Linux Mint is an open source operating system based on Ubuntu, but with an emphasis on ease of use, simple installation of proprietary media codecs, and a choice of desktop environments that look a bit more like classic Windows than the Unity UI used in recent versions of Ubuntu.

The next version of Mint will be Linux Mint 17 “Qiana,” and it’s a long-term release that will be officially supported until 2019. But if you want to take it for a spin a bit early, you can now download a Linux Mint 17 release candidate.

It’s available with the MATE or Cinnamon desktop environments.

linux mint 17

As a release candidate, Linux Mint 17 is almost ready to be considered stable. But it’s possible there may still be some kinks to work out, which is why it’s being offered as pre-release software, giving users a chance to kick the tires and report bugs.

There are a few known issues including lack of support for Optimus graphics switching for systems that have NVIDIA graphics cards and the login screen freezes if you try to use German as your default language. Hopefully at least the latter issue will be addressed by the time Linux Mint 17 is officially released.

Both the MATE and Cinnamon environments have a sort of classic Windows desktop feel with a taskbar at the bottom of the screen and an app and setting menu that you can launch from the lower left corner. MATE is based on the no-longer-developed GNOME 2 desktop environment, while Cinnamon is a new user interface developed by the Mint team.

Some changes in Linux Mint 17 include improved update and driver managers, an updated login screen, new artwork, and the latest version of Cinnamon adds support for displays with high pixel densities.

The team is also moving to a new release strategy. Starting with version 17, new versions of Linux Mint will based on the latest Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) release. While new builds of Ubuntu are launched every 6 months, LTS releases come out only every 2 years and come with 5 years of official support.

The move means that the Mint team will focus on improvements to its own software for smaller releases, but each new build of the operating system will be based on Ubuntu 14.04 until the next LTS release is available in April, 2016.

 

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,542 other subscribers

12 replies on “Linux Mint 17 “Qiana” RC released”

  1. Just tried out the new RC-Release for Germany but: not bootable!! I ended up with black screen and a grub-line shown up (RC-iso-image via usb-stick and UnetBootin).

    So this is far from stable. Currently I use Ubuntu 14.04 since about two or three weeks now and here everything went well…I don’t know, what’s woring with these iso-images…. 🙁

  2. I tried Mint, found it more difficult then Ubuntu. Went back to Ubuntu after test driving several other linux versions.

  3. I just got fed up trying to use Unity, or having other environments broken with updates. Any idea about UEFI loading?? I look forward to the Mint LTS version and support the working base for 2 or more years.

    1. hi JVM,

      I have an idea for you:

      just uninstall all this unity-packages and install Cinnamon, nemo, mdm and as well the ppa-repository for Cinnamon-nightly from here:

      https://launchpad.net/~gwendal-lebihan-dev/+archive/cinnamon-nightly

      Then also install this ppa-repository here:

      https://launchpad.net/~dirk-computer42/+archive/c42-backport

      This brings free alternatives of Firefox (Iceweasel in this case) as well as IceDove (free alternative to Thunderbird). These two programs work with the same technology as Firefox and Thunderbird, but they are without the proprietary components and without the proprietary branding.

      Then you can also install the Midori-Browser, which can also be updated via ppa-repository on launchpad:

      https://launchpad.net/~midori/+archive/ppa

      So there is a real stable alternative tot unity and to be honest: who needs the unity-desktop?? Answer: nobody!!

      Greetings
      Andrea

  7. Thanks for the article. Wonderful job by Clem and Team on Mint Cinnamon version. Heartfelt thanks for all their efforts. Just spent some time on the live session of Mint 17 and initial experience is awesome. Feels very smooth and fluid to run the system. Beautiful indeed. I hope many users give this a try and explore new release. 🙂

  8. Xubuntu is probably better for older hardware but you can load LXDE on Linux Mint. I for one am glad to see Linux Mint move to the LTS version. I will however wait until the final release before updating all my machines.

    1. Linux Mint “Mate” is really well adapted for older configuration, i run it on a PC with monocore 3.00 Ghz and only 1GO RAM (but even 512 mo are sufficent). Cinnamon need more ressources.

Comments are closed.