The new Linux Mint 21.2, codenamed “Victoria,” is a refreshing replace to my favourite Linux desktop distribution. It continues to construct on the stable basis of Ubuntu 22.04 Long Term Support (LTS) and the Linux kernel 5.15, providing a steady and dependable working system for each new and skilled customers. This model can also be a Mint LTS; you should use it confidently till 2027.
Why do I choose it over Windows 11 or MacOS Ventura? Besides that it has higher safety than both one, I additionally like that it comes with all of the free and open-source software program I would like for work.
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Like all Linux desktop distros, Victoria is not only a complete desktop working system. It consists of all of the software program you want. It comes with LibreOffice 7.3.7 for workplace productiveness, Thunderbird 102.4 for e-mail and calendaring, GIMP 2.10.30 for graphics enhancing, and Firefox 115.02 for net searching.
Want a distinct program? No downside. You could have heard putting in packages on Linux is a serious ache. That’s not true. It’s easy. Just open up the Software Manager and seek for your program.
For instance, if, like me, you favor Chrome, all I needed to do was seek for “Web browser,” and I’ve three dozen net browsers to select from. I discovered Chrome from a range that included Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and — an actual blast from the previous — Mosaic and clicked on it. A minute later, I used to be in enterprise.
All of those are free.
The Software Manager additionally contains a refreshed person interface and the choice to obtain purposes through Flatpak. This is a major improvement as Mint is among the newest Linux distributions to undertake Flatpak. The Software Manager additionally consists of software rankings that can assist you make knowledgeable choices about your purposes.
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Flatpak permits builders to allow customers to put in containerized packages on their desktops simply. Don’t like Flatpak as a result of these containerized purposes take up extra drive and reminiscence area? No downside. Software Manager makes it simple to see the distinction between a standard and a Flatpak set up.
Mint’s management has by no means favored Flatpak’s rival Snap program supervisor. If you need to use snaps anyway — I do — take the next steps from the shell.
$ sudo rm /and many others/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref
$ apt replace
$ apt set up snapd
And, whereas the Snap retailer will not be built-in with the Software and Update Manager, you’ll be able to set up Snap packages.
One of essentially the most important updates in Linux Mint 21.2 is the enhancement of the Cinnamon desktop atmosphere. Cinnamon, already recognized for its user-friendly and intuitive interface, has been additional polished on this launch.
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The newest model, Cinnamon 5.8, introduces a brand new idea referred to as Styles, which affords three modes: darkish, gentle, and combined. These modes, mixed with theme variants, permit customers to customise the feel and appear of their desktop to their liking. Other enhancements embody improved gesture help for window administration, media controls, and workspace administration, the power to resize the primary menu manually, and the addition of icons to notification home windows to raised illustrate the message.
Don’t look after Cinnamon? Linux Mint 21.2 additionally comes with MATE, the GNOME 2-style desktop, which is now not in improvement. If you could have a low-powered PC, Linux Mint Xfce 21.2 can also be prepared to put in and run. All are quite simple to choose up.
Speaking of pc energy, the Cinnamon interface can also be quicker and snappier. There have been many modifications underneath the hood to hurry up the show. I seen this instantly on my major desktop. The new Mint ran quicker than ever on my 2020 Dell Precision 3451. An Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU powers this PC. It additionally consists of 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
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This is much extra pc energy than Mint wants. Linux Mint will run on just about any pc. You’re good to go in case your PC has 2GBs of RAM and 100GB, any graphics card, and a monitor that helps a 1024×768 decision. If you are uncertain if you wish to attempt Mint, you’ll be able to seize nearly any PC from a second-hand retailer to play with it.
Linux Mint 21.2 additionally introduces expanded video file format help, together with help for HEIF and AVIF file codecs, and Adobe Illustrator recordsdata within the doc viewer. This launch additionally options an improved Bluetooth stack and login display screen, in addition to new wallpapers and themes, together with a worldwide darkish mode. The Cinnamon Nemo file supervisor now has new, clearer folder icons, enhancing the general person expertise.
Despite these important updates, Linux Mint 21.2 maintains its dedication to simplicity and user-friendliness. It continues providing a standard, Windows 95-style desktop, which has gained over many customers over time. This launch doesn’t introduce any radical modifications which may shock customers. Instead, it focuses on small enhancements that improve the general person expertise.
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This model of Mint is constructed on high of Ubuntu 22.04, often called Jammy Jellyfish. It inherits many business-friendly options, comparable to full Active Directory (AD) help with Advanced Group Policy Object. So if you wish to run Mint on a enterprise community with a Windows 2012 or newer AD Domain Controller, you are prepared for work.
It additionally makes use of the Linux 5.15 kernel. This comes with enterprise options, improved Windows NTFS file system help, and an in-kernel SMB 3.0 file server. This additionally improves its integration with Windows-based techniques and file servers.
The desktop itself has additionally been cleaned up. Now, by default, there are far fewer icons. The Home, Computer, Trash, and Network icons are all lacking. If you continue to like these icons like me, you’ll be able to simply add them once more through the System Settings panel. Mint provides you all of the management you possibly can ever need over your desktop to set it up in no matter method makes you cheerful.
The newest Process Monitor alerts you when any important actions, like backups, are occurring within the background. The default use of the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) permits for straightforward printer and scanner setup while not having drivers, though help for printer drivers can also be out there.
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To set up Linux Mint 21.2, you’ll be able to obtain it now. If you are already operating Linux Mint 21.x, upgrading to Victoria is trivial. Using my 1 Gigabit down fiber connection, it took me lower than quarter-hour.
To sum all of it up, Linux Mint 21.2 “Victoria” is a stable replace that brings a number of new options and enhancements to the desk. It continues providing a user-friendly, steady, and feature-rich working system for brand spanking new and veteran customers. Whether you are a brand new person contemplating switching from Windows to Linux or a seasoned person in search of an improve, Linux Mint 21.2 is value testing.
Me? I exploit Linux Mint daily on my major desktops. On it, I write 1000’s of phrases a day, take a look at packages of all sorts and types, handle web sites and mailing lists, and just do sufficient programming to maintain my hand in. Unless you are doing severe with a capital S photograph or video work — during which case it is best to use the highest-end Mac you’ll be able to afford — Mint is a good desktop.
