Welcome to the Qiana edition of the Linux Mint Cinnamon operating system built around the awesome Cinnamon desktop environment and using the latest Linux technologies from Canonical’s Ubuntu distribution.
Availability, supported platforms, boot options
Linux Mint is usually distributed into two main editions, one with the Cinnamon desktop and another one with the MATE, a clone of the traditional GNOME Classic session. The Cinnamon edition is available for download as separate 32-bit and 64-bit Live DVD ISO images that can be deployed to either USB sticks or DVD discs.
The bootable medium is designed to automatically start the live environment in ten seconds from the moment it is booted. Users should press any key during this timeout to access the boot loader, which allow them to start the live session in compatibility mode, in case their graphics cards are not recognized by the first option.
In addition, it is possible to run a diagnostic test against the system memory (RAM) of their computer, boot an existing operating system from the first disk drive, as well as to check the disc for defects (only if using a DVD media).
Beautiful, state-of-the-art Cinnamon desktop environment with top-notch apps
As mentioned, the graphical session is powered by Cinnamon, which is a clone of the modern GNOME desktop environment, providing users with a clean and productive workspace comprised of a bottom panel for accessing the main menu, launching applications and interacting with running programs.
Default applications include the gThumb image viewer, GIMP image editor, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Transmission torrent downloader, Mozilla Thunderbird email and RSS client, HexChat IRC client, Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, Totem video player, Banshee audio player, VLC Media Player, and the entire LibreOffice office suite.
Bottom line
Summing up, the Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint 17 is here to stay. It will bring joy and happiness to your desktop computer or laptop, especially because it is based on the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) operating system. Also, don’t hesitate to check out the MATE edition for old and semi-old machines!
