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. You can read this article to understand what is a desktop environment.
1. Low memory usage in Cinnamon
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:
Ubuntu Software Center still takes ages to load, heavily eats up resources, and is slow while interacting with the program. 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.
It also separates PPAs so that you can manage them effectively.
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.
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.
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.
What do you think?
What a great, succinct comparison. Of course I read this 2 minutes after ordering a 32G usb with Ubuntu 20.04. I used Unix and Linux in my previous USAF life but I’m definitely not interested in doing command line stuff any longer. And I’m tired of laptop hard drives dying so I’m going USB. Who knows, I may buy a version of Mint too. I would have if I’d read this 10 minutes ago.
Hey,
Great job!
One reason why many prefer Windows or Mac Os is actually non of you guys talk about it.
Many do not like the “too easy to customize”, because it is also easy to mess up.
Well, I ma not talking about me, I love the fact that I can customize it the way I want to.
I am talking about that Taxi driver or that single mom that work as a care giver, those have kids that need a computer, so Windows is better for them because their kids will not make a lot of mess.
You can tell: Who carse about that?
Well, the more regular and simple people you get use to Linux, the more Linux be popular, and yes, I want less users of Windows or Mac OS too, because Linux is freedom and everyone want and deserve freedom.
Well, one reason to avoid linux mint is that their website forum is populated by the most childish defensive idiots I’ve ever encountered in foss-land.
And the core developers that chime in from time to time are no better. The arrogance.
To them, (childish members and childish developers), everything that goes wrong is some variant of a cockpit error. Every suggestion at improvement is treated as “well you can do it if only you did x, y, z, a, b, and c steps, so it’s not an issue.”
Children, narrow minded, and the absolute worst of the entire linux world.
I often wonder why most people seem to prefer cinnamon over mate. I found cinnamon on a few different machines is buggy. Mate is, in my opinion, even closer to windows and works well without hogging ram. Beginners don’t know and also don’t have issues with crashed applets. I never get questioned from new users on why an applet crashed. If I use cinnamon I always get these issues.
I’m not sure how on your system Linux Mint only uses like 400 MB of Ram is that true? Mine always seems to use like 700 or 800 just to start. How are you getting yours at 400?
The analysis is not mine but of Quidsup YouTube channel and it’s a few years old for sure. So it should be normal to have 700 MB of RAM.