In other words, why do smart people fall for stupid ideas?
5 Reasons Why Linux Mint is Better Than Ubuntu
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
-
5 Reasons Why Linux Mint is Better Than Ubuntu
Which one is better, Linux Mint or Ubuntu?
This question has been there ever since Linux Mint came in the picture. And this article does not answer to this question, well, not entirely.
So, what is this about then?
I have been an Ubuntu user for a long time. I stray to other Linux distributions but I keep coming back to Ubuntu, sooner or later. I occasionally try my hands on Linux Mint also, mostly for the purpose of writing articles about it. I must say using Linux Mint is quite a pleasant experience.
As a die-hard Ubuntu fan, I come back from Mint to Ubuntu eventually but not before noticing that Linux Mint is better than Ubuntu for a beginner.
It’s because there are a few things that Linux Mint handles better than Ubuntu, by default. And this ‘by default’ matters when we are talking about a Linux beginner. Because an experienced Linux user will find his/her way. It’s the beginners who struggle with even a seemingly obvious thing.
Considering that I have used both of these popular Linux distributions, I am confident that I can make a fair comparison of Linux Mint and Ubuntu.
The comparison which I am doing here is from the point of view of a beginner Linux desktop user who probably has just switched from Windows or thinking to switch to Linux. But it should still be a good read for an experienced user.
5 Things that make Linux Mint better than Ubuntu for beginners
Ubuntu and Linux Mint are unarguably the most popular desktop Linux distributions. While Ubuntu is based on Debian, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. Question is why to use an Ubuntu derivative or a Debian derivative instead of using the source itself. The answer to the question is derivative is better.
Hardcore Debian users would disagree but Ubuntu makes Debian better (or should I say easier?). Similarly, Linux Mint makes Ubuntu better.
How come? I am going to list five things that Linux Mint does better than Ubuntu.
Note that the comparison is mainly between Ubuntu Unity and GNOME vs Linux Mint’s Cinnamon desktop. A few parameters might not be applicable to other versions while a few may still hold water.
1. Low memory usage in Cinnamon
Cinnamon uses less resource than GNOME or Unity
As QuidsUp YouTube channel noticed, a base Cinnamon takes almost half of what Unity consumes. It is still a lot less than GNOME.
This makes Linux Mint a better choice than Ubuntu, even for computers with decent hardware.
Of course, if you have a core i7 with 16 GB of RAM, this won’t matter. But if you have a core i3 processor with 4GB of RAM, Cinnamon desktop beats Unity and GNOME both hands down.
2. Software Manager: faster, sleeker, lighter:
Lighter, sleeker and better
Ubuntu Software Center still takes ages to load, eats up resources heavily and it slow while interacting with it. Comparing to that, Linux Mint’s Software Manager is lighter and quicker. Applications are broken down into categories and thus easier to navigate something that GNOME Software Center does as well.
3. Software Sources with several useful features
This is perhaps the feature that puts Mint far ahead of Ubuntu in terms of usability.
The Software Source tool in Mint is a lot better than its counterpart in Ubuntu. It provides the option to reset the repositories to default. Which is very useful when you have messed up your repository list.
Option to restore to default is a lifesaver
It also separates PPAs so that you can manage them effectively.
Option to fix common update error is very useful
Apart from that, this tool also provides a way to automatically fix common update errors you may encounter. Not that it is a herculean task but having a GUI tool to do that is surely a blessing for Linux beginners.
4. Themes, Applets and Desklets:
I am not saying it’s rocket science to install themes in Ubuntu. But Linux Mint does it better than Ubuntu.
Plenty of desktop customization out of the box
First, you don’t need to install a new tool just to change themes in Mint. It already has covered it in Settings. On top of that, you can have several themes from the community at your disposal in Themes System Settings under ‘Get more online’ option.
Ubuntu, on the other hand, does not have this ease in installing the themes. You’ll have to look at places to download the zipped themes file and then install it.
Similarly, Linux Mint also has a separate entry in Settings for applets and desklets. You can also access an online collection of indicator applets and desklets (Windows like desktop widgets in Linux).
5. Codecs, Flash and plenty of applications by default:
It’s not that you cannot install media codecs in Ubuntu. Ubuntu too gives the option to install codecs while installing OS itself. But if you don’t do at installation, you will find yourself struggling.
Ubuntu has a package named Ubuntu Restricted Extras that consists of most commonly used media codecs, including Adobe Flash.
While this package can easily be installed using a simple command, you won’t find it listed in the Ubuntu Software Center.
Linux Mint doesn’t come with codecs installed anymore. But if you search for codecs, at least it provides you the correct options.
codecs are missing in Ubuntu Software Center
In addition to that, Mint also comes with plenty of applications such as GIMP, VLC etc that you need to install separately in Ubuntu. Not a big deal but still good to have ‘necessary applications’ installed by default.
What do you say? Mint or Ubuntu?
In the last, again, it is not a hate post against Ubuntu. I am a great fan of Ubuntu. Personally, I have never liked Cinnamon interface. It’s just too dull and small for me. I prefer the bold and bright colors of Unity and GNOME.
It’s just that Linux Mint seems to be a better option than Ubuntu for an absolute beginner to Linux. Considering that Cinnamon has an interface like Windows, it may also be a factor when choosing between Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
For users who have some experience with Linux desktop, it’s more of a personal liking between Ubuntu and Linux Mint. But if you ever wonder why Linux Mint over Ubuntu, these reasons may help you to decide.
Kali Linux vs Ubuntu – Which Distro is Better for Hacking? Kali Linux is the most popular penetration testing and hacking Linux distroibution and Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution. Since it is kind of common knowledge that Linux is a more convenient OS to use for hacking than Windows , the next question is a no-brainer; which Linux distro is the best to use for hacking ? But what is hacking anyway? And why does it matter which distribution is being used? Let’s get to it. What Does It Mean to Hack? Computer hacking is the act of using technical knowledge to overcome a problem. With that in mind, a hacker can refer to any skilled programmer but thanks to pop culture the hacker term is now synonymous with a security hacker – one who uses technical skills to create bugs to exploit security weaknesses in computer systems and break in. In a nutshell, the typical hacker is a security expert whose job is to break into computer systems using ingenious methods, e...
5 Basic Principles of Linux System Security It is still common that people do not know where to start when it comes to information security. With 5 basic principles we can improve the Linux system security and question ourselves if we have done enough. 1. Know your system(s) The first principle is about knowing what your system is supposed to do. What is its primary role, what software packages does it need and who needs access? By knowing the role of the system you can better defend it against known and unknown threats. Security Measures: Password policy Proper software patch management Configuration management Documentation 2. Least Amount of Privilege Each process running, or package installed, might become a target. Security professionals call this the “attack surface”. What you want is to minimize this attack surface by removing unneeded components, limit access and by default use a “deny unless” strategy. This latter means that access by default is blocked, u...
Curious Case Of Linux Distribution Code Names Have you ever wondered about the code name of the latest release of your favorite Linux distribution? The upcoming Linux Mint 18 has been codenamed Sarah . Ubuntu 16.04 will be called Xenial Xerus. The list goes on like that. The question about the code-names is really trivial. It doesn’t make any difference to how a particular Linux distribution function. Yet, as a curious Linux user, you might want to know the logic behind codename of a release. After all, the code name is an integral part of a release and the dev team puts an effort for that as well, isn’t it? I am going to tell you about the logic behind code naming of some of the most popular Linux distributions. Sit tight, this is going to be a fun ride :) Ubuntu version numbering and codenaming One of the most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu follows a biannual release cycle with one release coming in April and other in October....
Comments
Post a Comment