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Thread: Alternative to Linux Mint?

  1. #1
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    Alternative to Linux Mint?

    The two things I really liked about Linux Mint were:

    1. The extra (i.e., proprietary) stuff that installed automatically.

    2. The ranking system for updates that ensured that I got relatively secure packages that would not break my system (Fedora always did that to me).

    How much of that would I really miss if I switched to Ubuntu? Is there some automatic way (through a third party or otherwise) to easily get those proprietary things after an Ubuntu install?

    Is taking all the updates (without ranking) dangerous in Ubuntu as I found them to be in Fedora?

    Is there another distribution worth looking into?

    Interested in any advice on the best alternative to Mint.

    Thanks,

    --Jim Rogers

  2. #2
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    Apr 2009
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    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    I'd say Linux Mint is quite unique.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Ventura, CA, USA
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    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    in Ubuntu you can use the medibuntu repo. It has the proprietary stuff too.

    Updates are safe in Ubuntu when you do not activate the proposed repo.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    Norway
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    To recommend you anything wisely we have to know your needs...!

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    crunchbang linux

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Distro
    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    How much of that would I really miss if I switched to Ubuntu? Is there some automatic way (through a third party or otherwise) to easily get those proprietary things after an Ubuntu install?


    Installing proprietary stuff in Ubuntu is relatively easy. It's just a matter of installing a package through the Add/Remove Applications option. You can either use the command line or graphic interface. The exact details for installation through the graphic interface are:

    1. click System/Administration/Software Sources

    2. under the Ubuntu Software tab make sure the "Multiverse" repository is checked.

    3. click Applications/Add Remove

    4. Search for "Restricted Extras"

    5. Select and install

    6. Reboot
    Dell Studio Core 2 Duo T6400, 4 GB RAM, Ubuntu Karmic 9.10

    Inspiron 1100, Intel Celeron 2.40 GHz, 845 Intel Graphics, 638 MB RAM, Ubuntu Gutsy 7.10

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    the Hague, Netherlands
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    949
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    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    I would say regular ubuntu, because they are 95% identical, and ubuntu can install all the propietary codecs + flashplayer + fonts + java with one mouse click. (Go to add/remove and install "ubuntu-restricted-extras"), you will still be able to listen to music and watch videos

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    20

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    Quote Originally Posted by Screwdriver0815 View Post
    in Ubuntu you can use the medibuntu repo. It has the proprietary stuff too.

    Updates are safe in Ubuntu when you do not activate the proposed repo.
    Thank you-- that's helpful.

    Also, if I install Ubuntu, is it easy to upgrade my installation? With Mint they always recommended a clean install with each new version (although that's going to change soon).

    That was a pain every six months.

    In the old days, I remember that Debian didn't have an installer, but users said it didn't matter because once you did get it installed, you'd never have to do it again.

    That certainly wasn't the case with Mint, does Ubuntu adhere to the old Debian "one install" philosophy?

    --Jim

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    Florida, USA
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    Distro
    Kubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    You could run this command in Ubuntu.
    Code:
    sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/jaunty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list && wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y ubuntu-restricted-extras non-free-codecs w32codecs totem-mozilla libdvdcss2

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    4,513
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Re: Alternative to Linux Mint?

    Ubuntu + Medibuntu.

    Really, Linux Mint does not offer anything ground-breaking.

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