Mint is based on Ubuntu with a choice of several desktops. I like the Cinnamon edition. I don’t really like Ubuntu’s desktop but that’s just a preference on my part. Mint 13, which works with older computers, will be supported until 2017.
And yes, Linux is far more secure than Windows and that fact is even more evident since the NSA revelations. I do run some Windows programs on Linux under Wine.
I am never, never going to use Windows 8.
Ubuntu is a very smooth and well put together version of Linux. I just tried something called LinuxConsole 2.0 off of a USB and it was nowhere near as nice. Tapping the touchpad did nothing, I had to use the button.
I am so glad I picked Ubuntu when I had to put a clean HDD into my laptop.
I’ll be trying a different distro on my USB soon.
Cool. I don’t like the push button version of Linux either. Nice to know there are other options. Thanks.