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MikeB4

MikeB4
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#214126 28-Apr-2017 17:31

I have been a long time Ubuntu user since the early alpha builds. Prior Ubuntu I was a Redhat user. I dropped out of the Linux scene and usage a couple of years back so somewhat out of date.

I am asking Linux Mint users feedback on what they like and dislike about Mint and what other Distros are favored these days. I am particularly interested in performance on Laptops.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#1772094 28-Apr-2017 18:50

Bit of a novice here,

been using Linux Mint 18 with Cinnamon Desktop for about 2 months now setup as dual boot with Win 10 on a AIO PC that has laptop components I think (AMD A6 with R3 (not the fastest))

What I liked,

Seems more stable, never had a prob with it's stability,

Control over updates and the way it updates all apps and they are safe, no prob waiting 30min to reboot etc like in windows 10 (Windows update is so ridiculous now),

No need for anti-virus / malware and system optimization programs (did have firewall enabled)

Did everything I did in Windows, internet surfing, email and that's about all I do.

What I did not like,

Was not as fast or zippy as Windows 10 which I was disappointed with (not by much), maybe it was a GPU thing??.

Fonds and graphics did not seem quite as clear as Windows 10.

Bit of a learning curve, using terminal etc, but that just takes time.

The one game I do play once in a blue moon (Counter Strike) graphics was not as good as Win10.

Prefer Outlook for emails, but Thunderbird is quite good.

Used Linux Mint 18 for about 6 weeks, but have gone back to Win10 as Windows just feels quicker and graphically looks better to use than Mint 18 Cinnamon.

My 2 cents. (using Linux Mint to type this)

kiwigander

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#1772207 28-Apr-2017 23:46

I too started with Red Hat (7.3). I switched to Ubuntu in 2004 (4.10 Warty Warthog) and to Mint when Ubuntu came out with the Unity desktop.

I'm running Mint 18 Sarah, Mate desktop, on a MacBook Pro that's triple booting with Mac OS Sierra and Windows 10. I rarely use Mac OS. Windows 10 is for a couple of specific Windows-specific applications, not for daily use. The machine spends >90% of its uptime in Linux.

I've been using Linux as my main OS for so long that it just seems normal, and it's hard to compare with other systems that I use so seldom.

The only niggle that comes to mind is the difficulty in getting suspend to work properly. It does seem to be working now. Occasionally Wifi won't reconnect after a suspend-and-reanimate. The Broadcom Wifi chip uses a proprietary driver, which may offend some Linux aficionados.

Power consumption seems a bit higher in Mint than in Mac OS, but not nearly so high as in Windows, which is a real power hog.

SWMBO is running Mint also (17.1, Mate desktop, IIRC), dual booting with Mac OS on a MacBook Air. She almost never uses Mac OS. She's got no complaints about Mint.

Even though the Air is not an ostensibly powerful machine (mid 2011 model with dual core i7), it runs the GIMP and Scribus well, not to mention LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Firefox and so forth.

If we're streaming music we use VLC, although iTunes was a bit slicker, and getting our music organised has been a challenge. Most of what we listen to is "classical", and the tools for ripping CDs to disk don't seem to have dealt smoothly with the composer > composition > performer hierarchy.

Kiwifruta

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#1772228 29-Apr-2017 03:50

@MikeB4, I recommend giving elementaryos a twirl. Like Mint it's Ubuntu based, but more lightweight and snappy but, in my opinion, with much better graphic design. The developers have just finished building an app store that supports pay what you want apps, in an effort to encourage development of higher quality apps, instead of just striving to improve solely the OS.

I've been using it for about 3 years on a desktop.

My only bugbear is that there is no easy upgrade path to new OS versions, a fresh install is required, but I believe a smoother upgrade process is in the future plans.

MikeB4

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#1772241 29-Apr-2017 06:03

Thanks for the replies folks. I had forgotten about Elementary, I will make a live USB Stick and give it a whirl .

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

unclerichard

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#1772244 29-Apr-2017 06:41

I have used a number of different Linux 'brands', but for my computing style I find Mint the best.Though confusing, the different 'brands' of Linux do allow users t o find one that gives them the best results for what they want to do and how.

I like Mint because I configure to my needs - though this might require a little extra work.

Unfortunately Mint is now working on a two year cycle and often in the last six months or so it does become

somewhat dated.

With Linux it's 'horses for courses'.

scetoaux

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#1772350 29-Apr-2017 10:53

While I'm a Fedora user myself, I'd still recommend Linux Mint. The default Cinnamon desktop seems better suited for those coming from a Windows environtment. Most things (if not everything) seem to work out of the box on the hardware I've installed it on in the past.

Of course, you could also check out Fedora...

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mattrix

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#1772413 29-Apr-2017 13:07

I use Mint 18 Xfce and love it.

I tried Cinnamon and MATE versions but they didn't "Click" for me.

MikeB4

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#1772521 29-Apr-2017 17:41

Just trying Ubuntu 17.04, writting this post on it. The OS is a tad glitchy. I think I will give 16.04 LTS a try, hopefully its maturity will mean it is a lot more stable

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

michaelmurfy

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#1772534 29-Apr-2017 18:04

Honestly give Arch Linux a shot. Look at the Arch Anywhere project that makes an easy install or try and install from scratch.

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farcus

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#1772562 29-Apr-2017 20:10

longtime openSUSE / Plasma user and can't see myself switching any time soon.
But . . . if I was going to recommend a linux distro to a new user / windows / mac user I'd advise to start with Mint.
It's an easy step into linux where almost everything (multimedia in particular) just works without the need for any user intervention.

MikeB4

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#1772712 30-Apr-2017 08:28

After trying few live discs we have settled on Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon. I must say it is a very polished Distro. The install on the first device (Laptop) was without incident and all is running smoothly. We tried Ubuntu 17.04 and that was enough to steer us away from what was my favourite Distro for over a decade.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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Bananabob

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#1772741 30-Apr-2017 10:16

MikeB4:

After trying few live discs we have settled on Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon. I must say it is a very polished Distro. The install on the first device (Laptop) was without incident and all is running smoothly. We tried Ubuntu 17.04 and that was enough to steer us away from what was my favourite Distro for over a decade.

You should be happy with LM18.1 Cinnamon - It my interest you to know that Ubuntu have ditched the Unity Desktop and will start using Gnome - which may be just as annoying - I have refused to use either.

By the way did you look at Ubuntu Mate - everyone raves about it.

MikeB4

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#1773375 1-May-2017 12:27

Bananabob:

MikeB4:

After trying few live discs we have settled on Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon. I must say it is a very polished Distro. The install on the first device (Laptop) was without incident and all is running smoothly. We tried Ubuntu 17.04 and that was enough to steer us away from what was my favourite Distro for over a decade.

You should be happy with LM18.1 Cinnamon - It my interest you to know that Ubuntu have ditched the Unity Desktop and will start using Gnome - which may be just as annoying - I have refused to use either.

By the way did you look at Ubuntu Mate - everyone raves about it.

Yeah I tried a few of flavours of Ubuntu including 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu is just not what it was when I was heavily involved with it. Their releases now seem buggy and 17.04 has the feel of a Beta edition. Yet Mint with has a its heart Ubuntu is very stable and I might say pretty. I may even install it on some of my devices. The person I have done this exercise for are very happy so far with Mint.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

pctek

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#1931399 6-Jan-2018 17:35

I have just recently tried it.

Dual boot install.

Have to say it's been incredibly helpful....tools to get tools, tools to fix things for you.

Even the troubleshooter - which I have never found to solve anything in Windows - located an issue then step by step told me what to do to fix it.

Hadn't used Linux since tech 25 years ago...it has sure come a long way.

firewire

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#1931413 6-Jan-2018 18:09

I'm currently running Fedora 27. No issues at all. I haven't noticed a performance slowdown after updating the kernel for the intel problem. I'd run Mint as a second choice.

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