Why Linux Mint?

This post is meant to explain who I am and what I do. And why I use the software that I do.

Why I Use Linux Mint on Desktop:

As far as Linux on the desktop is concerned, Linux Mint is by far my go to first choice. It is my humble opinion that Linux Mint is the best choice for the average user, and Linux veteran alike.

I have tried many different distributions. And I am still interested in trying other distributions for fun. However, after trying so many different distributions, it led me to believe a few things. One is that for software that I would think most desktop users would use, I personally tend to find more .deb packages than .rpm. So that narrows me down to the Debian family. Debian is great, and I use it for the most part on the server side. However, for desktop use, I do think that Canonical adds a lot to the table through Ubuntu. They add a lot of hardware and software enhancements and ease of use to it that Debian does not.

While Ubuntu is great in its own right, it would not be what it is today if it did not make the funds they make to be able to contribute to Ubuntu desktop, and down stream to Debian. That means they are busy focusing on what makes them money. Which is a good thing, however what it means is they may not always have the time to address the average desktop user's needs. And I am not knocking Ubuntu. I think its is amazing on the enterprise side of things. It just has a different set of priorities. As they should. But that's where Linux Mint comes into the picture.

Ubuntu does a lot of heavy lifting, creating an amazing distribution. However, cannot always focus on the average home desktop user. Linux Mint comes into the picture and takes Ubuntu, and in my opinion brings it that last mile to the home user. Linux Mint has a much more user focused community ready to help the average Joe. Being based on Ubuntu itself, it brings that level of compatibility to the mix, however it brings more of a community driven spirit to help and cater to the desktop user. Rather than the enterprise. I believe that Linux Mint brings to us the best of both worlds. The stability of Debian, plus the best of what Ubuntu brings to the table. And brings it home to the average user in a palatable way.

In conclusion, I am not saying other distributions are bad. I am simply saying for my particular use case, I do believe that I found the right tool for the job. And I will most likely still do distribution explorations, and check them out for fun. I just dont find much use for any other distribution in my current workflow.

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