Month: July 2024

Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon Edition Review

I have upgraded to Linux Mint 22 code named “Wilma”. I am using the Cinnamon Edition. It is a long term support release which will be supported until 2029. 

My first impression is that there is not much change, which is good.

The release note mention better language support, support for new technology, support for popular features, and now the Software Manager is faster and better looking.

Linux Mint 22 comes with a preinstalled Web App called Matrix. This is because they have discontinued using Hexchat. The Welcome screen has a link under Help.

My only issue is the Ubuntu font has been updated. It is thinner and narrower. I did a previous post on how to go back to the classic Ubuntu font.

Don’t forget to install the Microsoft fonts on your system. These are Times New Roman, Arial Black, Arial, Comic Sans MS, Courier New, Impact, and Verdana. In terminal, just copy and paste the following:

sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

Since I use Linux Mint on my main machine, I appreciate the lack of drastic changes. Linux Mint is solid, reliable, and its desktop environment is beautiful and comfortable. Everything is where you expect it to be, and customization is fairly easy. Another 5 star product.

To upgrade to Linux Mint 22
https://linuxmint-user-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/upgrade-to-mint-22.html

New Features
https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_wilma_whatsnew.php

Release notes
https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_wilma.php

Return to Ubuntu Classic Font in Linux Mint 22

In Linux Mint 22 the Ubuntu font was updated to a thinner version. I don’t like it. So here is how to return to the wider and thicker classic Ubuntu font.

Install the fonts-Ubuntu-classic package.

You will need to reboot, all your lettering will be messed up. Open your menu after you install the font and you will understand.

Now you have to lock the font in Synaptic Package Manager.

Search for “font-ubuntu-classic”.
Highlight it
Click on Package from the above menu, and select “lock version”.
It will turn red once it is locked.

You are go to go.

Visual Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qZI6i21jB4&t=1086s

Ubuntu Cinnamon – Don’t

Today, I installed Ubuntu Cinnamon 24.04 LTS on my laptop.

I originally started on Linux back in 2009. My first distro was Ubuntu. I have been using Linux ever since. But Ubuntu has made a lot of mistakes along the way. They ignored users and did their own thing. That is why I switched to Linux Mint.

Linux Mint uses the Ubuntu software and repackages it for their own distro. Their Cinnamon desktop is simply the best. So when I hear that Ubuntu has added an officially supported Cinnamon version of Ubuntu, I had to try it out.

I am greatly disappointed. The system runs slower and has a hundred paper cuts. I am not happy about being forced to use Snap package manager (which is not open source).

I use Chrome, so I did my usual. I went to Google, downloaded the Deb package, and installed it on my system. The program will not boot. And so I deleted Ubuntu Cinnamon 24.04 LTS from my system and reinstalled Linux Mint 21.3.

The installation was faster and more intuitive. The desktop and software just runs, and looks awesome. Linux Mint is still number 1 in my book.

Programs I Install on Linux Mint 21.3

Programs I install

  • Google Chrome (Directly from Google)
  • Simplenote (Flatpak)
  • BibleTime (System Package)
  • GIMP (Flatpak)
  • Calibre (System Package)

I do not recommend using the Flatpak to install Chrome. It is an unverified Flatpak. In fact, in Linux Mint 22 unverified Flatpaks are disabled by default. Download Chrome here. Choose “64 bit .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu)”

Desklets I use

  • Battery Level Indicator by schorschii
  • Disk Space by schorschii
  • Timelet by slgobinath
  • Weather by tipichris

For the weather desklet, I recomende using the Data service Open-Meteo Non-commercial. Just use that latitue and laungitude in this format: 35.03,-106.68

I will probably also install Zoom and Cheese. But we will see.

I use a laptop, so I need a battery level indicator. I don’t like the default one for the task bar. I used the Desklet above until today. I now use Battery Applet with Monitoring and Shutdown (BAMS) on the taskbar. I recommend reading the following if you are interested: https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/255

Switching Back to Linux Mint, Ubuntu Derivative

I have been using Linux Mint Debian Edition for about two years. It is a solid distro.

But I am tired of it being a second class priority. The majority of the time and energy does into the main distribution, the one based on Ubuntu.

Today, I have switched back to the main Linux Mint Cinnamon edition. I am now running Linux Mint 21.3.

Linux Mint 22 is set to release, most likely in August. Linux Mint 22 is in beta now.