Why 801MB?

[Hairyloon]

I've just started downloading Mint 13, and it reminded me to wonder about the disk size again.
800 MB is too big for a CD, but only a bit too big.
Why don't they either slim it down a bit so that it will fit on a CD, else make more use of the space on a DVD?
There are several different versions of Mint: various different desktops and whatnot, but I don't have a clue which would suit me best. Why not put them all on a live DVD so folk can try them and decide which to install?

It all seems a bit silly to me.

[oobetimer]

From here you can get a CD viewtopic.php?f=61&t=103449

download/file.php?id=10394

[Hairyloon]

From here you can get a CD viewtopic.php?f=61&t=103449

download/file.php?id=10394

Wasn't that I particularly wanted it on CD, it just struck me as a bit odd.

[nunol]

Clem already answered that in the Mint Blog:

Because of the size of the content, and the fact that a vast majority of systems nowadays can either boot from DVDs or from USB, Linux Mint no longer provides images which fit in 700MB CDs. It is however possible and easy to to modify ISO images. By removing packages such as Java, Mono, LibreOffice, Gimp..etc.. Linux Mint ISOs can be made to fit within 700MB.

700MB is not enough, 817MB is just right and fits nicely in a 1GB USB pen.

[Ginsu543]

It's also larger because Linux Mint comes with restricted drivers already installed by default, unlike distros that fit on a CD such as Ubuntu. Those files take up extra space, making the install larger than 700MB.

[Hairyloon]

Yes, I can see that it easily has to go over 700MB, but having broken that barrier, why not make use of the space?

Can't say I'm impressed with 13. Did I miss the bit that said it is a Beta release? I am minded to go back to Katya.

[Ginsu543]

I totally get what you're saying, but what else would you put on there? I suppose they could expand the list of applications installed by default, but I think the Mint team wants to leave much of that up to the individual user to install as he sees fit.

I myself am loving Mint 13 Cinnamon since I upgraded from Mint 11 Katya. For my hardware, Cinnamon runs pretty much flawlessly (including smoother video playback in both Totem and VLC), while Katya had some minor glitches. The only thing that doesn't work as it should in Cinnamon is that it won't log out if I use Gnome-Do to do it.

But to each his own, and that's why choice is one of the core values of LInux, I suppose.

[Hairyloon]

I totally get what you're saying, but what else would you put on there? I suppose they could expand the list of applications installed by default, but I think the Mint team wants to leave much of that up to the individual user to install as he sees fit.

As I said in OP, why not e.g. put Cinnamon and Mate on the same disk? I have not a clue which I would prefer. It would be nice to have a play with each before installing.

Cinnamon runs pretty much flawlessly (including smoother video playback in both Totem and VLC), while Katya had some minor glitches.

Mine is the exact opposite... though I only installed it yesterday, we'll see how it goes.

[monkeyboy]

I've just started downloading Mint 13, and it reminded me to wonder about the disk size again.
800 MB is too big for a CD, but only a bit too big.
Why don't they either slim it down a bit so that it will fit on a CD, else make more use of the space on a DVD?
There are several different versions of Mint: various different desktops and whatnot, but I don't have a clue which would suit me best. Why not put them all on a live DVD so folk can try them and decide which to install?

It all seems a bit silly to me.

Some of the folks who have slow and/or limited provider services really want a small download size release. Then there are the folks who see large sized releases as bloat boats. In my case I don't care but other folks do. Enjoy

[Koji]

It can be summed up like this... The disc has to be at least the current size to fit all the things that make Mint, Mint.

Storing extra DE on the disc or worse storing it on disc and then installing them all by default can be a very large and expensive (bandwidth and hdd wise) process.

In your case of not being sure which you'd prefer, it's still VERY easy to try them. All supported DE are available from the repos, so really you are just picking your starter DE.

Every one wins that way... Initial downloads are small and streamlined, and those wanting to try more things can pick and choose which ones to try from within mint itself.

[oobetimer]

One choice would be a minimal bare installation CD without anything else but desktop and package manager, so everyone could build the own Mint from basics.