older software and new hardware

[LISABLUEANGEL]

is it true that you cannot run an older edition of liuxmint- say like isadora 9 on a brand new laptop thats not even 4mos old! i just wanted to know if you have to stick with a certain type of software meant for your type of hardware? say like can run petra cinnamon on this laptop but not isadora 9 because the modem chipset was too new for isadora 9...... i tried it and it failed.....

[gold_finger]

I would say "that depends". A "new" laptop doesn't necessarily mean you have components that are bleeding-edge new that lack linux drivers. If it's closer to a top-of-the-line model with newer graphics card, etc. then "yes" probably. But the main problem you have by choosing Mint 9 is that it is a version no longer supported by updates. So, if you had a lower to mid-range new laptop, the components MAY have been supportable under Mint 9, but you won't know that because you can't update it anymore to find out.

Best bet is to choose a version that is still supported by updates: 13, 14, 16 -- don't bother with 15, support for it ends in January.

Can I ask: Were you wanting Mint 9 Isadora for any particular reason?

[LISABLUEANGEL]

well,gold finger i really liked the look and feel of isadora 9 and im really in love with it! but i cannot get connected to the internet out of the box like i can with number 16 petra.....
so im going to stick with petra since everything works on it with my new laptop!

[eanfrid]

The big part of the issue is not really the age of the distro release. The big part is the kernel version. Newer kernels solve bugs, security issues and support newer hardware (new or "re-written" drivers). The minor part is that most packages - if not all - will also be outdated and remain unfixed.

[gold_finger]

@LISABLUEANGEL,

well,gold finger i really liked the look and feel of isadora 9 and im really in love with it! but i cannot get connected to the internet out of the box like i can with number 16 petra.....
so im going to stick with petra since everything works on it with my new laptop!

Don't know which flavor of Mint you picked for 16, but if you haven't tried Xfce and/or Mate, try those -- they are closer in look and feel to what 9 was (assuming you used the gnome2 version for that). Just burn live DVD/USB's for those and try them out.