Newbie from *Buntu

[CWM800]

Hi I am new here,

I am coming from *buntu... and I am looking to get away from Unity... Thats how I wound up on Xubuntu.. I just dont like the way its going , the way they force you to use this unity crap.... Dont like what Canocial is trying to force apon everyone...

So my question is, if I was to install Mint 12, the latest... Does it have unity.. And will we ever be forced to use Unity? I hate hate hate it... And dont want it... If so then i'll have to go back to windows 7 and suffer...

Thanks,
Christopher

[xenopeek]

Hi Christopher, welcome to the Linux Mint forums

To be fair, you can install any other desktop environment you want on Ubuntu. But you are most welcome to install Linux Mint The main edition of Linux Mint will not install Unity, but will (on the soon to be released Linux Mint 13) offer you the choice between Cinnamon and MATE. Cinnamon is the "classic desktop paradigm" implemented on top of modern technology offered by Gnome 3. It is being developed actively by the Linux Mint developers. MATE is a fork of Gnome 2 (which the Gnome developers have abandoned), on which the Linux Mint developers are also involved. Next to that there are also KDE and LXDE editions. But again, you can install any other desktop environment you want.

After installing Linux Mint 12, go ahead and install Cinnamon (it will be installed by default from Linux Mint 13) and you can compare Cinnamon and MATE as to which will suit you best.

Some review links:

• Linux Mint 12 (Gnome 3+MGSE [now replaced by Cinnamon] / MATE): http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/12/08/li ... 12-review/
• Cinnamon: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/cinnamon-1-4.html

For a bit of perspective, here is a current poll on desktop environments running on the forums: viewtopic.php?f=178&t=100787 If Unity is not for you, there should be enough alternative choices but I think you will be pleased with the main edition (Cinnamon/MATE).

Be sure also to check out the Cinnamon Spices website for adding themes, applets and extensions to Cinnamon (and check out the Cinnamon Extras package, which will install a lot of these for your automatically). If you haven't installed Cinnamon, see here the most recent update for a teaser.

[kindofabuzz]

BTW, ubuntu is not forcing you to use Unity. It's just the default. You could always install XFCE, LXDE, MATE, Awesome, Cinnamon, or whatever DM you want on it. Same with Mint or any other distro. Anyways, welcome to Mint!

[CWM800]

Hi Christopher, welcome to the Linux Mint forums

To be fair, you can install any other desktop environment you want on Ubuntu. But you are most welcome to install Linux Mint The main edition of Linux Mint will not install Unity, but will (on the soon to be released Linux Mint 13) offer you the choice between Cinnamon and MATE. Cinnamon is the "classic desktop paradigm" implemented on top of modern technology offered by Gnome 3. It is being developed actively by the Linux Mint developers. MATE is a fork of Gnome 2 (which the Gnome developers have abandoned), on which the Linux Mint developers are also involved. Next to that there are also KDE and LXDE editions. But again, you can install any other desktop environment you want.

After installing Linux Mint 12, go ahead and install Cinnamon (it will be installed by default from Linux Mint 13) and you can compare Cinnamon and MATE as to which will suit you best.

Some review links:

• Linux Mint 12 (Gnome 3+MGSE [now replaced by Cinnamon] / MATE): http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/12/08/li ... 12-review/
• Cinnamon: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/cinnamon-1-4.html

For a bit of perspective, here is a current poll on desktop environments running on the forums: viewtopic.php?f=178&t=100787 If Unity is not for you, there should be enough alternative choices but I think you will be pleased with the main edition (Cinnamon/MATE).

Be sure also to check out the Cinnamon Spices website for adding themes, applets and extensions to Cinnamon (and check out the Cinnamon Extras package, which will install a lot of these for your automatically). If you haven't installed Cinnamon, see here the most recent update for a teaser.

Thanks for the warm welcome.. Glad to be here

So if I was to install 12 right now, how long is it supported for?

And I dont understand what Cinnamon is? is that like gnome 2 just with a different name?

Thanks,
Christopher

[xenopeek]

Linux Mint 12 is supported until April 2013. Linux Mint 13, hopefully released this month, will be supported for at least 3 years.

You can think of Cinnamon as looking and behaving like the Gnome 2 user interface, but fresher and running on top of the new technology of Gnome 3 (instead of the default user interface for Gnome 3, which is Gnome Shell). MATE = Gnome 2 under a different name

[CWM800]

BTW, ubuntu is not forcing you to use Unity. It's just the default. You could always install XFCE, LXDE, MATE, Awesome, Cinnamon, or whatever DM you want on it. Same with Mint or any other distro. Anyways, welcome to Mint!

Thanks for the welcome

I am still trying to understand what cinnamon and mate is?? Ive never heard of those.

-- Christopher

[CptMidnight]

BTW, ubuntu is not forcing you to use Unity. It's just the default. You could always install XFCE, LXDE, MATE, Awesome, Cinnamon, or whatever DM you want on it. Same with Mint or any other distro. Anyways, welcome to Mint!

Thanks for the welcome

I am still trying to understand what cinnamon and mate is?? Ive never heard of those.

-- Christopher

MATE is a continuation of the old GNOME environment, which was the default for Ubuntu before they went with Unity. Cinnamon is an environment that looks similar to the old GNOME but uses a newer framework under the hood.