Linux mint 13 system requirements. What cannot be cured

At the end of 2013, the Mint collectors gave users a gift: they adapted new programs for the good old Linux Mint 13 LTS - they performed the so-called backporting. Apparently, they realized that subsequent releases (the 14th, 15th and especially the 16th) turned out to be dismal; the majority still prefer the 13th.

And the “LTS” (“Long Term Support”) status implies the presence of real support until 2017, and a year and a half after the release of the OS, it would be time to show at least some useful activity in resolving this issue. So they depicted it. We'll tell you about the nuances.

Preparation

Do not try to install a *.deb package with Cinnamon from a cache on another computer. Gdebi will claim that this will break half of the system. Although in the terminal the installation is completely painless - both during the update and next to MATE. This is Linux Mint “by design”, what can you do...

First of all

The most important thing, in any case (with any shell) to be downloaded immediately:

1. latest versions of the Firefox browser and Thunderbird email client;
2. office suite LibreOffice, slightly optimized and with bugs fixed;
3. Adobe Flash plugin, it is also old in a completely installed OS;
4. new GStreamer codecs instead of the existing ones, reproducing *.mp4 every other time.

It is advisable to immediately, without thought or hesitation, cut out the bad English spell checking package, because of which Gdebi does not want to install browsers by double clicking on *.deb (not only Firefox, but also Opera 12.16) - it declares an insoluble conflict. We do it like this:

Sudo apt-get remove hunspell-en-us

However, when installing using only one terminal, all sorts of conflicts are magically resolved by themselves. This means we process three points in one fell swoop:

Sudo apt-get install firefox thunderbird libreoffice mint-flashplugin

With the third point, that is, with codecs, you will have to tinker a little. I mean, copy and paste this long, field-tested command into the terminal window (using the right-click menu):

Sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad

New goodies

First, we add a program for formatting flash drives, as well as turning them into bootable ones. With this command:

Sudo apt-get install mintstick

This will remove the completely ineffective USB Image Writer program. (Or rather, it will actually be replaced by something else, but with the same name.)

If you have *.deb with mintstick (obtained from packages.linuxmint.com), then before starting its installation via Gdebi, you should first cut out the old USB Image Writer manually, otherwise complaints about insoluble conflicts will start again.

What other potentially useful things have been backported to Linux Mint 13:

1. mintNanny (blocks unwanted outgoing traffic);
2. mintUpload (in case someone is using it);
3. mintUpdate (this is an update manager, we’ve already dealt with it).

Plus applications, the latest versions of which are provided, apparently, solely for the sake of quantity: mintInstall, mintSystem (updating them is pointless), mintMenu (this is the main menu, it slows down more than the old one!); mintDesktop (no improvements); mintWelcome (a useless entity that needlessly clutters the screen when the session starts).

Although, of course, those who prefer to “keep up with life” are not forbidden to install all the “new stuff”, all six hundred and a penny megabytes (via mintUpdate). True, the feasibility of such an action is slightly doubtful.

What cannot be cured

It makes no sense to update Brasero, the blank burning program. All versions are consistently dull. Better to use Xfburn:

Sudo apt-get install xfburn

Sometimes it's buggy, not without it, but laser discs(disposable) spoil much less often.

Latest (no longer produced) release Opera browser for Linux (the real one, with the Presto engine) is numbered as follows: 16/12/1860. It is located on the official FTP server of Opera Software (ftp.opera.com). Therefore, some “newer version” offered from Mint’s own small repository (as Gdebi notifies) is something of an amateur effort. Probably with “Mint search” and other modifications.

Bluetooth still doesn't work in the Mint version with MATE. Although after updating the shell there are hints of progress - from time to time we manage to put something into the phone. On about the fifteenth try. Sometimes even a tenth. But I was never able to download files from the phone’s microSD. Although the same adapter works perfectly in both Cinnamon and Unity.

In short, unless Bluetooth is an option, you'll probably have to say goodbye to the MATE desktop. Change to the same Cinnamon, for example.

Conclusion

Let's summarize. In order to save time, traffic (if relevant), as well as to avoid disappointment due to unfulfilled hopes, it is recommended to update only what is actually developing and improving at least a little (office suite, codecs, Adobe Flash, browsers, Cinnamon desktop). Add only something that is really functional and useful (mintstick, for example).

Everything else will bring virtually no significant improvements to Linux Mint 13 LTS.

Previous publications:

Oddly enough, the Linux Mint distribution, which already has 13 major versions (releases containing fundamental changes), is not known to all users looking for an alternative to Windows. For now, let’s leave aside the debate about which is better: the very popular distribution from Canonical or Linux Mint. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features of Mint. We suggest doing this based on a review published on the Desktop Linux Reviews resource.

Linux Mint 13 includes two graphical environments: MATE and Cinnamon. The MATE interface was chosen for review - you can download any of them.

Which one should you choose for the first time? The Linux Mint developers provide a list of pros and cons for each option. However, if you are not sure what to choose, you should try out each of the interfaces by running the OS in Live CD mode (booting from a disk or flash, say, on virtual machine, the free VIrtualBox will do).

List of advantages and disadvantages of MATE.

Pros:

MATE is stable and works on the vast majority of computers

MATE is one of the simplest and most user-friendly interfaces available today.

MATE contains important improvements compared to Gnome 2, “continuing the legacy” of the latter

MATE supports mintMenu, mintDesktop, Compiz, etc. - everything that made Gnome 2 the most popular graphical environment for Linux

MATE is based on GTK 2 and therefore has many themes and is also better compatible with applications than any other interface

Cons:

Some elements of Gnome 2 have not yet been ported to MATE and therefore some features (like Bluetooth support) may not work the same as they do in Gnome 2

List of advantages and disadvantages of Cinnamon.

Pros:

Cinnamon has a modern appearance

Cinnamon is characterized by innovative properties in terms of its software structure, as well as an emphasis on productivity of use

Cinnamon is based on fast technology and is developing at a rapid pace

The Cinnamon community is very active and regularly creates new themes and applets

Cons:

Cinnamon requires hardware support for 3D acceleration, which means it may not work correctly under some circumstances, depending on the type of graphics adapter and drivers

Cinnamon is a new interface, as a result of which it is not as stable as the graphical interfaces MATE, KDE and Xfce that have gone through a longer development path.

Cinnamon uses Gnome 3 and Clutter technologies, which are also not yet “settled” and are subject to frequent transformations

What's new in Linux Mint 13

Main changes in the latest version:

Yahoo as default search engine

Latest Mint-X and Mint-Z themes

New desktop background images from artist masterbutler

MDM Screen Manager (Mint Display Manager)

Linux Mint 13 is based on Ubuntu 12.04, although it is noticeably different from Ubuntu. Yahoo has been chosen as the default search engine: apparently there is an agreement between Yahoo and the Linux Mint developers. Here's what the Linux Mint website says about this:

Linux Mint switches to Yahoo's search engine for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Yahoo is the second most visited search resource in the world, and the first search engine, part of the profits from the use of which by Linux Mint users will go to the development of this distribution. The search results page is quite informative: it offers results from different categories content, including images, videos and information about establishments, and also allows you to filter data by time and view cached pages. Yahoo is connected to a powerful network of advertisers, and therefore choosing Yahoo as a search engine will be an additional source of income for the Linux Mint project.

MDM Display Manager is based on Gnome Display Manager 2.0. It provides features such as event scheduling (via scripts), language selection, GUI configuration tools, and theme customization.

If you are not satisfied with the default wallpaper, you can always choose a new one from among the additional ones created by the artist masterbutler. Right-click on your desktop and select Change Appearance to see all available wallpapers. Now all you have to do is click on the picture you like - and it will become the new background.

As already mentioned, Linux Mint 13 includes the Mint-X and Mint-Z themes, and in addition, full GTK3 support is implemented.

Mint-X is the default theme, but you can easily change it to Mint-Z using the Appearance Preferences menu. To do this, select Appearance in the Control Center. If you want to change any of these themes to a new one, click on the Customize button.

System Requirements

In order to work comfortably with Linux Mint, you will need:

x86 processor (Linux Mint 64-bit requires a 64-bit processor, the vast majority of them are now).

5.7 GB of free hard disk space.

Graphics adapter that supports resolutions from 800x600.

CD/DVD drive or USB port.

Remembering my unsuccessful experience with the trial installation of Linux Mint 12 and the subsequent disappointment (for the first time in several years of acquaintance with Mint), this time I did not rush to install new version, despite the fact that the 13th “Mint” was released more than a month ago. After a detailed study of the available at the moment information about the features of this release, the next stage of my “research” followed in the form of launching the system, first on a virtual machine, and then in “live” mode. In the end I gave my preference "Linux Mint 13" with "MATÉ" desktop environment.

Why was “Cinnamon” among those rejected? I will try here to some extent to reproduce the course of my thoughts and actions that led me to this decision. Of course, the first thing I did was turn to the official sources, that is, to the documentation that is usually included with each new release of Linux Mint. It was from this source that I first learned that Cinnamon is based on technologies and components that, due to their novelty, cannot in themselves be called stable. Accordingly, “Cinnamon” for this reason cannot yet be sufficiently reliable. Also, the new environment has certain requirements for the computer hardware, and there are some difficulties with hardware support. There are no such reservations regarding MATÉ. Moreover, “Gnome 2”, rising from the ashes, is not only awarded with very flattering epithets, but is also officially announced stable and reliable working environment.

Everything is known by comparison

The official document entitled “What's New in Linux Mint 13” provides, albeit laconic, but quite clearly formulated comparison of the two working environments of the new distribution, giving food for thought on this matter. I will quote it here in full (translated from English, emphasis from the author’s site):

Advantages:

Flaws:

Advantages:

Flaws:

In his opinion pieces, speaking about Linux Mint 13 and the new Cinnamon work environment, Clement Lefebvre, it seemed to me, showed a fair amount of restraint and pragmatism. From his statements it becomes clear that “Cinnamon” is not an end in itself for him, and its author does not intend to unilaterally make this working environment the basis of future Linux Mint distributions.

Mr. Lefebvre took on this project at a time when the general shock from the unexpected and, as it was then believed, irrevocable departure of Gnome 2 had not yet passed, and in the total passion of individual (admittedly, talented) programmers for new technologies, something different reigned so that chaos, but some incomprehensible tendency to redraw everything to new way without thinking about the consequences. And at the same time, about those for whose sake, in fact, all this should be started, that is, strictly speaking, about you and me, dear reader.

I believe that in this difficult situation Clement Lefebvre had a desire, natural for the author of the most popular Linux distribution, to separate flies from cutlets, that is, having accepted the best (new technologies), discard what he would not mind throwing in the trash (a distorted interface that has nothing in common with the usual idea of desktop metaphor). No sooner said than done. Enthusiastically involved in working on a new project, Clement Lefebvre and a team of like-minded people achieved more than worthy results: in my subjective opinion, “Cinnamon” even surpassed its “older comrades” in many ways.

However, while Cinnamin was gaining momentum, the developers from MATÉ, including Clement Lefebvre himself, who was working on two fronts, were also not sitting idle. Having done a truly titanic job, the international team led by Perberos(the founder of the project) achieved results worthy of no less praise than that received by the programmers who worked on “Cinnamon”. Ultimately, “MATÉ”, despite the skeptical statements that took place, not only stood on its feet, but also quickly grew stronger, gaining the strength and glory of its worthy predecessor “Gnome 2”.

In a word, after a short period of confusion and bewilderment, now you and I, dear reader, finally have a real choice. And this cannot but rejoice.

About the revived "Gnome 2" and its competitors

About the reasons for the release of the 13th version of Linux Mint in two editions

A little about everything

Meeting in person

Now, after thorough theoretical preparation, the time has come practical classes. Having downloaded both ISO images from the official website - “Cinnamon” and “MATÉ” - without much hesitation I decided to start testing with the latter, bearing in mind that in the “long-suffering” 12th release this working environment was presented in a still rather crude form: I really wanted to see the difference and see for myself that latest version“MATÉ” is deservedly awarded with such generous epithets.

However, I was ready for some surprises. To be precise, two. WITH first You will encounter when booting the system (both with “MATÉ” and “Cinnamon” on board), if, like the author of these lines, you are the “lucky” owner of a computer with a built-in wireless adapter of the series "B43": You will have to wait a long time for the “live-DVD” to load, and to be precise, it will not load at all. Second The surprise is related to the computer freezing during installation of the system on hard drive. However, we will talk about this next time. But still, in order not to keep you in tension from the unknown, I will inform you that both problems already have their own effective solutions- and you, of course, will learn about them from the next publication.

So, let's talk about surprises. Launched at the beginning on a virtual machine, the system booted smoothly and without any roughness. True, despite the official notice that the boot screen will be completely black, after counting down the traditional 10 seconds before the start, although a black screen appeared in front of me, in its center there was a text inscription “Linux Mint 13”, under which four green dots:

However, after starting the system in "live-DVD" mode, that is, from the image recorded on the CD, the loading really did not go beyond the black screen. But since, as mentioned above, I was already prepared for the unexpected, I calmly rebooted the computer and took the necessary steps (which will be described in the next part), and after a little time I saw the “Linux Mint 13” desktop in front of me. However, the screen remained completely black this time during the loading process.

At the final stage of the system startup process, an updated "Login Screen" (MDM - Mint Display Manager) prompting the user to select the appropriate settings and log in using their username. The timer inexorably counted down the seconds that I had to make a decision. By clicking on the first button on the left, I saw in front of me a fairly long list of languages, in which, to my big disappointment, there was no place for my native Russian - and I had no choice but to click on "Cancel"(cancel):

Pressing the middle button, I saw the word “MATÉ” that I knew, and, having selected it, pressed "Change Session"(change session):

“CPU Frequency Scaling Monitor” (processor frequency control applet) and clicking the button "Add"(add), the addition immediately appeared on the panel and instantly displayed the current processor frequency, which made me incredibly happy. After digging through the settings, I was convinced that everything was working as it should. Installing several other add-ons was just as easy and quick, and they worked just as flawlessly.

I “traveled” around the system to my heart’s content, rummaged through the settings and, for the sake of experimentation, even installed a couple of applications. The system worked like a Swiss watch. It even seemed to me that compared to the 11th version, the 13th became somehow faster and more comfortable. Bravo to the developers - they did a great job!

After such a charge positive emotions After working in the brand new “Linux MInt 13” with the “MATÉ” working environment, I no longer had any particular desire to repeat the same experiment with the “Cinnamon” version. Why? After all old friend better than the new two.

Today I matured and installed the second system. Well, friends, can I say? This is just great! Although I love Ubuntu with Unity with all my heart, I really fell in love with Linux Mint 13 Mate. For those who want to switch from Windows to Linux, I will now recommend not only Ubuntu, but also Linux Mint. And I’m 70% sure that people will choose Mint because appearance. It is as close as possible to the design of Windows, it also has an Application Center, it is based on Ubuntu, so I think I can explain what and how. I felt déjà vu while using Linux Mint 13. But in reality, Ubuntu was about the same before the release of its new graphical environment Unity. Damn, everything works so quickly, opens, collapses. Really excellent replacement fucking Windows. Another fact that struck me was that the ImgBurn program, which I ran from under Wine, and which stopped detecting my ASUS drives in Ubuntu 12.04, worked with a bang in Linux Mint 13 and saw the drives just fine.

Changing wallpapers, customizing themes, icons, cursors and other things happens the same way as in good old Ubuntu 10.04. I just really fell in love with Mint, because I won’t lie, but the new and vaunted 12.04 LTS failed, just like LTS. Where is the expected stability, eh? But in Mint everything just works. Exactly how it should work. I launched the program, it started quickly, assigned a keyboard shortcut to change the layout, they work without dancing with a tambourine, the windows don’t fly off, in other words, everything works the way it’s supposed to work in principle operating system. Maybe Linux Mint 13 has its own glitches and bugs, but personally, during the entire time I used Mint for 3-4 hours, I only experienced pleasure. Bravo Mint! The good news is that Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, i.e. Ubuntu may work fine, but something else is upsetting, why are there still unpleasant moments in Ubuntu 12.04? Well, we will expect extremely serious work from the developers to improve the stability of Ubuntu, and if anything happens, then we can work temporarily or switch to Linux Mint 13 with virtually no losses.