Recs.
Updated
Linux Mint provides full out-of-the-box multimedia support by including some proprietary software and comes bundled with a variety of free and open-source applications.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Familiar user interface
Mint is highly recommended for both users coming from Windows, as well as users coming from Ubuntu, but unhappy with Ubuntu's recent, rather dramatic interface changes. Mint provides an updated interface with a look and feel similar to Gnome 2, with an application menu reminiscent of the Windows 7 Start Menu, with categorization and search.
Pro Already functional out-of-the-box
Mint comes bundled with software for browsing the web, editing pictures, browsing files, watching videos and even a full office suite (LibreOffice). An average user can use Mint right away after a fresh install, using all the software that comes with the distribution to complete most of their daily tasks.
Pro Provides LTS (long term support) versions
Long Term Support versions are versions of software that are continuously updated for an extended period of time, even after newer versions are launched. LTS versions will typically get feature additions and enhancements for an extended period of time, then security updates up until its End of Life. An LTS release should typically be considered good for at least 5 years.
Pro Easy installation and configuration
Linux Mint uses the same installer as Ubuntu. It is very easy to use for beginners, and also allows more advanced users to choose their own partitions. Linux Mint's Cinnamon desktop is highly customizable and can be made to look however preferred.
Pro Cinnamon desktop environment (as an option)
They say Cinnamon is a little slower than the other DEs and they may be right. But Cinnamon compensates this flaw with absolute freedom of what you can do with it. It's so highly customizable that you can change it in such a way that no one else would know this is Cinnamon, except for you.
Pro Popular
Linux mint is currently the most hit page on DistroWatch. Because of its popularity, long term support is pretty guaranteed.
Pro There is a "system restore" tool to restore the OS if something breaks
This tool backs up the core OS files to an external drive with an option for full encryption.
Pro Mint 20 will actively avoid the Snap landmine planted by Canonical in Ubuntu 20.04
Pro 2016 hack listed here as a Con, was very quickly dealt with and is a non-issue over 4 years later
Cons
Con Looks ugly
The default theme and wallpaper looks outdated and bland. Luckily that is easy to change in the settings.
Con Mint 19 adopted Microsoft's policy of forcing their users
Mint 19 adopted Microsoft's policy to force their users to install things they don't want and there's absolutely no option to cancel the installation of the unwanted package. Starting with kernel 4.15 the user has to install a CPU microcode and is given no option to cancel that. And it seems they have no intention to give up that policy.
Con Cheap Windows substitute
Mint tries to be like Windows, where it could be different and provide options.
Con Linux Mint tries to force people to use less powerful custom package management system
The custom package management system is slow, frustrating, and forces you to select and install one package at a time. Can't select a whole load of packages and then run the installations in one go.
Con Cinamon environment is not beautiful and in the same time KDE environment is no longer used
Con No AUR
Without AUR you have to resort to heavily bloated snaps for which sandboxing instead of increased safety (there is already firejail for that!) just results in poor system integration. Otherwise you can also try compiling stuff from the sources, which may be time consuming and with the slow update cycle of debian based distros may experience problems satisfying dependencies. Most of the systems that promise to be easy for windows users are just one big marketing con, whereby especially in case of mint the main point is a DE, which is:
- Ugly
- Ships with most other distros or can be easily installed there.
Another one might be stability, but again, the update cycle is very much of an overkill, negatively impacting safety and UX. Generally speaking, if anything it would rather discourage many newcoming Windows users. Even privacy-wise it isn't the best pick, see above.
Con Upgrade process between version can be painful
The Linux Mint team offers a method to upgrade the OS between versions but they tend to recommend clean installs, which isn't always suitable for everyone. However, following the upgrade process currently is less than straightforward and is easily capable of leaving your system in a confused state.
Recommendations
Comments
Out of Date Pros + Cons
Con System updates can lead the system to being unstable
While a new installed system is stable, after an update, there is a slight chance of something not working.