My extremely personalized Linux Mint 22.2 Zara desktop runs like a appeal.
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Linux Mint Zara is a superb desktop for each Linux and Home windows customers on the lookout for a change.
- Linux Mint 22.2 comes with quite a few modest enhancements.
- You possibly can run the brand new Mint with out worrying about needing to make main updates.
Clement “Clem” Lefebvre and the remainder of the Linux Mint workforce have performed it once more. With the discharge of Linux Mint 22.2, often known as Zara, customers get a distribution that is simple to make use of and filled with useful enhancements to make the each day desktop expertise higher than ever.
As a long-time Linux Mint fan, I am delighted with this newest launch. As within the final model, Linux Mint 22.1, codenamed Xia, the discharge is predicated on the Ubuntu 24.04 Long Term Support (LTS) Linux distro. The brand new Mint has the standard desktop decisions, together with the default Cinnamon 6.4 interface. It additionally comes with the most recent Xfce 4.18 and MATE 1.26 environments.
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Whereas there have been some experiences that Mint 22.2 now makes use of the Linux kernel 6.14 by default, that is not fairly true. Should you improve your system, like I did, the usual Mint Linux kernel stays the LTS Linux kernel 6.8, particularly 6.8.0-79. That is as a result of 6.14 is simply supported till February 2026, whereas 6.8 is supported till April 2029.
Nevertheless, when you set up the brand new Mint for the primary time, you’re going to get the 6.14 kernel. That is excellent news if in case you have a more recent PC or are a gamer; the newer kernel helps extra of the most recent {hardware}, and the improved NTSYNC driver boosts the efficiency of Home windows video games and applications.
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However if you wish to transfer from one kernel to a different, go to the Mint Update Manager and choose “View” -> “Linux Kernels” from the menu. With that stage full, you possibly can reboot your pc and select “Superior choices” within the Grub menu. From right here, you can pick a new kernel and your computer will boot with that one. I do not suggest freshmen do this strategy, although. It requires some expertise to shift kernels efficiently. For most individuals, the default kernel shall be fantastic.
Shifting on, for the primary time, Linux Mint has fingerprint authentication. Due to the brand new Fingwit app, you possibly can log in, unlock your screensaver, and run essential root instructions with only a contact. Mint 22.2 customers with a fingerprint scanner on their laptop computer not must fiddle with passwords.
In addition to the 6.14 kernel {hardware} assist, Mint 22.2 ships with the most recent Mesa graphics stack. This stack allows you to get probably the most out of your graphic-heavy applications.
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Aesthetics matter, and Zara’s theming overhaul is evident the second you utilize the desktop. The Mint-Y theme rocks a cooler grey palette, improved darkish mode, and true GTK concord throughout Flatpak and Adwaita apps. As well as, system-wide accent colours lastly carry over into third-party apps, blurring the traces between native and containerized software program. Even the login display screen will get a contemporary makeover, full with avatars and classy blur results.
Linux Mint is not simply taking part in catch-up; it is also pushing ahead on cross-platform comfort. The Sticky Notes app now synchronizes your notes between Linux and Android gadgets, and Warpinator file switch allows you to switch recordsdata to Home windows PCs and iPhones simply.
After all, the standard Mint refinements are additionally right here. A nimbler Software program Supervisor and Replace Supervisor, smarter file renaming instruments, and up to date packages for Firefox and Thunderbird, nonetheless delivered nearly as good outdated DEB files, not Snaps. That mentioned, when you like Snap purposes, as I do, you possibly can nonetheless set Mint up to support Snap application installation.
As all the time, Mint comes with free top-of-the-line end-user applications, with every little thing you want for residence or workplace work. Particularly, Mint comes with LibreOffice 24.7.2 for workplace work and homework, Firefox 142 for net shopping, Thunderbird 128.14 for e-mail and calendaring. Should you’re a gamer, Linux Mint helps Steam, which helps you to run video games identical to you’d on Home windows. All of this, together with Mint, will not value you a skinny dime.
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You’d quite run one other program? No fuss, no muss. You should use Mint’s Software program Supervisor to choose no matter program you need. For instance, I favor Chrome for net shopping and Evolution for e-mail. Mint makes these decisions easy. You utilize the Software program Supervisor to seek for a program, obtain it, and set up it with a click on. Anybody who tells you it is onerous to put in Linux applications hasn’t touched the working system within the 2020s.
I am working the brand new Mint on my devoted 2020 Dell Precision 3451, powered by an Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU. The PC additionally contains 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. I am additionally utilizing Mint 22.2 on my 2024 HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-223. This pc has an eight-core 3.8 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB Stable-State Drive (SSD). It additionally has built-in AMD Radeon Graphics. On each PCs, Mint runs like a well-tuned Porsche.
Both machine is extra pc than Mint wants. You are good to go in case your PC has 2GB of RAM and 100GB of storage, any graphics card, and a monitor that helps a 1024×768 decision. Should you’re not sure about utilizing Mint, think about grabbing a PC from a second-hand retailer to strive it out.
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Should you’re already working Mint, you possibly can improve to 22.2 through the Replace Supervisor. There is not any drama, no dangerous transitions; simply stable updates and long-term reliability. If you wish to strive Mint on a brand new pc, you should obtain an ISO, burn it to a USB stick, and set up it utilizing the directions in my story about how to install Mint on a Windows PC.
In a world the place some Linux distros chase the bleeding edge, Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” is a reminder that considerate refinement may be revolutionary in its personal proper. For many who need a Linux desktop that works and retains getting higher, launch after launch, Zara is the improve you have been ready for.
