Linux Mint 18.1 or 18.2? [SOLVED]

[SuperSapien]

My friend wants to install Linux Mint XFCE on one his old laptops and he's wondering should he go with 18.1 or 18.2?
Because if we understand correctly Linux Mint 18.2 is based off Ubuntu 17.04 which isn't a long term support distro.
Or are we mistaken?

[MintBean]

Mistaken. All point releases in a series based on the same Ubuntu.

Go for 18.2.

[mr_raider]

There is a small difference in how kernels are handled in 18.1 and 18.2, but that can be modified fairly easily. Just go with 18.2. less updates to install.


Better yet, wait a few days and go with 18.3.

[Night Wing]

Because if we understand correctly Linux Mint 18.2 is based off Ubuntu 17.04 which isn't a long term support distro.
Or are we mistaken?

You're mistaken. Linux Mint 18.2 is based on Ubuntu 16.04 which is long term support (LTS) so it is good until sometime in the year 2021.

[Hoser Rob]

... if we understand correctly Linux Mint 18.2 is based off Ubuntu 17.04 ...

There's actually some truth to that but Mint 18.2 is still LTS. Mint 18.2 is based on Ubuntu 16.04, but it uses the kernel release that comes with 17.04, and maybe some other stuff.

Yes, Mint is sort of a frankenUbuntu, but Ubuntu is as well .

This is why users are advised to use the Mint Update Manager GUI for updates rather than the CLI commands, esp. apt-get dist-upgrade.

[SuperSapien]

Thanks I'll let him know.