Linux Mint Forums

Hi !

cmost wrote:First of all, you can utilize 4+ GB of RAM on a 32 Bit Linux installation by simply enabling the option when compiling your kernel. This feature has been available for quite some time (and in fact, I'm running such a kernel at this very moment and it works splendidly on my system with 4 GB of RAM.) Furthermore, 4+ GB support is already available in the stock Ubuntu kernel that shipped with 8.04 LTS (which Mint 5.0 uses, unless I'm mistaken.)

Yes I'm fully aware of this, however in test the 64bit version of the O/S actually handled the video editing tasks faster than the 32bit O/S with the kernel extension for memory management above 4GB. This may have been down to the fact that memory is managed in larger chunks.

Secondly, you have to keep in mind the target audience of Linux Mint. While it might be possible that Clem is eyeing Enterprise domination, I doubt it. The purpose of Linux Mint, at least as long as I've been a member of the community, has been simple, easy and elegant solutions for desktop users. The goal has never been to target enterprise server rooms or super computers.

These people are "Desktop Users" they just happen to be video editing specialists!
If we push Mint into a corner and label it "None Commercial Desktop Users Only" then we'd be sending it to it's death !
Commercial users like the facilities, ease of use and reliability that Mint offers as much as anyone else does.
Bill Gates wouldn't be where he is now if he'd said "Windows is for home users only"

In spite of this, I do happen to agree that a 64 Bit version of Linux Mint would be another jewel in an already fantastic crown. Since Ubuntu offers such a version, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for the Mint development team to create a derivative work for the Mint community. On the other hand, Ubuntu moves too quickly and its software becomes outdated every six months as new versions are released and old versions stagnate. I'm holding out for a Debian based Linux Mint, which is seems to be in the works. With the breadth of software and options available for Debian, a Mint edition would offer the best of all worlds and a slew of new opportunities including 64 Bit support AND Enterprise solutions.

Could the 64bit version of Mint not be based off of the Ubuntu version ?
I too like native Debian without all the "Ubuntu Interference" however this is the route the existing version has already taken so it would make sense to continue along the same lines
with the 64bit version.

Perhaps both is the best option

Mike.