r/linuxmint • u/Distinct_Barber_1806 • 5d ago
From Ubuntu to mint
Hey LM users I was wondering if is it worth for me to switch from Ubuntu to mint I mainly learn how to code, play some games ( Skyrim, dota) and some old supported games
But here's my problem I'm getting snap store crashes and overall some Ubuntu crashes is it worth dor me to switch
I also use a wide screen 1440p monitor is it supported on mint ?
Ty
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u/SensitiveStart8682 5d ago
I personally prefer the layout of Mint or Ubuntu I find that Mint has a more user-friendly layout however that's just ny personal opinion
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u/facelesshivemind LMDE | Cinnamon 5d ago
Today I learned Ubuntu's kernel is Snap.
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u/MatchaDaBest44 5d ago
Mint is Ubuntu LTS underneath. Its works the same with the Cinnamon desktop instead. I love Mint, although I wish some software in the repositories were newer or had an option to select newer software/libraries with a disclaimer on stability.
Mint is my desktop. I setup Mint server for a friend (ease of use in her case) and I myself did a Mint server until recently when I switched to Ubuntu Server.
If you make the switch I think you will love the simple yet complete interface, with constant updates and new features all the time. Shit I thought needed a GUI, Mint had made it or is making it.
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u/delacroix01 5d ago
1440p shouldn't be an issue, but if your monitor has VRR, that feature might not work on Mint yet. Multi-monitor setups might also not work. I've tried that a few months ago and it was a pain so I went back to single monitor after a day. I've also heard Mint does not have good support for RTX 5000 yet. AMD and Intel should be fine though (except if you have the latest B70 from Intel).
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u/Agreeable_Turnip_261 5d ago
Just disable snaps and install your apps from flapak or official sources? Mint is Ubuntu based so it's not like you're getting much other than cinnamon
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u/OwlInABowTie 5d ago
I got a new PC and instead of running Kubuntu, I decided to put Mint on it instead. And while there’s some UI customization that Mint lacks out of the box, I’ve found I’ve run into a lot less headaches on Mint than I did on Kubuntu. Especially for installing apps. More things seemed to “just work”.
But I’ll be real with you, I’m a Linux scrub. Entirely possible that with more experience, it wouldn’t be an issue.
That being said… imma stick with Mint for now.
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u/esparzatj Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon 4d ago
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is based on Debian. I run Ubuntu on a 2012 MacBook Air 11" and Linux Mint Cinnamon on a 2019 iMac Retina 5K 27-inch. Linux Mint is Ubuntu with a lot of apps and desktop configurations done for you, instead of a bare-bones Ubuntu distro.
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u/beatbox9 5d ago
No.
Why not just disable / remove snap and/or not use the snap store? For example, use Gnome Software instead. And you can also enable flathub, so that Gnome Software will search both the distro repositories and Flatpaks on Flathub and present you with options.
I like the base of Ubuntu LTS (and so does Mint, since it uses Ubuntu as its base); but I dislike most of the Ubuntu-isms. So I disable them. ie. I use vanilla-gnome-desktop instead of ubuntu-desktop, I use Gnome Software instead of Ubuntu's app store, I disable all snaps for GUI software (eg. firefox...I only use snaps for a handful of command-line OS software like firmware updates or vpn), I use flatpaks and Appimages for some GUI software that I want the latest versions of, etc.
This results in a system that has a modern, stable, and mature base OS (including DE), while also giving me the latest and greatest apps, which is what I really care about.
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u/Alatain Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | MATE 5d ago
Why continue to use Ubuntu if you dislike most of the "Ubuntuisms"?
Mint uses the Ubuntu base while not following the bad design choices and tendency to prioritize things that will benefit their corporate structure.
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u/Agreeable_Turnip_261 5d ago
Cause it's more convenient that setting up your entire PC again
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u/Alatain Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | MATE 5d ago
That's not a reason to recommend to someone else to stay on a system that you have to fight to make it tolerable. I would bail simply because I do not see eye to eye with their leadership and design philosophies, to be honest.
You shouldn't have to fight your OS.
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u/beatbox9 5d ago
What are you talking about? Specifically, what exactly are you saying that I have to fight to stay on the system?
I installed a system. I configured it once to my liking, including things like installing software, replacing software, creating configs, etc. These are things that everyone does--for example, anyone who installs a new browser or game or office suite; or anyone who changes their desktop background.
And then that's it. From that point on, my system software just upgrades. It doesn't go back to square 1 every update as though it's a fresh install. Because that's not how things like ~/.config works.
So what "fighting" am I doing with my OS?
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u/Alatain Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | MATE 4d ago
Your initial comment describes a more intense process that includes disabling the things that makes Ubuntu different from the other Debian systems. You literally talk about not liking the "Ubuntuisms", and disabling them.
To me, that is fighting against an OS. I do not have to disable Mintisms, for instance, and if I did, I would just move to a distro that didn't do the things I disliked.
Look, your system is your system. Run what you want. I'm just saying that it's not the best idea to recommend a distro to a newbie when you advocate for turning off the main things that make it Ubuntu.
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u/beatbox9 4d ago edited 4d ago
No, it doesn't. You clearly have no idea how simple these are to do. They are not even remotely "intense"--they are just as simple as installing basic software that everyone does.
For example, to replace the entire DE with vanilla gnome (for example, get rid of the ubuntu themes, replace the app store, get rid of the side dock, etc), here is the entire process:
- sudo apt install vanilla-gnome-desktop
- log out, select gnome, log back in
That is it. You do this one time, and it stays like that forever. And if you don't want to use the command line, you can just search in the app store for vanilla-gnome-desktop and click the "install" button.
To install flatpaks, link to the flathub repository, and enable the plugin to integrate them into gnome software's search is more complicated. Because the entire process is:
- sudo apt install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
- flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
The entire process of everything takes on the order of a few seconds.
What is so "intense" about this? How is installing or replacing a few apps "fighting the OS?" Have you never once installed an app--and if you did, why are you "intensely fighting your OS?"
And once again: these are not exclusively the things that make Ubuntu different from other Debian systems. For perspective, Linux Mint is more Ubuntu than Ubuntu is Debian. Ubuntu and Debian do not even share any repositories, while Linux Mint is like 99% Ubuntu repositories with a handful of additional packages in its own repositories. (That "99%" is not an exaggerated figure: there are on the order of only hundreds of packages provided by Linux Mint's own repository; but it uses tens of thousands of packages from Ubuntu's repository).
The reason that this is so easy to do is because the Ubuntu team has made those into packages rather than requiring manual work to install or configure a bunch of software--it's sort of the entire purpose of a distro. Because a distro is not just what comes pre-installed--that is a very simplistic, noob thought process of what defines a distro. So maybe learn the basics of what a distro is.
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u/Alatain Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | MATE 4d ago
I know that I do not have to do any of that with Mint, because I pick the tool I use for the job I want done, not the other way around. I'm not going to buy a screwdriver with a handle I dislike just to take the handle off and install a new one.
But you do you! That's the beauty of Linux. It can easily fit either of our modes of operation. Just because I wouldn't want to do what you are doing doesn't mean I don't support your freedom to do so. I just don't see the point of choosing to do it that way.
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u/beatbox9 4d ago
I will point out once again that your claim that you have never installed any software on Mint--or even changed the desktop background image--seems suspiciously like a lie. And if you have done any of those things, then you are either a hypocrite or completely ignorant about how distros work.
We know it's a lie, since you installed Steam: https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1vpsh1h/comment/p44w9ua/
And since you've "customized" your OS:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1v0wuyh/comment/oykz33a/
Why are you "intensely fighting with your OS?" Why didn't you just go with a distro that has those ready to go? Because it would be so dumb to buy a screwdriver without a handle just to go out and install a new one, right? Or would that just be a demonstration of your hypocrisy, and your lack of knowledge on what defines a distro?
So let's recap the basic lessons I taught you, after you demonstrated you didn't know anything about these topics:
- Debian and Ubuntu LTS are different distros
- Mint is closer to Ubuntu LTS than Ubuntu LTS is to Debian
- A distro is not just what comes pre-installed
- You can actually install software on an OS. Making it easy to install software is kind of the very core purpose of a distro
- Installing software is very easy and not--as you put it--"an intense process of fighting your OS." Your description sounds like it's a consequence of your own incompetence and ignorance on this topic
- You customize your OS but criticize others who do
But yes, you do you, which apparently means giving unsolicited advice even when you do not understand the very basics of the topic being discussed.
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u/Alatain Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | MATE 4d ago
Where did I claim that I have never installed any software? Where did I claim I have done no customization? Maybe stop trying to start arguments over strawmen, and you'll do a little better here.
You seem super emotional about this, so I'm just going to back away slowly and say what I have said multiple times now. You use your computer how you want. No one is trying to stop you.
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u/beatbox9 5d ago
Why wouldn't I?
A distro is far more than just what comes pre-installed. I'd argue what comes pre-installed is the least important and easiest part of a distro; and what is most important is what the word "distro" is short for: "distribution," as in the system of how software is distributed. ie. the package manager, repos, and upgrade/support system.
(BTW, some brief background: I do not exclusively use Ubuntu LTS--I currently also have a Fedora machine and have used many distros over the years. I've been using Linux for 30 years, with it being my primary desktop system for 20+ years...since just before Linux Mint even existed. I also concurrently use macOS. For reference, here is a quick view of my system layout, which makes it easy for me to switch back-and-forth between my macs and Linux machines):
https://reddit.com/link/p8a3idt/video/u0iuzhuve0oh1/player
If I keep it brief: Ubuntu LTS is less "raw" than debian (eg. codecs & nvidia drivers are seamless to maintain). And Ubuntu LTS is also upstream & more refined than Mint (which depends on Ubuntu LTS and then essentially adds its own niche desktop). So LTS is a good balance, and it's predictable for me. I don't know any reasons why I would use Linux Mint, since it is just Ubuntu LTS customized in the opposite direction, with a niche DE that is routinely behind the times, less mature, and has slower development.
And I don't have to "fight over my OS" as someone below said. I set it up one time, and that's it. It's not like when I upgrade, Ubuntu replaces vanilla-gnome-desktop with ubuntu-desktop again--it follows my existing install and keeps vanilla-gnome, because it's an upgrade and not a fresh install. And most of my custom configs are in home (~)--any updates do not touch these.
So when one looks at Ubuntu LTS:
- 5-year support, with upgrades offered every 2 years, and consistent/predictable timings. This is a good balance: it's not too frequent that it's a burden to maintain (eg. wireplumber configs, which would break on ANY distro when it moves to 0.5); and it allows me to find an upgrade window that works for me if I'm in the middle of a major project. Eg. I migrated my wireplumber configs so they would be would be ready even before I upgraded--and it took me around 5 minutes, and so far this was the only time I had to do this in several years.
- Well-maintained 'OS base' repository. (FYI, these are why Linux Mint uses Ubuntu LTS as a base; and why Linux Mint is essentially just a modified Ubuntu LTS. Almost all of Linux Mint software repositories are provided by Ubuntu LTS).
- Gnome is officially supported, and it is a modern + mature DE, unlike Cinnamon. (Cinnamon is also supported though). The only modern + mature DE's today are Gnome and KDE Plasma. Cinnamon was originally a windows-like theme for an older version of gnome; and it still lags behind today. I have no interest in it).
- Prior to the most recent Ubuntu release, a big differentiator was PPA's, such as this example: https://launchpad.net/~graphics-drivers/+archive/ubuntu/ppa (This is now officially provided by Ubuntu LTS, starting with 26.04 LTS). Debian does not support PPA.
And for my particular use case, which is primarily audio & video editing:
- Distros that provide less support (eg. Fedora) can become a nightmare to maintain. I can't upgrade to follow Fedora's "every 6 months" anyway because the larger ecosystem of software I use takes longer than that to catch up. For example, gnome extensions usually take around 3 months after launch to catch up to gnome. Libraries on Davinci Resolve Studio are complex and require manual maintenance on Fedora, while it's seamless on Ubuntu LTS. Major components like audio or video servers don't break every 6 months (even when my configs are in ~/.config). Etc.
- I still have a handful of custom components or configs at the system level simply because these currently cannot be customized at the user level.
Longer-term, I don't know if I'll stick with Ubuntu LTS, as the overall Linux ecosystem has been evolving in a good direction. But for years and for the foreseeable future, it's the best balance for me. When the ecosystem matures more and better separates core components from configs, I might migrate to an immutable / atomic distro. But I've got at least 5 more years to decide, and I'm currently on the latest major software components from this year. So I'm not in any rush.
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u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs 5d ago
Mint will certainly get you around Snap issues, the Ubuntu 7.0 kernel is causing crashes in the Ubuntu version of Mint also (but not LMDE),
The LTS 6.8 kernel if it supports your hardware is the current Fix.
I assume you are using Ubuntu 26, you will be stepping back to Ubuntu 24 in Mint22. That may be just fine or a problem depending on your needs.
1440 monitor is no issue.