- Which Linux Mint Desktop Should I Use?
- Choose the right edition¶
- Cinnamon, MATE or Xfce?¶
- 32-bit or 64-bit?¶
- Which Linux Mint Desktop Should I Use?
- Which Linux Mint 20.3 Desktop should I use?
- Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon Edition:
- Linux Mint 20.3 Mate Edition:
- Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce Edition:
- A Comparison between the Three Flavors of Linux Mint 20.3:
- Final Verdict:
- Which Linux Mint Desktop Editions Should I Use ?
- Which Linux Mint 20.3 Desktop should you use?
- A Comparison between the different Flavors of Linux Mint 20.3
- [Need help in fixing Linux Mint system issues ? We can help you . ]
- Conclusion
Which Linux Mint Desktop Should I Use?
Linux Mint is an ideal distribution for those users who are new to Linux. It is fast, stable, with many packages available, but above all easy to use. However, Linux Mint has several desktop environments, whose choice can confuse the user. Today, in this post, we will help you answer the question of Which Linux Mint Desktop Should I Use? Let’s see.
Introduction to Linux Mint
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distro that has been running since its initial release on August 27, 2006, so we are talking about a mature and robust project. As we all know, Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distro in the world. However that doesn’t mean it’s perfect and that’s where Linux Mint wants to do something about it.
Many people define Linux Mint as “the Ubuntu for those who don’t like Ubuntu “. An easy-to-use, very fast, simple and outstandingly maintained distro that comes with very distinctive elements that give it a distinct personality.
One of these differences is that Linux Mint blocks by default the use of Snap packages. This gives the user the opportunity to choose whether to activate it or not. Another important difference, and the one that will catch our attention from the first use, is the desktop environment it uses. While Ubuntu uses GNOME, Linux Mint has created a more traditional desktop environment with new technologies called Cinnamon.
In addition to this, Linux Mint includes proprietary tools such as a system updater, a backup tool called Timeshift and Flatpak support. Although they share a base, there are many differences between them.
The Linux Mint desktop environments
Officially, Linux Mint comes with several desktop environments, giving us the possibility to select the one that best suits our needs.
Cinnamon: The star version of the distribution
Cinnamon is the default desktop environment in Linux Mint. It is a desktop environment created with modern tools (it is a fork of GNOME) but maintaining a more classic layout for work. Its main goal is to be functional, productive, and fast.
The consumption of Cinnamon is quite low compared to GNOME, but as it is a modern desktop, we will find desktop effects and being derived from GNOME makes us need advanced computers to use it to the fullest. By advanced, we mean practically any computer from 5 years old.
Choose the right edition¶
You can download Linux Mint from the Linux Mint website.
Read below to choose which edition and architecture are right for you.
Cinnamon, MATE or Xfce?¶
Linux Mint comes in 3 different flavours, each featuring a different desktop environment.
Cinnamon | The most modern, innovative and full-featured desktop |
MATE | A more traditional, and faster desktop |
Xfce | The most lightweight desktop |
The most popular version of Linux Mint is the Cinnamon edition. Cinnamon is primarily developed for and by Linux Mint. It is slick, beautiful, and full of new features.
Linux Mint is also involved in the development of MATE, a classic desktop environment which is the continuation of GNOME 2, Linux Mint’s default desktop between 2006 and 2011. Although it misses a few features and its development is slower than Cinnamon’s, MATE uses less resources and can run faster on older computers.
Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment. It doesn’t support as many features as Cinnamon or MATE, but it’s extremely stable and very light on resource usage.
Of course, all three desktops are great and Linux Mint is extremely proud of each edition. Although there are more features and better support in some editions than others, and some do run faster and use less resources than others, they’re all great alternatives and choosing the right edition is largely a matter of taste.
Other than their features and performance, Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce also represent three different desktop environments, with different menus, different panels and configuration tools. The right one for you is the one where you feel at home.
If you are unsure which desktop to choose start with the Cinnamon edition. Try them all eventually when you have the time. All three of them have their own audience within the Linux Mint community and they’re all very popular.
32-bit or 64-bit?¶
From version 20 onward, only 64-bit is available.
The 32-bit ISO images on prior versions are provided for compatibility with older computers. 32-bit processors are extremely rare nowadays and most computers are able to run in 64-bit. If your computer was manufactured after 2007, you probably have a 64-bit processor.
If you have an old computer and you are unsure whether or not it can run in 64-bit, read X86 Chronology.
You can try to boot Linux Mint 64-bit on your computer. If it isn’t compatible, nothing bad will happen. You will just get an error message.
If you cannot boot or install Linux Mint because your hardware is too recent and is not properly detected see the Edge ISO Images chapter in the Linux Mint User Guide for an alternative ISO.
© Copyright 2017, Linux Mint Revision d8fbd844 .
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Which Linux Mint Desktop Should I Use?
Linux Mint recommends its users to choose the right edition for the right usage. It means that the users should first analyze their requirements and then, depending upon those requirements, they should critically review the features of the three Linux Mint 20.3 editions. After that, they should finally decide on which edition works best for them. In this article, we will try to explore the answer to the question “which Linux Mint 20.3 desktop should I use?”
Which Linux Mint 20.3 Desktop should I use?
For deciding which Linux Mint 20.3 desktop edition you should use, you must read about some of the main features of these different editions that are stated below for your convenience:
Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon Edition:
Talking about the Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon edition, it is known to be the most modern and innovative edition that contains all those features that you can expect out of a Linux Mint system. Also, it is the most popular and most widely used edition amongst the user community. This edition of Linux Mint gives a modern touch to the traditional desktop environment. This is also a reason for its popularity among Windows users since its interface resembles Windows 10’s interface pretty much. This is how the Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon edition looks like and you can easily download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=292.
Linux Mint 20.3 Mate Edition:
If we talk about the Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition, then, as compared to the Cinnamon edition, the Mate edition is a more stable release of Linux Mint. Also, the Mate edition consumes much lesser resources because of which it runs faster than Cinnamon. This is how the interface of the Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition looks like and you can conveniently download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=293.
Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce Edition:
As compared with Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon and Mate editions, Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce edition is known to be the most stable and lightweight release so far. Although, the Xfce edition does not support most of the features that are supported by the other two editions, however, because of being extremely lightweight, it consumes much lesser system resources. This is exactly the reason why this Linux Mint edition is preferred by users who have limited system resources. The interface of the Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce edition is shown in the image below and you can download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=294.
A Comparison between the Three Flavors of Linux Mint 20.3:
For summarizing the features of the three flavors of Linux Mint 20.3, we would like to draw a comparison between them. The Cinnamon edition is full-featured and is considered to be the most modern out of all the Linux Mint editions. However, because of containing all the features, this version of Linux Mint is slightly heavier. The Mate edition of Linux Mint 20.3 is stable as compared to Cinnamon and is much faster. Lastly, the Xfce edition is the most stable and the lightest release.
Final Verdict:
If you wish to experience all the features of Linux Mint 20.3, then you must go for the Cinnamon edition. If you prefer to have a lightweight operating system without compromising on the important features, then, you should download the Mate edition. If you are ready to make a compromise on some of the features of the operating system but want to have a fast and stable release, then, without a doubt you should choose the Xfce edition. However, if you are still confused about which flavor of Linux Mint 20.3 will be best for satisfying your needs, then you should start from the Cinnamon edition and try using all the editions one by one. After that, you can stick to the one that you like the best.
Karim Buzdar holds a degree in telecommunication engineering and holds several sysadmin certifications including CCNA RS, SCP, and ACE. As an IT engineer and technical author, he writes for various websites.
Which Linux Mint Desktop Editions Should I Use ?
Linux Mint recommends its users to choose the right edition for the right usage. It means that the users should first analyze their requirements and then, depending upon those requirements, they should critically review the features of the three Linux Mint 20.3 editions.
Here at LinuxAPT , we shall look into which Linux Mint 20.3 desktop you should use.
Which Linux Mint 20.3 Desktop should you use?
To decide which Linux Mint 20.3 desktop edition you should use, you must read about some of the main features of these different editions that are stated below for your convenience:
1. Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon Edition
The Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon edition is also known to be the most modern and innovative edition which contains all those features that you can expect out of a Linux Mint system. Also, it is the most popular and most widely used edition amongst the user community. This edition of Linux Mint gives a modern touch to the traditional desktop environment. This is also a reason for its popularity among Windows users since its interface resembles Windows 10’s interface pretty much. This is how the Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon edition looks like and you can easily download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=292.
2. Linux Mint 20.3 Mate Edition
Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition as compared to the Cinnamon edition, is a more stable release of Linux Mint. Also, the Mate edition consumes much lesser resources because of which it runs faster than Cinnamon. This is how the interface of the Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition looks like and you can conveniently download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=293.
3. Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce Edition
Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce edition as compared to Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon and Mate editions is known to be the most stable and lightweight release so far. Although, the Xfce edition does not support most of the features that are supported by the other two editions, however, because of being extremely lightweight, it consumes much lesser system resources. This is exactly the reason why this Linux Mint edition is preferred by users who have limited system resources. The interface of the Linux Mint 20.3 Xfce edition is shown in the image below and you can download it by visiting the link that follows: https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=294.
A Comparison between the different Flavors of Linux Mint 20.3
To summarize the features of the three flavors of Linux Mint 20.3, we would like to draw a comparison between them. The Cinnamon edition is full-featured and is considered to be the most modern out of all the Linux Mint editions. However, because of containing all the features, this version of Linux Mint is slightly heavier. The Mate edition of Linux Mint 20.3 is stable as compared to Cinnamon and is much faster. Lastly, the Xfce edition is the most stable and the lightest release.
[Need help in fixing Linux Mint system issues ? We can help you . ]
Conclusion
This article covers the different flavours of Linux Mint to use. If you wish to experience all the features of Linux Mint 20.3, then you must go for the Cinnamon edition. If you prefer to have a lightweight operating system without compromising on the important features, then, you should download the Mate edition. If you are ready to make a compromise on some of the features of the operating system but want to have a fast and stable release, then, without a doubt you should choose the Xfce edition. However, if you are still confused about which flavor of Linux Mint 20.3 will be best for satisfying your needs, then you should start from the Cinnamon edition and try using all the editions one by one. After that, you can stick to the one that you like the best.