Give me your best reasons:
Linux Mint 21 Cinnamon (and Xfce and MATE) is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian.
Linux Mint Debian Edition, LMDE 5 Cinnamon, is based on Debian.
Give me your best reasons to use "standard" Linux Mint and LMDE respectively, or to not use one of them?
#LinuxMint #LMDE #OpenSource
https://www.linuxmint.com/
@jimp Thanks. I’m on my way, walking slowly, to Linux from macOS where I still have most of my activity. I migrate and use Mint Cinnamon more and more. But Debian version of Mint is tempting. I tested it earlier, ok but less good, but now it seems to be more mature. Good to hear you can rely on Mint as daily driver, looking forward to reach that status.
Ubuntu offers a better package base which is why its still the base for #linuxmint but apart from that the differences start to fade away. Both versions have a 2 year cycle for major releases. Both now offer a GUI supported in-place upgrade path (you only need to start the upgrade tool via the terminal).
If your hardware works out of the box and you can find the apps you need via the Debian repositories or flatpacks then there is almost no difference for you as an end user.
@ASP @jimp Perhaps I will install LMDE on a good enough spare machine and try to replicate installation with the sw I use and compare what’s available and release level. I prefer when I can avoid Flatpak, but it is an option. (If I remember correctly, elementary OS has shifted to Flatpak only as their default application base) Thanks for your thoughts!
For my 12 year old Dell laptop LM Mate just works! Everything works and there are no drastic changes everytime there's an update.
I started out running Cinnamon but, it became too much for this old beast about 5 years ago.
I also have LM MATE running on an old (~8 years) ARM-based mini-pc. It's the "family computer" that anyone can sit down to to get on the Internet or print something. Again it just works!.
@jchaven Good to hear your positive LM experience. I have KM Xfce on a low performance machine. I have tested MATE, but not seriously but know several who prefer it. My personal strategy (for now) is Cinnamon on better machine and Xfce on low spec machine. I will consider to eventually move to LMDE, or at least install it again for comparison.
@hehemrin My main reason to stay with Mint 21+Cinnamon is because it's been good to me. Solid and stable as a daily driver on my work system for the past 8+ years. It's done everything I've needed it to do.