The best new WIMP desktop today: Linux Mint 15 (Gallery)

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Freshly installed Linux Mint

Just installed, Linux Mint 15 isn't much to look at, but with a little work...

Read the full review: Mint 15: Today's best Linux desktop

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Linux Mint showing its stuff

Linux Mint can become an extremely arractive, and practical, windows, icons, menus, and pointer (WIMP) desktop.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
A desktop with menus

Unlike some operating systems I could mention--cough, Windows 8, cough--Mint still uses a far more practical and familar menu system to let you work with your desktop.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Software installation on Mint is a snap

Installing programs on Linux is hard? Please. What's hard about using an app store style interface? Type in a name, dive into a software category, Mint makes adding news programs as easy as easy can be.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Mint screen saver customization

A small, but nice, feature in Mint 15 is that you can customize your screen-saver. Here, Clem, Mint's chief developer, is letting anyone who happens into his office know that he's out to lunch.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Yes, Mint still has the Linux shell

You can go for years now without ever seeing an old-fashioned Linux shell terminal, but it you really need it, it's still there and ready for you.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Linux Mint Software Sources

One common reason you used to need the shell was to set things up so you could easily install exotic software that wasn't ready for prime time. Now, if you're inclined to be experimental with your programs, Mint's Software Sources makes it easy to add Linux software repositories.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Have as many desktops as you'd like

Want more than one desktop? No problem. Mint makes setting up and switching from one desktop to another via hot spots simple.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Driver Manager

Last, but not least, Linux Mint also makes it working with proprietary and exotic hardware drivers easy with its new Driver Manager. Mint really goes out of its way to make even the most difficult Linux corner cases easy to handle.

Published: May 22, 2013 -- 11:43 GMT (04:43 PDT)
Caption by: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols