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Linux Mint 17.3 Officially Released (softpedia.com)
prisoninmate sends news that Linux Mint 17.3 "Rosa" has been officially released. Following a few technical problems with their website, the Mint developers posted release announcements for both the Cinnamon and MATE flavors of the operating system. "Both Linux Mint 17.3 "Rosa" editions ship with the same improvements for some of the operating system's core components and in-house built apps, such as Software Sources, which is now more reliable, responsive, and fast, Update Manager, which can perform more checks, Driver Manager, which is now more robust, and Login Screen." Here are the release notes (Cinnamon, MATE), and the summaries of new features (Cinnamon, MATE).
Until 2016, the development team won't start working on a new base and will be fully focused on this one.
Uh, three weeks?
Since I'm new to Linux Mint (started with 17.2), let me ask at this occasion: How safe are rolling upgrades as opposed to fresh installs?
"prisoninmate sends news that Linux Mint 17.3 "Rosa" has been officially released." Has she been released on parole or has she served a full sentence?
Yeah, this Linux Mint stuff is interesting, but there may be bigger news that Slashdot should be reporting about.
I have no idea if it's true or not, but I've just read an article that alleges that Mozilla has received financial compensation relating to the inclusion of Pocket into Firefox, despite repeated denials that money was involved.
Can anyone shed some light on what the actual situation is? Clearly there's contradictory information out there, so we need to get to the facts, instead of dealing with speculation and confusion. This is where Slashdot could really do the right thing, to help us get to the bottom of this story.
A more important question is, Does Linux Mint come with systemd?
If the answer is a resounding "No!", then it's probably safe to use. Traditional Linux distros have a solid reputation for being robust and reliable.
If the answer is a resounding "Yes!", then beware! I've had nothing but trouble with systemd on Linux. I'm talking about systems that wouldn't boot, binary log files that were difficult to work with, problems with stderr, and other such issues.
I've been using Linux since 1998. I really wanted to break free back then, it's a need deeply buried into me and I want total control over my own computer - even I can't claim to know enough about that, and I probably never will...but that said...
...I just USE it, and don't have to repair stuff under the hood each day of my working life. And I like it that way, I'm not 20 years and loving to fix basic bugs anymore, I'm at that age where I concentrate on MY job and what I like to do, that's when it feels awesome to have something that just works.
Usually over the last 16 years or so - I've had Windows installed as a second boot partition because there was always this special software I needed to run under Windows, at times it was games, at times it was 3D proprietary software, at times it was stuff I needed for work, paying my taxes to the gov. etc. All stuff that REQUIRED Windows to be present.
Ever since Mint Linux 17.x those days where absolutely GONE. My windows partition was gathering dust - and became a big liability as it took 30+ minutes to boot every time since I used it so seldom that it had like 10ths of updates that needed installing each time, Mint Linux does this seamlessly and there's no need for 100s of reboots.
It turns out there's literally drivers for anything on the planet on Linux today, so I have drivers for my Card Readers (Needed for gov. work), I have drivers for my weird hardware that doesn't even work under windows - and I enjoy modern software with it. On windows you constantly have to purchase NEW hardware to make the older (but nice expensive stuff) work as the manufacturers simply drop support after a while.
Linux Mint is also one of the most flawless Linux distros I've ever witnessed - it had nearly made me forget about anything Linux (that's how you can tell you've got a good OS...) It simply means
Thanks a lot to the Ubuntu and Mint Linux team - you guys have made my life SO much easier over the years. (and btw. The windows partition is gone, don't even miss it).
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
Can't get past the first SYSLINUX line on Pentium M.
That's the thing with windows, the less I use the longer it takes to install all those updates. and I love the bit where I'm trying to shut Windows down and it says "Wait... installing updates" is pure hell.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Just the other day, my roommates' dogs went ballistic when the store delivered my new desktop. They always do when someone knocks on the door but Teddy just wouldn't stop. I had to lock him out of my room while I set it up.
I had planned to install Mint side by side with Windows but I was worried about UEFI considering all the complaints I'd read. The first Nerd Squad guy said, "I don't know anything about Linux." But the other one said, "I do. Is it a Debian based distro like Ubuntu or Mint?" "Yes." "You'll be allright. Just press F12 and disable secure boot."
So I started going through the initial Windows software setup. -- "Do you want Windows 10 to have access to everything you do?" I click no. "Are you sure? It's for your own good. It will be really cool." I click no. Teddy started moaning again and scratching at the door. "Windows wants your new computer to be safe. Are you really, really sure?" I click hell no and it finished doing it's thing. I turned it off, plugged in the thumb drive, restarted it and pressed F12. It was just like the guy said. Easy.
I was, however, having trouble figuring out how to set up partitions for a side by side install. A lot of trouble. I'm no expert and I was being very cautious.The last time I tried this it went much easier. All the barking and howling wasn't helping my state of mind and neither were the online instructions and forums.
So Mint sez "Are you sure you want Windows 10? It kinda sucks anyway." I thought about it while I took Teddy for a walk. I couldn't think of a single Windows program I use that couldn't work with Wine so I reformatted the whole drive (2 terrabytes, yum yum) and installed 17.3. Finally the dogs settled down. Teddy jumped up on my lap and smiled.
Funny thing, I never noticed that he doesn't smell like a normal dog. For real. He actually smells kind of nice. Sort of minty fresh.
Fifty years of Yippie! 1968-2018
I just USE it
That's the bottom line for me. While I love to tinker and hack (especially ELISP!) in the end I have a lot of things that have to get done, and Linux (Mint 17.2 Mate in my case) is a positive aid instead of an obstacle.
I also have a secondary boot to Windows 8.1, but I don't use it any longer. I used to have to go there to run my scanner/OCR but that's no longer the case, hasn't been for a while, and I'm not much of a gamer (Out of the Park Baseball has a Linux version, so I'm happy).
I know there's the old argument about "I have to have the latest XXX that only runs on Windows." That's valid, but that's also the exception.
I've recently installed Mint 17.2 on an old (2007-era) 32-bit laptop. Everything works fine... except for the audio. I'm hoping that 17.3 will fix that.
Ask me about repetitive DNA
This has been my experience as well. I love Linux Mint + MATE.
Thanks for the hard work!
One feature it still needs is the ability to do it's own updating (like Windows). It's nice it has auto checking and will give a non-intrusive icons when updates are available, but I have relatives that don't notice the update icon and have complained about the updates being too frequent (only complaining because they keep having to run the Update Manager to install them. For level 1 & 2 updates, would be nice if they can just install themselves.
What did I just read.
Another Linux distribution! This time in mint flavor!
Sorry, call it Mintix, change the kernel slightly if you have to in order to use that name, or else STFU.
I'm not going to choose between 20-30 different mainstream distros when the idea is to get a minimalist system up and running.
If Nvidia implemented CUDA support under FreeBSD I would advise nobody even bother with Linux anymore, but that's a bit extreme perhaps.
The reason I like open source software is so I DON'T have to deal with layers of creator-imposed imaginary BS. Linux seems to thrive on its ability to IMPOSE such cruft.
Quality shitpost.
The installer cannot do a simple full disk LUKS/dmcrypt setup. (same for Ubuntu).
4 partitions /boot /home /swap
/
Such a simple thing, yet it cannot do dmcrypt and LUKS on this, everything MUST be on the Same partition, WTF?
Also Linux filesystem standard structure from the 70's disco globe.
One purpose of /home and / being on separate partitions is to allow the OS to be installed without affecting /home, yet all the Apps have to be reinstalled, wtf? Why are they splattered all over the place, that is what we hated about Windows and DLL hell. OS X puts them under their own folder, why can't Linux? Linux is NOT Unix from the 70's. If you want to be a modern OS, fix your underlaying file system, there is NO NEED for a relic structure from the 70's. What on earth where they thinking?
Mint is great, It is awesome, but the underlaying architecture and standards need BADLY brought up to date. Start with the file system.
How did you find drivers for windows applications that don't run on Linux?
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Well you're at least half right.
was better if you have 3 OS it is really hard on some mixed system bios to now where anything is at all. Even the Windows installer gets confused and now wont install to a partition the bios cant see like when OSX is installed first. Now I got to add Grub seems LILO was so easy for me legacy now guid gpt mbr its nuts I figure purposely so. My second gen i3 is long in the tooth I may not replace it and quit computing for good. 25 years was a good run.
I just USE it, and don't have to repair stuff under the hood each day of my working life. And I like it that way, I'm not 20 years and loving to fix basic bugs anymore, I'm at that age where I concentrate on MY job and what I like to do, that's when it feels awesome to have something that just works.
This is why I use a Mac. I'm a Linux engineer by trade, but when it comes to the desktop Mac OS X is my goto operating system of choice. If I had to use Linux on the desktop I would agree that Mint Linux is probably the best desktop distribution. I use Mint inside a virtual machine at work.
You and the dude above are either trolling us either (personal insult here I rather not post).
So, you 2 major geeks, spending time configuring Linux bootloaders, partitioning and whatnot cannot spend 21 seconds to untick windows automatic updates?!
Don't tell me you have automatic updates in Mint.
1) Applications don't require drivers. The hardware does. Linux supports more hardware than just about any OS out there... granted, it may be old or very esoteric hardware, but it is supported.
2) Many times, it doesn't matter what application you use so much as are you able to complete a specific task and work with specific file types. You need to submit a docx file to your English teacher for a term paper? You can create it in many different word processing suites - some from MS, some Free software, some other commercial/proprietary software. No matter which, File -> Save As... and wallah
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Maybe he does not give a fuck about unticking it and about ACs...
In this case he should not complain.
Fake complaints will keep Linux at 0.5% desktop adoption while the rest of 99.5% people who give a fuck to uncheck a not needed function will just laugh.
I am not even gonna get started about all that crap about Linux and drivers for EVERYTHING. LoL what BS.
So, you 2 major geeks, spending time configuring Linux bootloaders, partitioning and whatnot cannot spend 21 seconds to untick windows automatic updates?! Don't tell me you have automatic updates in Mint.
Well, that was simplified. The long answer is that Windows is now inherently much more complex build than a neatly customized Linux setup. For example - there's a reason you need to clean your windows registries quite often if you don't want windows to load slower and slower the more you use it...it's not just the automatic updates. And nevermind if you turn OFF the automatic updates...in Window's case - you'll be sitting on a ticking timebomb of worms, viruses and more trojans than you can imagine.
Now if you REALLY want to get detailed, the beauty of Linux is that you have total freedom to configure it as you want, you simply can't do that with Windows as it is PROPRIETARY software all the way.
If you call this trolling, you're using reverse psychology - because the only one trolling here is you.
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
I can second this. I haven't booted windows in over 6 months. I haven't even used the virtualbox. I do work. I do my games (some native like KSP, some with wine like Eve Online). I have been a very happy camper lately. I've been using Linux since 2001, and this is definitely the most trouble free year of my computing life.
Now if only I could switch my entire government to linux so I could do less stupid work there clicking widgets wildly.
I love Linux Mint, but the start menu and file folder lag on access is a silly nuisance and it makes the whole seem amateurish when it really isn't.
I'd love to see that issue go away. Otherwise it's a really nice OS.
Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!
Vote for Bernie in 2016!
People wonder why IT gets a bad reputation for being imperious dickheads.
The penitent information that the story blerb doesn't mention is that 17.3 'Rosa' isn't available via the update manger yet. (An upgrade option should be in the "edit" menu.) But, according to Kirk M.:
"Once the new version of the Mint Update Manager is released (next week sometime, there will be an LM blog announcement as well) the option to upgrade to 17.3 will be included usually in the "Edit" menu. By default, the Update Manager will only continue to update your current install (17.2 in your case) unless you specifically choose to upgrade to 17.3. Just click on the option to upgrade listed in the "Edit" menu, sit back and relax until it's done. Reboot.
It shouldn't be any more complicated than installing normal updates since the base remains the same. Your current kernel should stay the same as well (not upgraded to the newer kernel thatâ(TM)s automatically installed during a "clean" install) which is a decent safety factor for those that upgrade."
However, upgrading via the command line can be done right now. According to this website, just issue the following commands:
sudo sed -i 's/rafaela/rosa/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Reboot; you're good to go.
Tank often. The longer you wait with tanking, the more expensive it gets.
But that's what virtual machines are for.... unless you do something silly like gaming.
The KDE version is nice also :)
I've ran into several boot issues with a KVM VPS provider about a year ago with Centos 7. However, I always just re-imaged and can't be sure if it was kernel related or shitty provider, but seemed like it after yum updating a few times. *shrug*
First OpenVZ VPS did fail to boot after updating and support rolled it back as they new about this and haven't upgraded their host to support it yet.
So, you 2 major geeks, spending time configuring Linux bootloaders, partitioning and whatnot
Nope.
cannot spend 21 seconds to untick windows automatic updates?!
Last update chain took well over 40 minutes.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'