Linux Mint Operating System

Linux Mint is an operating system for personal computers. While Mint is mostly based on (and compatible with) Ubuntu, the design of the user interface differs. Design differences include:

• A distinct user interface, including a simplified bootloader, desktop layout, theme, and the custom Mint menu.
• A strong focus on full functionality out of the box (E.g.: Wireless drivers included, plugins required to play common media formats installed by default, screen resolution automatically set, etc.). Linux Mint 6 also includes or features a free Flash player so users can view sites such as YouTube without having to install anything else.
• The Mint Tools, a collection of system tools designed to make system management and administration easier for end users.

Linux Mint is available for download in the form of ISO images, which can be used to create Live CDs or Live USBs. The latter can be created either manually or using UNetbootin.

• Pros: Superb collection of "minty" tools developed in-house, hundreds of user-friendly enhancements, inclusion of multimedia codecs, open to users' suggestions
• Cons: The alternative "community" editions don't always include the latest features, the project does not issue security advisories and lacks a bug-tracking facility
• Software package management: APT with mintInstall using DEB packages (compatible with Ubuntu repositories)
• Available editions: A "main" edition (with GNOME) for 32-bit and 64-bit computers, a variety of "community" editions (with KDE, Xfce and Fluxbox) for 32-bit computers
• Possible alternatives: Ubuntu, SimplyMEPIS