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Linux Mint is one of the more popular distributions, with editions based on Ubuntu and Debian. With some of Ubuntu's recent controversial changes, particularly in the user interface, Linux Mint has become the go-to distribution for those looking for a well-supported and up-to-date, but more familiar Linux experience.
Specs
Pros
Pro Full multimedia support out of the box
Linux Mint focuses first on usability, and thus provides proprietary multimedia support out of the box. This makes it a good choice as a distro if you're installing it for a novice user that is unable to install full multimedia support themselves.
Pro Popular
Linux mint is currently the most hit page on DistroWatch. Because of its popularity, long term support is pretty guaranteed.
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.
Cons
Con LinuxMint 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.
They've also blocked certain powerful features of synaptic, the default Ubuntu/Debian package management application.