Which one is better, Linux Mint or Ubuntu? This question has been there ever since Linux Mint came in 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 tried my hands on Linux Mint 16 recently and I must say it is quite pleasant experience. As an old Ubuntu user, it was natural for me to compare my experience with Linux Mint with Ubuntu.
Top seats for beginner friendly Linux desktop are acquired by Ubuntu and Linux Mint, there is no doubt about it. While Ubuntu is based on Debian, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. Question is why use an Ubuntu derivative or a Debian derivative instead of using the source itself. The answer to the question is derivative is better.
The comparison which I am doing here is from the point of view of a beginner Linux desktop user who has just switched from Windows. The comparison is between Linux Mint 16 Petra with Cinnamon and Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander with Unity. The comparison may or may not be applicable to other versions.
Things that make Mint a better Linux desktop for beginners than Ubuntu:
There are few features which one expects in a desktop but unfortunately, Ubuntu has not been serious about them. I have earlier wrote about things I hate in Ubuntu 13.04, and its pretty much the same story in Ubuntu 13.10.
Format a USB disk:
When was the last time you did a right click on a mounted USB disk and was actually able to do a format? Until Ubuntu 13.04 there was not even an option of USB format in right click menu context. You had to put a lot of extra effort to format a USB disk in Ubuntu. It exists in Ubuntu 13.10 but does not work as Files (default file manager) requires to be run as root to do such operation. Oh, but it won’t ask you for that. You click on format and nothing happens.
In Linux Mint, Nemo does a fine job on USB formatting. It is surprising that such a basic feature does not work in Ubuntu 13.10.
Start up disk creator:
When I downloaded the image of Linux Mint to try it via live USB, I tried to create a live USB using Start up disk creator program in Ubuntu. It was all well till the end when it gave error and live USB could not be created. A bug has been reported but it has not been resolved in past two months.
On the other hand Linux Mint 16 has introduced its own USB Image Writer that works like a charm. I created a live USB of Fedora and it did not raise any issue.
Themes, Applets and Desklets:
I am not saying its a rocket science to install themes in Ubuntu 13.10. But Linux Mint does it better than Ubuntu. One can have several themes from the community at its disposal in Themes System Settings under ‘Get more online’ tab, a feature similar to Windows 7. 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 has quick access to online collection of indicator applets and desklets (Windows like desktop widgets in Linux).
Codecs, Flash and plenty of applications by default:
You may have to struggle a bit to install Flash in Ubuntu but Linux Mint got it smoothly. And so is several other media codecs. Not that you cannot install it in Ubuntu. Ubuntu too gives the option to install codecs while installing OS itself. Its just that you don’t have to do this extra thing in Linux Mint. Mint also comes with plenty of applications such as GIMP, VLC etc that you need to install separately in Ubuntu.
The argument behind dropping several big programs like GIMP from Ubuntu disk image was to keep the size of ISO under 700 MB (standard CD size). But later on, they could not put all of it under 700 MB and increased the size of the ISO image. Which means Ubuntu cannot be installed in one CD any more. Ubuntu 13.10 image size is roughly 925 MB while Linux Mint 16 is 1.3 GB. In my opinion, since the main purpose of removing the default applications is no longer valid, Ubuntu should put it back in the bundle.
Software Manager: faster, sleeker, lighter:
Ubuntu Software Center takes ages to load, eats up resources heavily and it slow while interacting with it. This is why I was ecstatic when App Grid, a lighter alternative of Ubuntu Software Center was launched. Comparing to that, Linux Mint’s Software Manager is lighter and quicker. Applications are broken down in to categories and thus easier to navigate.
In the last, again, it is not a hate post against Ubuntu. I am still a great fan of Ubuntu. Its just that Linux Mint seems to be a better option than Ubuntu for an absolute beginner to Linux. For users who have even little experience with Linux desktop, its 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.
which is lighter lubuntu or Linux mint ?
I want a Debian based distro which is recent, can be strippable to the bare basics from where I/you can customized the installation. unfortunately, only the "real" Debian offers such flexibility. Any other? Ubuntu Gnome is in my list except it has blots.(I prefer Gnome)
I had that same issue befire installing U_14.04: I tested damned near every major Linux ... and Scientific Linux (AKA RedHat server) proved the most clean, granite-solid version. But, it will not run Chrome-browser which my on-banking requires. So I run U_14.04 and likely U_16.04 + MATE.
I' am a complete novice when it comes to Linux or Ubuntu and also not very tech savvy, meaning I can find my way around the computer and do a little bit of trouble shooting but nothing more than that. Lately i have begun to take an interest in Linux/ubuntu, but reading some of the comments makes my head ache. Does Linux/ubuntu support Ms office? I' am a Research student and MS Office is an indispensable part of my life, I breathe and eat MS office...:P....and also do I have to be tech savvy to use either of these two OS. I have used XP, Vista, win 7 and using Win 8 right now and also MAC OSx leopard. And one last question, Can i use both windows 8 and Linux/Ubuntu in the same laptop? (SPECS: core i3 4th gen, 500 gb HDD, 8gb ssd, 4gb Ram)
Hey,
As you are a novice, I suggest you dual boot your laptop i.e. use Windows and Linux in the same machine:
https://itsfoss.com/guide-install-linux-mint-16-dual-boot-windows/
I always back at Ubuntu: there's nothing to do.
Just stumbled onto this article, had no idea that derivatives of ubuntu were coming onto the scene (I still use 6.10 on my laptop and am only now looking to upgrade!). It seems that all the reasons you have raised seem to be short term (e.g. buggy USB formatter, slow software updating system etc), it just doesn't seem like enough to justify Mint over the long term.
What seems like a great selling point for business and/or serious users is long term support, and knowing that the developers behind the project have some sort of commercial backing that ensures that they will be around in the long term and are being rewarded for the work they do.
Not much is mentioned about ease of use or any core characteristics that make Mint obviously better than the base it was written on. It just doesn't seem that having a few features that are better (or working) are great long term reasons for one over the other.
Having said that, I think I will still give Mint a go and hope for the best. Thanks
@joelcass:disqus wow you are still using Ubuntu 6. I almost fainted reading that ;)
As I mentioned in the first few paragraphs, it is from the point of view of a beginner who is switching from Windows. Buggy USB formatter may not be an issue for an intermediate user but it will be a huge issue for a new user. Imagine if you cannot format USB by right clicking on it in Windows. The world will be upside down and people start running on the roads crazy, hypothetically :)
By the way, the USB format issue which you have called a bug has been matured in a feature after ruling Ubuntu for more than 1.5 years and 4 version (12.10, 13.04, 13.10 and now 14.04). I don't understand why these basic feature is not given importance in Ubuntu. I mean if Mint can do it, so do Ubuntu.
I plan to write a comparison of Ubuntu 14.04 and Mint 17 soon. Will like your view there as well.
P.S. Ubuntu is still my fav.
I am about to compare LXLE 14.04 vs Mint KDE with LXDE installed. I just want to see if either is significantly faster, which is more friendly, if ant, and in terms of actual desktop which is more configurable to my taste. For clarification the KDE is just to get some Apps without additional download.
I used Ubuntu 6.06 for ages but never after that. Mandrake 7.0 then Suse 9.1-3. I have been using Mint since 9 but got fed up of MATE (bland) & Cinnamon
just keeps throwing a wobbler on something innocuous. I don't really
like XFCE for some reason.
The problem with Ubuntu is they are driven by a different strategy "Money" & "World Domination".
I've been an Ubuntu fan for quite a while, but disinfranchized by the login problems with Ubuntu since 12.04. Unless someone can give me something better than change "quiet splash" which doesn't work, I'm switching to a different flavor of linux.
Thanks for the overview, this was useful as a Windows user considering the switch.
Welcome James...
I have been fooling around with Ubuntu for a while now. I am on 14.04 LTS. Is it possible to move from Trusty to Mint 16? Mint 16 is based on Ubuntu 13.10, I was inclined to switch from Ubuntu to Mint 16, but then Trusty just rolled out and I wanted to give it a try. Some perks like easy customization option, Cinnamon, and being lite, grid app store are tempting me to try my hands on Mint. Do you guys think I just have to follow the same steps to move to Mint 16 from 13.10, to actually move from 14.04 to Mint?
Thanks
so basically the 5 reasons was... worth nothing..
Why always Ubuntu, or Mint?? Why not Debian? Stop being so badass with these silly Live CDs for kids
Yeah, sure, install Debian and then never have any packages released after 2010.
Using Debian Jessie (Testing branch) here. My packages are up to date, most of them are downloaded from experimental branches, or even Ubuntu PPAs. Damn, I'm using Steam too.
Every time I see an "experienced" Linux user missing the point of a "for beginners" distro post and being a whiny elitist twat throwing insults around, I put off any serious Linux experimentation for another month.
I'll be stuck on Windows for another 2 decades at this rate. :3
I don't catch the point. You have the same amount of tutorials, it's the same as Ubuntu, and, if you want to learn, you'll never do it using scripts (which almost all of them are useless or out of date)
I'm not sure why Mint is so famous, just saying.
Simple question: Is Mint petra faster than ubuntu 13.10 on a old notebook (2007 dell XPS 1300) ??
simple answer: YES
another garbage article
My pc configuration are dual core processor 3.2Ghz , 1.2Gb of ram.
I installed Linux Mint olivia and i found that it used 100% of my cpu.
So using 100% of cpu can cause problem to my pc? Then i switched back to ubuntu which is using 10-15% of the cpu when idle whereas linux mint used 100% cpu usage.
Thats due to a bug. mint will use around the same unless there is something glitching out as in your case.
I tried to give Ubuntu so many chances, but since it became popular (and I'm talking of about three years ago) the decrease in quality has been evident. The last version, 13.10, is the worst I ever tried and the only one i've managed to crash completely even if I've been completely windows free since 2003. Linux Mint is better in every meaning, from a cleaner interface to a better hardware optimization.