychic powers are growing rusty, aren't they? No, I haven't done an iota of configuration - I did install a Linux multitrack audio recorder (that can record and playback an infinite number of audio tracks - which, for your reference, means more than "one sound"); I just opened the "Software Manger" -> clicked "Audio/Video" -> Clicked "Ardour" (the app I referred to). Took me all of 45 seconds - if I didn't know what I wanted it would have taken maybe another eon of 30 seconds to search for "audio recorder" and find it.

"As for your links, you realize you can still record with just one sound right?"

Out of your element again, eh? What is that supposed to mean? Sure you *can* record with one sound - the links I posted are about *recording studios* - these guys are recording *and* playing back 24-48 tracks *at the same time*.

Why just yesterday, I was configuring Skype (via the testing call) while listening to music, and still getting system notification tones (I actually like them, so I turned them on). So that's 1.. 2... 3.. sounds! FYI, that *is* "more than one".

I know I'm wasting time reasoning with LD.. but I don't know. It's kinda fun sometimes. It's like being around people who laugh their heads off at every corny joke I throw - I feel like a pro comedian. Now I feel like an IT genius...
zak89
27th May 2010
- Flag