At the moment, the current version is Linux Mint 18.3, codenamed "Sylvia", was born on November 27, 2017. The most popular and downloaded version is version 64 with the Cinnamon desktop environment. There are also versions with the working environment Mate, Xfce, KDE, both 32 and 64 bit.
They differ in a graphical shell. KDE is considered the most voracious, although it is the most advanced and beautiful, for weak computers it won't fit. If you decide to install this distribution kit on a weak computer, then it is better to install the Xfce version, it is not demanding on processor and video card resources. Consider the most downloaded version, Cinnamon.
I think no one will have any questions about installing this distribution kit, it is installed quite simply and easily, and even quickly, you can watch the installation process. Linux Mint is primarily suitable for those who decide to switch from Windows to something new. Although some recommendations apply to Ubuntu as well, personal experience I will say Linux Mint is more suitable for these purposes.
At startup, we see a guest window in which you need to enter the username and password of the user that was specified during installation operating system.
The welcome screen window is displayed, with the help of it you can familiarize yourself with the documentation, new features of Linux Mint, and also configure the drivers. Although the drivers are installed by default, the only thing that is required is additional video driver configuration.
In the tray near the clock, we see an icon similar to a shield, when you click on it, the update manager starts, which will offer to update the system and its components, I recommend doing this right away. Programs are constantly being finalized and improved, and updates are constantly being released.
Linux Mint - Update Manager We see that the update manager offers to install updates for certain programs and modules.
Linux Mint - Computer As I said above, Linux Mint has a more similar look to the Winodws operating system. On the desktop, we can see it right away, there is the icon "Computer" and "Home folder". Also at the bottom of the screen there is a "Menu" button, an analogue of the "Start" button in Windows and a quick launch bar. The quick launch bar is easily customizable to suit user needs.
When we click on "Computer" we see the usual arrangement of storage devices, and on the side a link to folders. Which I can say is very convenient and familiar, especially for beginners. Linux Mint - Menu
When you click on "Menu" we see the menu of all installed programs, for convenience they are divided into categories. Even if you compare with Linux Ubuntu, the programs are placed here more conveniently.
Finally, a new version of the very popular Linux mint 18.3 distribution, codenamed “Silvia”, has been released.
Linux Mint 18.3 is a long-term release that will be supported until 2021. It comes with updated software and provides many new features and updates.
What's new in Linux mint 18.3
Improved application manager
The user interface looks more modern and now looks a lot like the Gnome app store.
Also, Flatpak support has been added to the app store. Thanks to Flatpak, you can install the latest applications even if their dependencies are not compatible with Linux Mint.
Backup
The Backup tool has been almost completely rewritten. Everything has been revised: its features, how it looks and how it works.
It is now designed to create backup your home directory, no less and no more. It saves all your files to a tar archive. When restoring a backup, the files are restored to the same place where they were, with their original permissions and timestamps.
But that's not all, to the instrument reserve copy the Timeshift application was added, it is a tool for system snapshots, which is now installed by default.
- will be the perfect companion for Linux Mint Backup Tool. It does not store your personal data, but it does store everything else.
Thanks to Timeshift, you can create backups of the operating system itself.
System reports
A new tool has been developed for Linux Mint 18.3 called System Reports. Its purpose is to generate reports on software crashes and display information related to your computer and your environment.
When a failure occurs, information is collected and a failure report is generated.
The System Reports tool displays crashes and lets you create stack traces for them:
Improving applications
Updated text editor Xed, which now has a minimap.
Improved PDF reader toolbar, Xreader. History buttons have been replaced with navigation buttons (history can be viewed through the menu). The two zoom buttons have been toggled and a zoom reset button has been added to make the Xreader fit other applications.
Now shipped by default. This tool adapts the color temperature of your screen based on the time of day, making it warmer at night to reduce the impact on your eyes.
Login screen
The login screen is now more customizable. Options have been added for automatic login, so if you are the only user, you can configure your computer to login without a password.
The main application menu has also been slightly redesigned and can now display recently used applications. To enable this feature, click right click mouse on the menu icon, open the settings and enable the Recent plugin.
Linux Mint 19.2 Cinnamon Is one of the most convenient and popular Linux distributions. Mint's goal is to create a modern, elegant and user-friendly operating system that is powerful and easy to use. This OS is the best choice for beginners who want to stop using and start exploring the world of Linux. Indeed, after installation, the user receives the most simple system that is already configured and ready to work. You don't need to download and install drivers, main software, codecs, etc. And if the missing software still turns out, then it can be easily downloaded from the Program Manager (a kind of Google Play).
If you are still hesitant to install Linux Mint on your computer, then you can run it directly from your media (optical disk or USB) and familiarize yourself with the basic aspects. It's completely free, so click download Linux Mint via torrent and forget forever about using activators and entering keys. There are practically no viruses for Linux, so when working with it you can feel completely safe without any antivirus software. Cinnamon is the main desktop environment in our distribution and is considered lightweight, functional, and simply beautiful. It has a traditional look and many features from the Windows interface, and the memory consumption at rest is limited to 500 megabytes.
Version: 19.2 Tina (Cinnamon)
Bit depth: x64
Developer: Clement Lefebvre and the community
Tongue: Russian, English and many others
Treatment: Not required
Screenshots:
Reasons for the success of Linux Mint:
- It works out of the box, has full multimedia support, and is extremely easy to use;
- It's free and open source;
- A large community where members can send feedback to the project so that their ideas can be used to improve Linux Mint;
- It is based on Ubuntu and Debian and offers about 30,000 packages and one of best managers software;
- It is safe and secure. With a conservative approach to software updates, a unique update manager, and a robust Linux architecture, it requires very little maintenance time.
Development Team Leader Clement Lefebvre approved the release of the skins for a wide audience on July 2, 2017. Curious that the way out new version Mint has coincided with updates to the main Cinnamon and MATE desktop environments, as well as the alternatives to KDE and Xfce.
Clement Lefebvre commented on the release:
Linux Mint 18.2 - Long Term Version technical support until 2021. The distribution comes with updated software and includes improvements and new features to make your desktop even more user-friendly.
Linux Mint 18.2 ships with fresh versions of the Cinnamon 3.4, MATE 1.18, KDE Plasma 5.8 LTS, and Xfce 4.12 desktop skins. The distribution is based on the Ubuntu 16.04 LTS codebase and kernel linux versions 4.8. LightDM is used as an authorization manager for Cinnamon. Software Sources, Update Manager, and XApps have received numerous improvements.
Now that work on Linux Mint 18.2 (Sonya) is complete, development for the next major version of Linux Mint 18.3 has begun. Clement Lefebvre invites developers to think about exciting new features and projects that they would like to implement in the upcoming release.
In the update manager, select the "Check for updates" button to start checking the new version of mintupdate and mint-upgrade-info. If updates are available for these packages, install them.
Run the system update by selecting Edit\u003e Upgrade to "Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya".
Follow the instructions on the screen.
After completing the system update, restart your computer.
Additional Information:
- Although Linux Mint 18.2 has a new kernel, this update does not change the kernel on your behalf; the decision must be made by the user.
- The same goes for choosing a graphics manager or choosing software. Brasero will not be removed and MDM will not be switched to LightDM on your behalf. You can apply these changes yourself, but this is not required.
- It is recommended to disable the screensaver before upgrading. If the splash screen is activated during the update and you are unable to log in, switch to the console with CTRL + ALT + F1, login and type killall cinnamon-screensaver (or killall mate-screensaver in MATE). Use CTRL + ALT + F7 or CTRL + ALT + F8 to return to your session.
How to switch from MDM to LightDM
First install LightDM by typing the following commands in the terminal:
Apt install slick-greeter lightdm-settings
When asked to select your default display manager, select LightDM.
Then uninstall MDM and reboot by entering the following commands into the terminal:
apt remove mdm
Today we will look at the distribution of the operating system Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon, we will download this version, install it on your computer, talk about the innovations, and I will also show you the upgrade process to this version.
Linux Mint 18.3 distribution overview
First, let's remember what Linux Mint is.
Linux Mint Is the operating system distribution linux systems, it is free and focused on home computer... Linux Mint is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, supports Russian language, it is functional, stable and undemanding to resources. Therefore, if you want to use Linux as an operating system on your home computer, then I personally recommend installing the Linux Mint distribution kit.
Linux Mint can be installed with graphical shells such as Cinnamon, Mate, KDE and Xfce. As the title suggests, today we will be looking at a version with the Cinnamon desktop environment.
Distribution official website - www.linuxmint.com
What's new in Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon?
Linux Mint 18.3 version code name " Sylvia", Be supported this version will be until 2021, like the entire line of 18.X versions, it is based on the Ubuntu 16.04 package base.
Main components and changes :
- Linux kernel 4.10;
- Cinnamon version 3.6;
- Browser Mozilla firefox 57.0;
- Mozilla Thunderbird 52.4 mail client;
- Office suite LibreOffice 5.1.6.2;
- Updated program manager ( Software Manager) - probably the main innovation of the current version is the redesigned program manager. It has been almost completely redesigned, including the graphical user interface. Now, by the way, you do not need to enter a password, in order to simply launch the manager to view the available applications, the password is required only to install these applications. I hope this version will be as convenient as the last one, which I personally liked very much. Now the program manager looks like this;
- Available popular applications - now programs such as Skype, WhatsApp Steam or Minecraft can be easily installed from the program manager using standard tools;
- Flatpak support - The distribution now supports Flatpak technology. Flatpak Is a technology by which applications run in an isolated container, so it doesn't matter which Linux distribution you are using. In other words, you can install an application that is incompatible with the Linux Mint distribution. There is even a separate category in the program manager, which contains applications developed using Flatpak;
- GNOME Online Accounts Support - Cinnamon now supports GNOME accounts, allowing you to browse Google drive and OwnCloud in the Nemo file manager;
- Backup tools: Personal Files and System Snapshots. Tool " Backup"Has been completely rewritten and now works in user mode ( those. no password required), this tool is designed to create a backup copy of your home directory. It is also now possible to take system snapshots thanks to the Timeshift functionality, which is designed to take snapshots of the operating system similar to System Restore in Windows;
- System reports - in this release a new tool has been added “ System reports", Which is designed to generate reports on software failures, such reports are called" Crash Reports", As well as to display system information, reports " Information Reports»;
- Window Progress ( Window progress) - LibXapp now allows applications to pass their progress to the window manager, in other words, progress is displayed in the window list of the panel. This feature is supported by the following applications: file manager Nemo ( file operations), backup tool, Timeshift, software manager, driver manager and some other applications that use dialog boxes Synaptic;
- Improvements in XApps applications - for example, the Xed text editor now has a minimap, Xreader detects DPI, a full-screen window has been improved in Xplayer;
- The login window has been improved - additional settings have been added, for example, it is now possible to hide the list of users and enter usernames manually, you can also disable various elements on the panel and now, by the way, they show tooltips;
- Linux Mint now has improved support for spelling and synonym checking in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian;
- Redshift is now installed by default. it software adapts the color temperature of the screen depending on the time of day, in other words, the screen will be warmer at night, thereby reducing the impact on your eyes.
Backup
Timeshift
Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon system requirements
- 1 gigabyte random access memory (recommend more);
- 15 gigabytes free space on disk ( recommend 20 gigabytes);
- Supports 1024 × 768 screen resolution.
The Cinnamon version is one of the most resource-intensive and works really fast.
Where to download Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon?
Download current version Linux Mint 18.3 operating system is available from the download page of the official website - here it is.
After going to the page, you need to select the desktop environment and system architecture ( 32-bit or 64-bit). We click on the required link.
Then you need to choose a download method, for example, via torrent or from any available mirror, for Russia you can choose Yandex Team, here is a direct link to download Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon 64-bit from this mirror.
As a result, the 64 bit version was loaded, namely the file ( iso image ) linuxmint-18.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso about 1.76 gigabytes in size.
Installing Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon on your computer
Process linux installations Mint is simple, and we have looked at it many times already, but for those who will install Linux Mint on a computer for the first time, I will describe this process step by step and with pictures.
On a note! . Linux basics - like an operating system on a home computer
Step 1
We write the image that we downloaded to disk and boot from it. After loading, the disc menu will open, select " Start Linux Mint».
Step 2
The Live version will be loaded, on the desktop we click on the shortcut “ Install Linux Mint", As a result, the installation program will start on hDD computer.
Step 3
First, select the language, click " Continue».
Step 4
Step 5
Now we select the type of disk partitioning, for me this is a test installation, so I select the first item " Erase disk and install Linux Mint". For manual disk marking, select the item “ Another variant". We discussed manual partitioning in detail in the article "Partitioning a hard disk in Linux Ubuntu during installation". In my case, click " Install now».
We confirm the changes, click " Continue».
Step 6
We indicate our location, click " Continue».
Step 7
Select the keyboard layout and press the " Continue».
Step 8
It remains only to create account, to do this, enter your name, computer name, username and password with confirmation, click " Continue».
The installation has started.
The installation will be completed, as the following message appears, click " Reboot»
Upgrading Linux Mint to Linux Mint 18.3
It is not necessary to install Linux Mint from scratch, if you already have a previous release of Linux Mint 18.2 installed, you just need to update installed system, for example using “ Update manager". To do this, open “ Menu -\u003e Administration -\u003e Update Manager».
If there is no update " mint-upgrade-info", Then first press the button" Check for updates", and then " Install updatesi".
We enter the administrator password, since installing updates requires certain privileges, click " Authenticate».
After you have installed this update, you have in the menu " Edit"Update manager, the item" Upgrade to Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia", To update the entire distribution, we need to click on this item.
This will launch the updater. In the first window, click " Next».
Then we are invited to read the release notes ( for this, if you want, you can click on the corresponding link), press “ Next».
Before updating, we are invited to find out the new features of this version ( if you want to see them, click on the corresponding link), press “ Next».
Further, we are warned that there is a risk of harming the system, since after any update some problems may arise, but in standard cases everything goes well, we tick the box, thereby confirming our intentions to update the system, and click " Apply».
To update the system, you need to enter your password, click " OK».
The system update will be completed, as the next window appears, click " Close"And restart the computer.
Screenshots Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon
Desktop
File manager
System parameters
That's all, good luck!