Desktop Linux for business has it’s own set of demands addressed by the likes of Active Directory integration through Likewise Open & MS Exchange connectivity through Gnome Evolution (both offered in the latest release of Ubuntu 10.04) however back at the socially networked media hungry home PC things are a little different, luckily that’s where Linux Mint lives and the latest release is most certainly a housemate you’ll enjoy having around.

For those of you unfamiliar with Mint here’s the nutshell – it’s a comprehensive and totally free operating system for your computer built on Ubuntu and privately developed. Mint is aimed at the home user and is basically Ubuntu but further designed with added style and media/web functionality, the developers do a superb job and it’s highly recommended (with good reason). Let’s take a look at version 9, “Isadora”, starting with the installation..

For those of you familiar with Ubuntu Lucid-Lynx 10.04 the installation routine (apart from being greener) is virtually identical, stick the CD in (or mount the ISO), boot, select “Install” and follow the prompts for name, time zone etc (it’s not rocket science)….

The first port of call, the applications (programs) menu. As with everything in Mint it’s thoughtfully designed to be clear and accommodating with minimal clutter while offering a set of default favourites to get you started. We have Thunderbird eMail, Firefox web browsing and media bits & bobs plus instant and direct access to the screen resolution utility (nice touch), and with it being Linux of course there’s the terminal. The system utilities are slipped in if you want them and expanding to “All Applications” opens up the full nine yards into Open Office and the extensive range of other pre-bundled apps….

So, on and in to the control centre which is again very nice and cleanly presented for your configuration settings and system tweaking pleasure….

At media level there’s certainly no shortage with a selection of codec loaded video players to choose from and Rhythmbox to take care of the tunes and podcasts, all tried, tested, well established applications and all ready to roll from first boot to play W.H.Y….

Getting social we have the superb micro-blogging client “Gwibber”. This is a great inclusion, it’s a quality utility in general and a real high point for Linux systems socialites. It’s increasingly difficult to keep track of our dynamic internet life which is why Gwibber get’s our vote by providing a single control portal for Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Flicker and others, all our updates, all in one place, tidy….

System security is taken care of with the firewall utility and the domain blocker, both popped up for us as nice GUI utils and although Linux being Linux there’s no real need for a firewall it’s a “nice to have” for home user paranoia, as is the domain blocker (net nanny), also specific to Mint is their excellent backup and restore tool to take care of your data and system state….

Mint is created with style, intelligence and a real feel for the product (check out the “Husse Quotes” in Terminal). It’s self tagged as being the 4th most popular operating system behind Windows, OSX and allegedly ‘Ubuntu’ but for me it should be an easy number three, however as there would be no Mint without Ubuntu perhaps rank should dictate. Still, it’s obvious that for the home user demanding instant usability Mint 9 certainly delivers “Out of the box” with it’s pre-included range of media codecs and inclusion of such niceties as flash. Businesses may not find it’s flexible release dates to their liking and having managed corporate ICT myself for many years I can understand why, but only just, and only for “those” infrastructure roadmaps and, let’s be honest, when and where was the last Microsoft “fixed” roadmap? All we were given was Vista…!

As a Linux enterprise-desktop option for any SME I think it’s most certainly worth evaluating Mint alongside vanilla Ubuntu. Mint is, after all, Ubuntu under the skin. From a sys-admin perspective it offers the same configuration options and can be tweaked and adjusted as required, it even includes the APTonCD utility to pre-create a selective and transportable repository from a combination of existing or downloaded packages, invaluable for creating an easy enterprise resource.

What we have here is a mere overview of Mint 9 and I would really recommend you give it a go, after all let’s not forget we’re talking about a FREE operating system, and one which will without a doubt be inherently more stable than that dodgy Windows platform you’re working on, what have you got to lose, get it installed. Your old computer will be new again (and greener).

Download Mint from the main website  – http://www.linuxmint.com

Mint 7 RC1 then…..(codename ‘Gloria’)

Firstly a touch of background. Mint is a rather slick derivative of Ubuntu (and thus Debian) running a tweaked and optimised window manager (predominantly GNOME), it proffers a functional *out of the box* experience geared toward the home user with a range of media codecs pre-installed (flash for example) and a tailored application suite & accompanying easy menu system aimed at generic web & media computing, it also boasts a full range of ready to roll Wi-Fi drivers to get you connected from the word go, side stepping all that potentially confusing command line jiggery pokery you still need to delve into with some of the less amiable desktop distros.
It’s Dad, plain old lovely Ubuntu, is undoubtedly a firm favourite of mine but admittedly would still be (more) at home in the business enterprise than on the media hungry streaming, burning, ripping, synching desktops of the home user fresh out of PC World, this will obviously change however (it already is, for one you’re reading this right?).

Anyway, down to business, the install was a breeze (as it always is with Mint) and once on the desktop it was as elegant as expected (although much greener, wow, that’s GREEN..!), with a chilled choice of readily available desktop themes and wallpapers I had a bit of a play about first before checking out what else was on offer (as you do, it’s always desktop wallpaper 1st yes?).

Into the menu system then, first off the bespoke Mint tools, here’s a brief mixdown of the big four -

Mint Nanny – A Domain blocker, browsing security for your kids.
Mint Updates – As it says, for updates.
Mint Backup – Indeed, I wonder that that’s for?

…and finally…

Mint Install – This is just great, no doubt. It offers one-click install of ‘Featured Apps’ (check out the screen grab), i.e the most popular extra applications (I used it to install Skype, a few easy clicks) and although it was a shame not to see a Twitter client option (especially as Kubuntu 9.04 comes with one) it was no biggie to pull Twitux down through Firefox and let it auto-install (http://www.getdeb.net/app/Twitux). As I say, no real hassle and both apps were up and running in as much time as it’s taken me to type this paragraph, certainly not rocket science in any shape or form, far from it.

What else, well you get full blown Thunderbird for your mail with the Lightning Calendar already built in (nice) and aside from your regular Open Office, Gimp and media offerings (Brasero, Rythmbox etc) Mint also comes with something called ‘Pulse Audio‘. Basically this is a ‘sound/audio’ server package with streaming support for Airtunes, however as I haven’t used it myself I can’t really comment in any depth. Further down toward the system end you get a pre-installed GUI for the UFW (Linux Firewall), a partition manager and a cool little app called ‘Giver’ which opens up simple desktop file sharing around the home or office, a cool choice for a pre-install and a lot more useful than you’d think (especially in a small office workgroup).

I really like Mint, always have done and version 7 is certainly something special. For home users who don’t fancy the glitzy swish rounded pop of Kubuntu 9.04′s KDE 4 or the perceived drop to business ready Ubuntu itself Mint is so much more than just a ‘mid-ground’, in fact for home use I honestly don’t think it can be beaten, this new version rocks.

Download RC1 for yourself HERE.