Hands on: Linux Mint 21.2 review
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This comment first appeared in Issue 354 PC Pro.
Many Debian-based distributions, including Linux Mint, use Ubuntu As their starting point. Latest version – 21.2 Victoria – based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and will continue to support until 2027. This means it currently uses a 5.15 LTS kernel, but cinnamon Edge using 6.2 is aptly called 21.2 Cinnamon Edge, which can use 6.2.
As many Ubuntu derivatives used by Ubuntu itself stick to it with Gnome Display Manager, Mint’s default value is cinnamon. This started as a branch from when Gnome 2 was released. Version 3 is the first to abandon support for panels (the taskbar in Windows carlance) in favor of a pure shell that is also downgraded to widgets and discards the desktop icon. Cinnamon places all of this front and center, which is one of the reasons it is often considered an ideal release for anyone who switches from a window. It also has Windows-like menus, with applications classified into categories, while basic tools such as browsers and settings can be viewed on the side. You can pin the most used applications to the panel so they will never click.
Cinnamon is undoubtedly a solid, neat interface, but we think directly with MicrosoftFluent UI Windows 11. If it doesn’t grab you right away, you can adjust the color, install the theme, or choose one of the alternative desktop managers, as MATE or XFCE can also use MINT. And, while Ubuntu will disappear at any time soon, Mint developers are maintaining parallel builds, but based on Debian CodeBase, LMDE LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) can continue to develop.
No matter which build you choose, you need at least 2GB memory Although 4GB and 100GB are recommended, there is still 20GB of storage. These are hardly heavy and the same specifications are suitable for cinnamon edge release.
Getting up and running is a familiar process that starts with starting to a live installer and stepping through the wizard. However, compatibility with Secure Boot is compatible with the latest ISO when we perform tests due to changes to Ubuntu’s Shim Signature Boot. Therefore, we have to disable Secure Boot to operate, unless ISO is fixed at installation time, you may have to do the same. Linux Mint says it is solving the fix.
Once up and running, almost everything works. Our monitor is recognized and selected for its local resolution for both of our networks printer Installed and has a series of default applications. Three desktops with clock, transmitter and digital photo frames installed – valid Windows-style widgets – but not activated. You can add others from the Desplet Store, and we highly recommend using Weather Desklet and Notepad.
Libreoffice is ready to roll, and although we can’t say GIMP and VNC the same thing, they are available through a software manager who can work with Flatpak. Thunderbird is pre-installed for processing mail, and Firefox Set as the default browser.
Linux Mint’s custom IPTV app Hypnotix is ​​probably the most impressive of all default applications. Its integrated catalog includes links to more than 1,200 broadcasters from the state organization, 92 from the UK. Select a country and click the channel in the sidebar to adjust. On our consumer broadband connection, it is fast, efficient and extremely smooth. It is not possible to save favorites when testing, but this may change as work is underway for future release.
Linux Mint with cinnamon is a pleasant place to spend a lot of time, although we don’t think cinnamon is as vibrant as dynamic Windows 11for a more cautious switcher, its familiarity may cause an important attraction (although we urge anyone to consider “new kids in the neighborhood” Zorin, too). Hypnotix and Desplets are star turn in this distribution, and they themselves are enough to make it a shortlist.
