Upgrade from 11 to 12?

[venusbloo]

Hello,
I've just installed Linux Mint 11 on my Dell 10v via usb, is it possible to upgrade to 12 by just downloading an upgrade or do I have to reinstall the complete o/s?
Thanks.

[Reorx]

File this under free advice worth what you pay for it but... I wouldn't upgrade to 12 unless there was some sort of compelling reason or you just like tinkering around with OSs and want to experience something "new". The next version of Mint (13) is an LTS version and is due out in the next month or 2... I really prefer LTS versions for their maturity and stability... I have great hopes for LM13 but until it comes out, I'm sticking with LM9 (the last LTS version - almost 2 years old!)...

Cheers!

- R -

P.S.: In terms of your actual question, I believe that you can upgrade either way... to upgrade in place takes a bit more skill than I have - I don't think there is a single "upgrade" package that you can D/L and install... so I would back up my data, wipe the entire LM11 install, install LM12 from scratch and then restore my data...

[Offcenter]

From another newbie....
What is a "LTS" version?
WHAT does it mean and how does it differ from
Mint 11 that I'm running?
Thanks!

[Reorx]

LTS = Long Term Support

Most versions of Mint are supported for 18 months... LTS versions (in the past at least) have been supported for 3 years... The last LTS was LM9 Isadora which came out in the spring of 2010... it'll be supported until spring 2013... The next LTS will be LM13 (due out in a month of 2) and it is alleged that it will be supported for 5 years... we will see..

LMDE (Debian edition) is a "rolling release" which means it is continuously updated to the latest available stuff including the kernel... there is no real version number... LMDE is not generally recommended for garden variety desktop computing... I think of it as "experimental" although technically this is not actually accurate...

[Inkit]

Not meaning to get into an argument here, but just to set things straight - LMDE is definitely not experimental. I have been using LMDE since the time it came out, and it is the version that I have used the longest. I find it more stable and with less issues than the supposedly main versions.
In my mind the difference is as given below

Main versions = Debian (+/-) Ubuntu + Mint [I put +/- because Ubuntu does something to the Debian base so that it becomes incompatible with it.]
LMDE - Debian + Mint

Take your pick.

[Reorx]

Not meaning to get into an argument here, but just to set things straight - LMDE is definitely not experimental. I have been using LMDE since the time it came out, and it is the version that I have used the longest. I find it more stable and with less issues than the supposedly main versions.
In my mind the difference is as given below

Main versions = Debian (+/-) Ubuntu + Mint [I put +/- because Ubuntu does something to the Debian base so that it becomes incompatible with it.]
LMDE - Debian + Mint

Take your pick.

Yes, I know it is not actually experimental... Would it be fair to call it leading (bleeding) edge and as such, somewhat more prone to stability problems (borkage) that the other versions?... and perhaps not the best choice for less than seasoned/experienced users?...

Having said that, I would love to see a rolling release of Mint based on Debian stable as I think of Canonical as more of a liability than an asset at this point...

[Inkit]

Would it be fair to call it leading (bleeding) edge and as such, somewhat more prone to stability problems (borkage) that the other versions?... and perhaps not the best choice for less than seasoned/experienced users?...

How edgy it is depends on the sources that you update from. The current ISO for lmde is a respin that has software that is more current than the Debian stable release. Then after you install you can choose between three options for your sources.list to get what you want. Depending on which one of these you choose, you can (in theory) get a system that has even more current software than even ones on ubuntu. This is because our update system is a trade off between stability and being current. The more current you want your system to be, the more the chances of breakage. The most stable is also the most backward.
Yet LMDE has a very good system (and this is not only my opinion) where people with the more current sources.list test out the updates, and when most common issues have been ironed out, these updates move to another set of users. This means that although it may take a month or two to get software, you are assured of no breakages. And in all the time I have used lmde I have never had one single breakage or borkage that was not caused by the user (meaning me). Unfortunately this is the only problem, according to developers, that is totally unfixable.

You can check the stickys from the LMDE forums for more information. there's one by Zerozero where you get all the information you want to about sources.list and how to set them up. Also just browse through the threads and you'll get an impression as to whether lmde has more or less problems than the main version.
And however comfortable I am with lmde now I was not much more than a newbe when I installed it. And I didn't have to do anything in it that I did not have to do in the main version. Most people who talk about breakages in lmde are the non users.

[Reorx]

Would it be fair to call it leading (bleeding) edge and as such, somewhat more prone to stability problems (borkage) that the other versions?... and perhaps not the best choice for less than seasoned/experienced users?...

...The current ISO for lmde is a respin that has software that is more current than the Debian stable release... The most stable is also the most backward...

For me, "current" is useless unless it is also dependable, reliable, & predictable - i.e. stable. My computing needs are simple - I am not sure, but I think that I actually prefer what you call "backward" software!... Go figure... to each their own...

The really great thing it that there is a flavor of Mint for both of us...

Cheers!

- R -

[venusbloo]

Thanks for the answers and info, I'll stick with 11 then-I suppose the saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" is very relevant here as it is working flawlessly.