The latest release of Linux Mint, codenamed Lisa, was recently released, and comes with three different variations on the GNOME desktop.
Linux Mint 12
Linux Mint starts in the correct fashion by showing a nice boot menu.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: live CD environment
Rather than jumping straight into the install process, Mint chooses the live environment route.
We were dropped into a GNOME 3 fallback environment for the install, which was no hassle, as graphical acceleration during an installation process is truly an optional extra.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: starting installation process
The installation process is conducted by one of the nicer installers that we have encountered — this is a themed version of the Ubuntu installer.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: disk selection
If it's wrong to sit and stare contently at this screen after years of ugly text installers, then we don't want to be right.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: user set-up
Having installers actually do things, like copying files while it is asking the user for information, is a good way to trim the install time.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: waiting while installing
The live environment means that you can browse the web and do some productive work while installation is happening.
That's all good and well, but where's that corporate favourite: solitaire
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: LightDM
Further showing Linux Mint's Ubuntu heritage, the log-in screen is powered by LightDM, and a Guest session is available.
In the session chooser are the GNOME 3-based desktops labelled as GNOME, two fallback environments and MATE for all the GNOME 2.x fans.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: welcome to GNOME 3
Now this is where we get to see if Mint is worth all the trouble for Ubuntu refugees.
At the bottom is a taskbar and a menu that is similar to the older Mint menu, which was the distribution's calling card.
The top-left corner is the equivalent of the Activities menu in GNOME 3.
That's correct; there are two ways to get at same applications and content on the desktop. I'm not convinced from a UX puritanical perspective that this is a good thing, but, from a practical viewpoint, it needed to happen to avoid the same criticisms being thrown at Mint that were thrown at GNOME 3.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: duelling launchers
Here we have the standard GNOME 3 launch overlay sitting behind the Mint menu. On the left side of the menu is the pinned applications equivalent of the GNOME 3 launcher.
Because the taskbar at the bottom has the workspaces sitting horizontally beside each other, the regular vertical workspace switcher from GNOME 3 is hidden, and can be exposed by moving the pointer to the far right side.
There is no way that this isn't going to be hard to explain at all in forums, or to your relatives.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
Linux Mint 12: Alt-Tab behaviour
In GNOME 3, application windows are grouped together by application.
In Mint, each window is placed on the switcher, as can be seen with these two Nautilus windows open.
(Credit: Chris Duckett/Tech Republic)
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