Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Open source

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

By Chris Duckett November 27, 2011, 8:41 AM PST

Image
1
of 20

6330458.png
6330458.png
Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12

Linux Mint 12

ntLinux Mint starts in the correct fashion by showing a nice boot menu.

n

ntCaptions: Chris Duckett/TechRepublic
ntScreenshots: Chris Duckett/TechRepublic

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12 Live CD environment

Linux Mint 12 Live CD environment

ntRather than jumping straight into the install process, Mint chooses the live environment route.

n

ntWe 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.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Starting installation process

Linux Mint 12: Starting installation process

ntThe installation process is conducted by one of the nicer installers we have encountered — this is a themed version of the Ubuntu installer.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Disk selection

Linux Mint 12: Disk selection

If it’s wrong to sit and stare contently at this screen after years of ugly text installers, then I don’t want to be right.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: User set-up

Linux Mint 12: User set-up

ntHaving installers actually do things, like copying files while it is asking the user for information, is a good way to trim the install time.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Waiting while installing

Linux Mint 12: Waiting while installing

ntThe Live environment means that you can browse the web and do some productive work while installation is happening.

n

ntThat’s all good and well, but where’s that corporate favourite: Solitare?

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: LightDM

Linux Mint 12: LightDM

Further showing Linux Mint’s Ubuntu hertiage, the log-in screen is powered by LightDM and a Guest session is available.

In the session chooser are the GNOME 3-based desktop labelled as GNOME, two fallback environments, and MATE for all the GNOME 2.x fans.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Welcome to GNOME 3

Linux Mint 12: Welcome to GNOME 3

ntNow this is where we get to see if Mint is worth all the trouble for Ubuntu refugees.

n

ntAt the bottom is a taskbar and a menu that is similar to the older Mint menu, which was the distribution’s calling card.

n

ntThe top left corner is the equivalent of the Activities menu in GNOME 3.

n

ntThat’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.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Duelling launchers

Linux Mint 12: Duelling launchers

ntHere 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 laucher.

n

ntBecause 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.

n

ntThere is no way that this isn’t going to be hard to explain at all in forums, or to your relatives.

n

nt 

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Alt-Tab behaviour

Linux Mint 12: Alt-Tab behaviour

ntIn GNOME 3, application windows are grouped together by application.

n

ntIn Mint, each window is placed on the switcher, as can be seen with these two Nautilus windows open.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Themes

Linux Mint 12: Themes

ntGNOME 3’s Advanced Settings tool reveals Mint’s secret sauce: custom extensions and themes.

n

ntMint comes with two new themes for GNOME 3, called Mint-Z and Mint-Z-Dark.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Settings and software management

Linux Mint 12: Settings and software management

ntMint comes with more control panels than the usually spartan GNOME 3 offers.

n

ntMint’s software manager is as much as one expects.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: MATE

Linux Mint 12: MATE

ntIf you absolutely, positively must have a GNOME 2.x-derived desktop then you should use MATE.

n

ntThe standard double GNOME panels have been condensed into one MATE panel that is equipped with the Mint menu.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: MATE panel

Linux Mint 12: MATE panel

ntHere’s something to warm the hearts of GNOME 2.x fans: being able to add panel applets again.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: MATE confusion

Linux Mint 12: MATE confusion

ntMATE comes with a Nautilus port called Caja. Since Nautilus is present and updated in the GNOME 3 environment, it’s not unreasonable to expect that if you so wanted, you could run Nautilus within MATE.

n

ntThe issue here, though, is that Caja was launched from the Mint menu’s home directory shortcut, while Nautilus was launched by clicking on the icon on the desktop. An issue like this should have been addressed prior to release.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: No Caja

Linux Mint 12: No Caja

ntConversely, trying to search for Caja in the two launchers is a futile task.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: DuckDuckGo and Caja

Linux Mint 12: DuckDuckGo and Caja

ntOf course, it is always possible to launch Caja from the command line in the GNOME 3 environment.

n

ntAlso in this shot is an example of the DuckDuckGo integrations with Firefox.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: GNOME 3 fallback

Linux Mint 12: GNOME 3 fallback

ntHere we have the GNOME 3 fallback environment. As a fallback it is not particularly exciting, but can be useful in graphical emergencies.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Shut Down

Linux Mint 12: Shut Down

ntOne of the biggest gripes with GNOME 3’s deafult  was the decision to hide the Shut Down option. To access it, users need to click on their name in the top right and then depress the alt button to have the Suspend option change to Shut Down. It’s far from intuitive, and Mint have listened to the users on this one and improved the shut-down experience.

Mint Linux 12 Lisa

Linux Mint 12: Shut Down Menu

Linux Mint 12: Shut Down Menu

ntHere’s a blast from the past, a shut down menu that looks like the one seen in GNOME 2.x.

n

ntIt’s another good addition from the Linux Mint crew.

  • Open source
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Mint Linux 12 Lisa

    Your email has been sent

Share: Mint Linux 12 Lisa
Image of Chris Duckett
By Chris Duckett
Some would say that it is a long way from software engineering to journalism, others would correctly argue that it is a mere 10 metres according to the floor plan. During his first five years with CBS Interactive, Chris started his journalistic adven
  • Account Information

    Contact Chris Duckett

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Chris's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Checklist: Network and systems security

    Cybersecurity demands and the stakes of failing to properly secure systems and networks are high. While every organization’s specific security needs form a unique and complex blend of interconnected requirements, numerous security fundamentals almost always apply to each of these groups. It stands to reason that cybersecurity pros who effectively identify network and systems risks ...

    Published:  June 1, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 2, 2023, 7:48 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to host multiple websites on Linux with Apache

    In this guide from TechRepublic Premium we’re going to explore the various things you can do with a Linux server. We won’t leave out any steps, so you won’t have to refer to another tutorial to complete the process. The only step we will leave out is the installation of Linux, as we’ll assume you ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:45 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to deploy an application with Kubernetes

    If you want to deploy applications into a Kubernetes cluster, be warned — it’s not the easiest task. There are a lot of moving pieces that go into these scalable containers. Don’t you wish you had a complete roadmap, from start to finish, to walk you through the process of deploying the Kubernetes cluster, deploying ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:51 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Cross-training tool kit

    The more flexibility you can create in your technology workforce, the better you’ll be equipped to manage tomorrow, whatever the future brings. Too often, we focus on helping our teams become technical specialists who know volumes about a single technology, but quickly lose sight of how that technology connects with others. This makes their skills ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 30, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 31, 2023, 4:50 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice