Why switch to Windows 10 or a Mac when you can use Linux Mint 17.3 instead?

zdnet ^ | February 3, 2016 | Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

[dennisw]

My buddy David Gewirtz recently wrote about the question of whether you should move from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or a Mac. I have another suggestion: Linux. Specifically Linux Mint 17.3, Rosa, with the Cinnamon desktop.

Linux Mint 17.3 is a great replacement for Windows 7. In fact, it's a great desktop operating system period. sjvn

Yes, I'm serious. I use all the above desktops -- yes I'm a Windows 7 and 10 user as well as a Linux guy -- and for people I think Mint 17.3 makes a great desktop.

I've been using Mint as my main Linux desktop for years now. Unlike some desktops I could name -- cough, Windows 8, cough -- Linux Mint has never had a flop. Every year that goes by, this operating system keeps getting better. The other desktops? Not so much.

Let's take a closer look.at Windows 7 vs. Linux Mint 17.3

UI Differences

There's really not much. While it's even easier for a Windows XP user to move to Mint than a Windows 7 user, any Windows user won't have any trouble picking up Linux Mint with Cinnamon. There's a Start Menu and settings are easy to find.

I regard Cinnamon 2.8 as the ultimate Window, Icon, Menu, Pointer (WIMP) interface. Is it ideal for tablets or smartphones? No. Is it perfect for long-time PC users? Yes.

Cinnamon does add some nice features. For example, if you mouse over the Window list, you'll now see a thumbnail for each application. It also has improved performance, system tray status indicators, and music and power applets.

What I like best about Cinnamon is that it doesn't get in the way. There's no learning curve. You may have never used Linux in your life but you can just sit down and start opening directories, runing applications, and modify your PC's settings.

One small feature I like a lot, since I always run multiple workspaces, is that the workspace switcher applet now shows a visual representation of what's running in each workspace.

Don't like Cinnamon? Unlike any version of Windows, Linux Mint comes with many different desktops. These include KDE, MATE and Xfce. Find one you like and enjoy,

Application Selection

It's true that Linux doesn't have as many application choice as Windows does. But, how many applications do you really need in 2016? I do most of my work these days on the cloud with software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications. These apps work just as well on Chrome, my favorite Web browser, on Mint as they do on any other desktop.

That said, there are many excellent Linux desktop programs. For example, instead of Microsoft Office I use LibreOffice 5. I don't use it because it's free, although most Linux desktop applications won't cost you a cent, but because it's an excellent office suite in its own right.

I also use Evolution instead of Outlook for e-mail and GIMP instead of Photoshop for my basic graphic editing needs. The bottom line is that are many great Linux programs that you can use in place of Windows appliations.

Are there some Windows programs that you can't live without? Well, you don't have to live without them.

There are two ways to run Windows programs on Linux. One is to use CodeWeaver's CrossOver Linux. This program enables you to run many popular Windows applications on Linux. Supported Windows applications include Microsoft Office (from Office 97 to Office 2010), Quicken, and some versions of Adobe Photoshop.

The application you absolutely must have won't work with CrossOver? Then run it on a virtual machine (VM) program such as Oracle's VirtualBox.

I use both methods and they work well.

Mobile Ecosystem Compatibility

I don't care what some people say, Windows Phone is dead to me. And, pretty much everyone else.

Mint, however, is a pure desktop play. Yes, Android is Linux, but it runs in parallel with the desktop Linux distribution. That may change as Android creeps toward the desktop, but we're not there yet.

Ubuntu, which is Mint's foundation Linux distribution, parent company Canonical is working hard on making its same code base work on PCs, smartphones, and tablets. So, eventually, you may be running Mint on smartphones. I'm not holding my breath.

If you want one operating system family on all your devices, don't waste your time -- for now -- on either Linux or Windows. Just go ahead and buy an iPhone and a Mac and be done with it.

Reliability

This is not even a conversation.

While Windows 7 is far more stable than any other version of Windows, I haven't had Linux Mint ever -- ever -- stop working.

If you want a desktop that can take a licking and keep ticking, you want Linux, not Windows or Mac OS X.

Security

Really? Do you even have to ask?

Every lousy day a new piece of Windows malware shows up. Windows is more secure than it once was, but it's still easy to bust. Linux, on the other hand, despite the garbage you read about Linux viruses and such, is almost never sucessfully attacked.

[ReignOfError]

I use it on one of my older laptops and it’s great.

I was handed an old C2D, 2GB laptop running Vista, and installed Linux (I went with Xubuntu rather than Mint, because it's supposedly the lightest full-featured distro). Performance is good with RDC, Citrix, and VNC, and the latest Firefox is supported in iCloud; all in all, a very capable thin-client laptop from hardware that would be painfully slow in any recent version of Windows. Basically, the equivalent of a pretty high-end Chromebook, but for free.

And then I booted to find that the screen had dimmed to about 20%. I went to Google expecting to find out which control panel pane the slider was in. Instead I found twenty different approaches to the problem, none consistent with each other, most for other *buntu variants, all involving the terminal and some involving recompiling the kernel. Turns out the only way (apparently) is with the brightness keys on the keyboard; they weren't very clearly marked on this particular laptop. The Dell Web site answered the question the Linux community couldn't.

I may try Mint to see if it's finally the Linux distro that we've been promised for the last 20 years, one that's locked down and has something remotely resembling a consistent user experience. More likely, I'll try Chrome OS next. I'm having fun with the project, and it's nice to get new life out of cast-off technology, but it's no real threat to my MacBook Pro.

[Justa]

I run Windows 7 and Virtual-Box with XP SP3. In honor of this thread I’ve just installed a Linux Mint 17.3 Virtual Machine (VM). I can be in all 3 at once using Windows audio, Linux web browsing and XP gaming. THAT is what I call multi-tasking. Doing more stuff than I can track. And mint 17.3 is supported thru 2019. It’s polished, with online resources, updates and package installs much like a tablet or smart phone.

I use Oracle’s (free) Virtual Box and install OSs into virtual machines. They can run windowed or full screen. I like windowed since it’s quicker to bop between OS applications. I can have as many OSs as I want as long as I have the disk space and licenses (or not). I run 20-year old 16-bit software on my virtual XP machine within a Windows 7 session.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Yes, I'm serious. I use all the above desktops -- yes I'm a Windows 7 and 10 user as well as a Linux guy -- and for people I think Mint 17.3 makes a great desktop."

Makes a miserable laptop OS though.

Linux might identify about half the hardware in a new laptop and isn't going to have any kind of sustainable battery life. Your support team for devices is some post-grad Finnish computer dweeb named Ruuki at the University of Helsinki. Good luck with that.

I've said it once, I'll say it again: Linux is absolutely the wave of progress going forward in the back office server world -- and God bless it -- but anyone wanting Unix on the desktop would be lots better off just going to the Apple Store and getting an iMac or a MacMini.

Anyone demanding Unix on a laptop/notebook has only one option: MacBook Pro Retina. You're kookoo for cocoa puffs crazy if you choose something different. I'd even contend that if you want a Windows-only laptop, you're best off with a MacBook Pro Retina -- but the Microsoft SurfaceBook runs a pretty close second place I will admit.

[dayglored]

Windows 10 or Mac or Linux Mint? ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to dennisw for the ping!!

[dayglored]

> Because I have these things called peripherals that I depend on, and would rather plug them in and have the machine make them work, than having to find bootleg generic drivers that dont really work, nor have to screw around with config files or a terminal in order to get them to sort of work.

That was true in the past, but what you describe and fear is 5-10 years out of date. 10 years ago Linux drivers were a frustrating disaster (bootleg generic drivers and all that -- I remember well!), and even 5 years ago it wasn't nearly up to Windows or OS X standards.

But these days Linux driver support for most (granted, not all) peripherals is pretty much on a par with Windows and OS X.

But to each their own, I always say. It'll take another 10 years for Linux to escape its past reputation of being hard or even impossible to configure. If you need an excuse reason to continue doing what you're doing, that's as good as any. :-)

[tacticalogic]

I’m a Windows and Exchange admin. It won’t do anything I need done that W7 or 10 and PS won’t do better.

[dayglored]

> My problem with Linux has always been installing hardware. I haven't tried it in several years...have they improved that to the level of Windows or OSX? Don't start with that "open the terminal and enter..." crap. If you have to type command lines to do anything, it ain't ready for prime time.

It's tons better than it was even just a few years ago. And no you don't have to do anything at the command line. It's through the desktop GUI 99 times out of 100 (there'll always be somebody new who hasn't got their GUI going yet).

[dayglored]

> Linux is great for people who don't have to do serious work on a computer.

Now, THAT is honestly one of the funniest damn things I've read in months.

Given that the only thing that's lacking on Linux are Windows GAMES, I rather think it's the other way around, FRiend.

And tens of thousands of serious system administrators will disagree with you on that as well.

Windows is fine for administering Windows systems. And for GAMES.

But if you want a system that's intended and designed for serious work, look to Unix/Linux. It's been that way for 40 years, but surely you know that...

Or are you new to serious computers?

[Still Thinking]

That’s fine for mass market office apps (though Open Office still lags MS Office in some areas), but a lot of industrial apps only come for Windows (so far). No way I’m staying with the Win ecosystem past W7, so I’m probably going to end up on Linux running a lot of VM’s. (I run a lot of VM’s even under Windows stop the programs don’t step on each other) I may try Mint as a candidate for the host. Would it be pretty lightweight in that role?

[DYngbld]

I am running mint 17.3 on an older laptop and it was a nice improvement over the MS OS I was running. I don’t play games, so that is a moot point for me. My son runs mint on his laptop. He was given a broken lap top to fiddle with, turns out all it needed was a hard drive. He pulled one out of my stash of old parts and installed it. It needed on OS and not wanting paying whatever it costs to get windows, he tossed mint on it and is quite happy with it. For games we have an XBox.

I have a windows machine that I use most of the time. It is an older machine and runs like it. I keep it around because it is what most of my crew is comfortable with.

I run Linux on the smaller machines, (old laptops) I can really get a few more years out of them, I have one dedicated to programing radios, and running ham radio stuff.

I even have a mac that my daughter uses, some reason collage kids NEED apple products. (iPhones, iPads, etc.)

All have a place and use. IS one better then the other? Depends on the user and what you are doing with it. I have used various distros of Linux for the past 20 years, and Mint is one of the best.

[Rebelbase]

Mint is great for daily surfing. My only complaint so far was going around my elbow to manually update it to run Silverlight.

[martin_fierro]

I run OSX El Capitan + xubuntu with xfce at home because I want to. < |:)~

Run Windoze 8.1 at the office because I have to. < |:(~

[TexasRepublic]

What is your definition of serious work?

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for this ping!

[Varmint Al]

I have a dozen friends using Linux Mint KDE 64 Bit. They are very happy with it. The updates are easy and the system is solid. All were ex-Windows users and it was easy for them to convert over to Linux.

It was easy for them because I installed the OS for them. It is an easy install and much easier than any Windows install I have done. Only a personal password is required and NO authentication is required.

The beauty of Linux Mint is that I can instal the complete OS with all the important applications on one hard drive and then duplicate that hard drive for other computers. All of the necessary drivers and built in. Linux Mint finds the wireless hardware almost automatically and is a snap to setup. (Try that with Windows and the included wireless setup CD)

Also going from Linux Mint KDE 17 to 17.3 is as easy as one click of the Update Manager. The Update Manager automatically checks for updates and does NOT bug you with Pop Ups. The manager icon merely puts a blue dot in its icon's center when an update is avaliable.

I am sure happy I cut the ties with Microsoft a year and a half ago.

Here is a link if you are interested in trying Linux Mint 17.3 "Rosa" KDE version.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al I couldn't resist. Here is where you get Linux Mint KDE.

[GeronL]

I downloaded Steam, very few Linux games there when I had it.

[r_barton]

Firefox: Remove Mozilla Announcements / Video window on Firefox Startup page.

From time to time Mozilla places announcements and a video window on the Firefox Startup page. Here is how to prevent those announcements and video window from appearing.

In Windows 10 or Linux, Firefox:

In the Firefox URL field type:

about:config and press ENTER.

Click the "I'll be careful, I promise!" button.

In the search field type: snippets

locate the following string:

browser.aboutHomeSnippets.updateUrl

double-click on above string.

clear the URL in the "Enter string value" popup window.

click OK

-----

On the Firefox Menu Bar click

Help, Troubleshooting Information,

On the page that opens scroll down to:

Application Basics, Profile Folder, click "Show Folder" button

A window showing Firefox folders will appear.

click on /storage folder

click on /permanent folder

Leave this folder window open.

-----

Using the Firefox Hamburger Menu icon in Firefox (the 3-Line Icon on upper right) "EXIT Firefox" using the circle-with-a-line-through-the-top icon on bottom-right of popup menu.

-----

Go back to the open folders window.

now delete the /moz-safe-about+home folder

Close folder window.

-----

Now restart Firefox and the Mozilla announcements / Video window should be gone from the Firefox Startup page.

[dennisw]

I run Windows 7 and Virtual-Box with XP SP3. In honor of this thread I’ve just installed a Linux Mint 17.3 Virtual Machine (VM). I can be in all 3 at once using Windows audio, Linux web browsing and XP gaming. THAT is what I call multi-tasking. Doing more stuff than I can track. And mint 17.3 is supported thru 2019. It’s polished, with online resources, updates and package installs much like a tablet or smart phone.

I am guessing you have at least 16gb memory. What processor does the above computer use? An i7 is my guess.

[Bikkuri]

Well, I finally got a (used) replacement for my lost PC.. i5 laptop (this time.. no AMD, since they didn’t side with nVidea :p), and the first thing I did was to format Win7 off and install Mint KDE Rosa ;^)

No problems at all, and the time from formatting to fully install KDE was less than 20 minutes. NO problems at all :)

[Bikkuri]

I just got a copy of Homeworld (original) for linux.. Haven’t gotten around to installing it yet, but I may have to do a few tweaks to get it running.

I used to love that game (on XP).