https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Best Practices


Can Linux Mint 12, Cinnamon Spice Up the Open Source Mix?

  • Written by Christopher Tozzi
  • February 13, 2012
I've been an Ubuntu user for a pretty long time -- so long that I no longer remember exactly when I started (all I recall is that it was sometime around version 6.06.) But last week I finally replaced Ubuntu on my production computer with Linux Mint 12. Read on for why, and how it's been working out.

Linux Mint logoI’ve been an Ubuntu user for a pretty long time — so long that I no longer remember exactly when I started (all I recall is that it was sometime around version 6.06.) But last week I finally replaced Ubuntu on my production computer with Linux Mint 12. Read on for why, and how it’s been working out.

For starters, here’s the why: Although you might be expecting a diatribe here against Ubuntu and Canonical, and all of their collective flaws that drove me to try Mint, I can’t really pin any major blame on them. It’s true I’d become a little tired of trying to make Ubuntu 11.10’s version of Unity work in a way I liked. (I’m hopeful Ubuntu 12.04 will bring a more user-friendly iteration of the desktop environment.) And the hibernation problems I’d been having in Ubuntu 11.10 sometimes got my day off to a bad start when I turned on my computer and it rebooted instead of resuming.

But more than any major frustration with Ubuntu, I decided to give Mint a try — and to put in on my production machine, since that’s the only way I’ll really get to know its ins and outs — because of simple curiosity. I wanted to explore a different default. I was eager to see what Mint’s new homegrown interface, Cinnamon, was like. And I was intrigued by Mint’s endorsement of MATE, another desktop environment designed to revive GNOME 2.

Mint, Cinnamon and Me

By and large, I’ve been enjoying Mint so far. From a technical standpoint, it’s not actually very different from Ubuntu at all. Mint is based very closely on Ubuntu, uses Ubuntu’s repositories, practically is Ubuntu — in many respects there’s about as much difference between the two distributions as one finds between fraternal twins.

Yet Mint’s major distinction is its emphasis on user-friendliness, which it does well. Even more than Ubuntu, Mint offers a truly complete system out of the box, with proprietary codecs, the Adobe Flash plugin and everything else one needs to be productive preinstalled. These things are all easy enough to acquire in modern versions of Ubuntu as well, but having them already integrated into the software stack in Mint just made my life that much easier. (On the other hand, this software makes the Mint installation image several hundred megabytes larger than Ubuntu’s, although a condensed one is available.)

Upon booting Mint for the first time, I realized that a major component of its strategy for being user-friendly in the current state of the Linux ecosystem — where nearly half a dozen desktop environments are competing for users’ attention, all of them with their various pros and cons — is to offer lots of options. Out of the box, Mint 12 ships with GNOME Shell, Unity, Cinnamon, MATE and “GNOME Classic,” an attempt to make GNOME Shell look like GNOME 2. Users simply select which one they want to use when they log in.

This struck me as a brilliant idea: By dumping myriad choices on users, Mint can mitigate the wrath of those who inevitably will loathe one or another of its desktop interfaces. Hopefully these people will have enough different options to explore that they’ll exhaust themselves before they decide to hate on the distribution itself and blame it for the inadequacies of the desktop interface they’re using.

As for Cinnamon, the desktop environment that most intrigued me because it was released only in January and was created as Mint’s answer to the interfaces being developed elsewhere, it’s not bad. In the end, however, I concluded that — much like Unity and GNOME Shell, which both still have some growing to do — it’s a bit immature and currently lacks the customizability to be truly usable. Unlike Unity and GNOME Shell in some other distributions, however, Cinnamon has not been pressed on users as the only available choice, making its flaws eminently more forgivable. It has real promise, and I’m excited to see where it will go as it becomes more complete.

Sadly, while there are lot of things I like in Mint 12, it hasn’t proven to be the bug-free paradise I dream about. Like Ubuntu, and despite all its emphasis on usability and user-friendliness, Mint has issues. The Archive Mounter tool doesn’t totally work, for example, and Wine gives me problems. Hibernating is also still an issue, though that was predictable given that Mint is so similar to Ubuntu under the hood.

And the realization that Mint has issues is probably the most important point I’ll take away from this experience. Whenever I install a new operating system, there are a few moments — sometimes they even last for days — of hope, exhilaration and anticipation. Then the inevitable bugs and other flaws manifest themselves, and reality hits. The world is imperfect, even if you run Linux, and no matter how polished or user-friendly or technically sophisticated distributions such as Ubuntu and Mint become, there always will be room for improvement.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Best Practices Networking Open Source

Related


  • Ransomware and malware
    Help Your Customers Mitigate Malware: Viruses, Worms, and Trojans…Oh My!
    With the right antivirus protection, your customers can better detect and prevent the spread of malware.
  • RMM on keyboard
    Kaseya Unified RMM Solution Tackles Growing Number of Connected Devices
    The evolution of Kaseya VSA brings all device management into a single product.
  • Cloud Growth
    SADA SaaS Alliance Aims to Give Members ‘the Best Opportunity to Grow’
    Find out what the managed service provider is doing alongside Google Cloud Platform.
  • Managed migration
    D&H Extends Financing Terms to Help Partners Amid COVID-19
    Sales through this program increased approximately 85% in the past year to date, year over year.

14 comments

  1. Avatar Jack February 13, 2012 @ 8:56 pm
    Reply

    While Ubuntu are tossing out KDE and have a go at the business marked with a stripped version, Mint goes the other way – trying to become a kitchen sink distro.

    I believe it’s good for Ubuntu with a stripped version and I believe it’s good for both Ubuntu and KDE that Kubuntu turns pure community.

    On the other hand: Mint will have a hard time providing good versions for Tom, Dick and Harry.

    IF I’d pick a distro with serveral DE’s in mind – OpenSUSE 12.1 would be the best alternative for now. They deliver good quality with both Gnome and KDE. As good as it can be with the kitchen sink approach.

    Disclaimer: I don’t use neither Ubuntu, Mint or OpenSUSE daily.

  2. Avatar Anon February 13, 2012 @ 9:46 pm
    Reply

    A trolling we will go, a trolling we will go, hi ho the … 😛

  3. Avatar Jack February 13, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
    Reply

    Classic Anon – No arguments at hand —gt; stupid comments.

    If you got nothing to say – why use so many words saying it? Nothing, that is.

  4. Avatar whittey February 14, 2012 @ 12:08 am
    Reply

    Jack, I think it’s obvious …

    Your disclaimer proves so,you don’t use them on a daily basis, yet you like to make a judgement on a Distro.

    I understand what anon is pointing out.

    As for stupid comments, you’ve dealt with that quite well, with your own post.

  5. Avatar Jack February 14, 2012 @ 12:51 am
    Reply

    Still no arguments….

    I’ve used both Ubuntu and Suse for many years – plus a year or so with Mint. I’ve testet all 3 quite a lot with fresh Linux users in mind.

    Suse 12.1 is the one providing most equal quality for both KDE and Gnome.

    The 7 series was interesting, the 8 and 9 series of Suse was very good, the 10 series was below par, the 11 series almost decent and 12.1 is in fact very good.

    As regards Ubuntu, there’s been many quite decent releases – in particular 7.04 and 7.10 + 10.04. Ubuntu 11.10 is not even close. They never had a good KDE release. Kudos for trying though.

    When slightly easier installation is left out of the equation (because it’s not that important really), there hasn’t really been that much incentive to choose Mint ahead of Ubuntu. KDE users will do better elsewhere.

  6. Avatar whittey February 14, 2012 @ 1:38 am
    Reply

    So in your first post,you lied, but would like to push the use of Suse
    over Ubuntu or Mint. That’s your opinion, but from your previous post, who cares? you make it up as you go.

  7. Avatar Jack February 14, 2012 @ 10:19 am
    Reply

    Get your reading skills sorted out and leave your bias out of it. I have no emotional capital invested in any of those distros – and I don’t use them on a daily basis.

    I do frequently test the major distros in order to find the best alternative and install it for users other than me – on machines purchased by me.

    If equal quality for both Gnome and KDE is essential, OpenSUSE 12.1 is ahead of the pack.

    You don’t have a single argument with respect to the topic. Instead you take the easy way out – attacking me.

    Provide arguments related to the matter – or put a sock in it.

  8. Avatar Anthony February 14, 2012 @ 12:01 pm
    Reply

    A KDE, Ubuntu based distribution (Netrunner) has an interesting announcement on their web site, saying that it has joined forces with Mint KDE. Perhaps Kubuntu would join these so as to pool resources. Personally, I don’t think switching distributions is the answer – the answer for me is for all the different distros using KDE, Gnome XFCE etc. out there should come together and deliver the best desktop for users. There are too many good distros falling by the wayside, which means amany clever people’s talents are wasted, e.g. Pardus, which had 35 developers and now down to single figures. More unification – more satisfied users – more success for Linux. Why can’t it happen?

  9. Avatar Jack February 14, 2012 @ 1:17 pm
    Reply

    @ Anthony:

    If those joined together into one single distro with one single DE, they will would be able to provide a far better user experience than if they remained 3 entities.

    Having said that, the conditions for my statement being true is that they are able to cooperate, finding the right people for the individual tasks (someones feelings are bound to be hurt), define common philosophy and goals, establishing common infrastructure and so on.

    I’d love to see a high standard KDE distro for general desktop use arising out of the buntusphere.

    They have included a GTK config tool from Chakra, and hopefully they’ll have a look at appset and the Chakra bundling concept too.

    Cannot see any technical reasons limiting its potential, but as always it is for the distros to decide whether they want to – or are able to join forces. Pretty convinced that it will increase their relevance though.

  10. Avatar Mez February 14, 2012 @ 1:31 pm
    Reply

    Cinnamon is definitely the most confusing and messiest desktop environment I’ve ever seen.

    Moreover, people come back progressively to GS or Unity because they tend to solve the biggest issues that made people go away in the first place, so Cinnamon is definitely doomed to failure. We won’t even hear about it in 2 years time.

  11. Avatar MeOMy February 16, 2012 @ 3:22 am
    Reply

    It’s not really fair to make a judgement about Linux Mint based on version 12. They did the best they could with the first release of the Mint Extensions in Gnome, and the first release of MATE. It would be better to try Mint 11 or wait for 13. Mint 11 had rave reviews everywhere.

  12. Avatar Dwight Hooper April 9, 2012 @ 3:53 am
    Reply

    I quite loved earlier versions of Ubuntu but the 11 version wasn’t something I liked. It was a simple thing or two, they changed the desktop such take I didn’t have a bottom bar to indicate which programs
    were running and then there the lose of the bar on the left side of the window replaced by damned floating arrows thing. I went Mint and it
    wasn’t wildly better but I found how to get the left side bar back and
    I was tired of screwing around so I kept the OS. I miss the bottom bar
    indicating the running programs and open windows. I’ll try Mint 13 or
    14 or maybe even Unbuntu in some flavor other that it primary one as
    the future unfolds.

    Wine for me is real wine not the software dregs……….Trig/Dwight

  13. Avatar Dwight Hooper May 24, 2012 @ 4:20 am
    Reply

    My problem with Mint were corrected as I came to understand how
    to set its controls. It now acts pretty much as I want.
    I’ll hold off until Mint 13 mate version is fully baked to it final form though it looks good in reviews. Version 11 as I have it set up now has a top bar that indicate which programs are operating.

    Trig/Dwight

  14. Avatar ToigueOffig April 5, 2013 @ 5:08 pm
    Reply

    Hence, he would receive the 3
    Hence, he would receive the 3 month 2 hours in just a few hours time. There is no need for you to give credit confirmation, just in case you have an imperfect credit score. Surprising requirements do not strike according to the convenience of any individual. They will then let you know correct away if you have indeed been successful and might be told via email which arrives inside minutes. uk payday loans Pay Day Loans , !k5X&

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?
  • Implementing a Layered Cybersecurity Strategy
  • Akamai Technologies Partners Migrating to New Channel Program
  • Cloud Providers in the Channel Flee From Parler

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis

January 19, 2021

Cloud-Based CRM: What SMBs Need to Know about Backup and Recovery

January 19, 2021

Cybersecurity: What to Expect in 2021

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Blueprint for a Scalable MSSP Practice in 2021

January 21, 2021

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Our latest #Cybersecurity Roundup features @BitSight and @kovrrIns, @Vectra_AI and @AppOmniSecurity,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@solarwinds hackers target @Malwarebytes, impacting internal emails. #cybersecurity dlvr.it/RqzkZp https://t.co/aWqLjCCW9y

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@citrix $2.25 deal to acquire @wrike expands @CitrixPartners network into collaborative work management.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Carbonite Migrate uses real-time replication to move workloads to #cloud with minimal risk and near-zero downtime… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Backup and recovery is essential for #cloud-based CRMs @ConnectWise #SaaS #dataprotection #cloudbackup #databackup… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

You an #MSSP looking to avoid a #SolarWinds-type breach? @Asigra, @Barracuda, @CynetSystems give advice. Don’t blam… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

What to expect in 2021 @Webroot #cybersecurity #MSP #remoteworkforce #remoteworking #Carbonite… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

From #itautomation to #workfromhome, a look at 2021 trends from @BitTitan. dlvr.it/RqwFZg https://t.co/EkCeJVNAPo

January 19, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X