I've been using Ubuntu, and then Linux Mint, with Ubuntu as its base, for a few months now. It's been working great, but I've been wondering if Debian has anything better to offer.

Can you tell the difference between standard Linux Mint and LMDE? Is one better easily better than the other? Also, is the rolling release of LMDE an advantage or disadvantage over standard Linux Mint?

LMDE is to Linux Mint what Rawhide is to Fedora: it's rolling release and programs that are in its repo end up in release after release.

If you want stability, as in having a stable branch, LMDE is not the way to go as there are no freezes in the development cycle and features change every time you install updates.

But really, no, there's no noticeable difference between LMDE and standard Linux Mint. You have to start sudoing (in a terminal, not just in the GUI) to notice that, even though you're in /etc/sudoers, you still get asked to "ask the administrator" to install software.

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Ubuntu is based on Debian, so if you like the one, you'll probably like the other.

LMDE is a very new project. The original, Ubuntu-based Mint is a more mature and beginner-friendly distro. If you are happy with it, it is a good choice.

LMDE is rolling-release, less stable than the original Ubuntu-base.

I've heard from various sources that LMDE is faster, but I have not seen any difference using KVM virtualization. From what I've read, many others have not noticed a speed-increase either.

I'd stick to the original Mint and give LMDE a test-drive in a virtual machine if I were you.

Less stable? Wonders how any distro could be less 'stable' than Ubuntu. That is the funniest thing I have heard in ages.

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I too have been looking for the answer to this question. Because I've read that Ubuntu has some things built in which cause you to lose some privacy, but Debian does not, I'd guess that is one of the differences. Not to mention not having the Ubuntu underlying system.

gentisle

Those things--Ubuntu's Shopping "Lenses"--are not part of Mint.

Yes, there is a substantial difference between Ubuntu and Debian, even the mintified versions.

LMDE has been around almost as long as Mint, several years at least. It takes Debian Testing and colors everything green, along with other changes I didn't like. I tried it several years ago and ended up going with straight Debian. I also tried to like Ubuntu, and just couldn't. Ubuntu is based on Debian Unstable, then tweaked to make it even more unstable. Then they kick it out the door every 6 months, ready or not, and far too often it's not ready. They're still chasing bugs when the next version rolls out.

Some of the non-ubuntu rationale is driven by canonical's stance regarding the big picture. Regardless of the translation of the african word ubuntu, ububtu canonical and freedom may no longer seem compatible.

I use Ubuntu all the time had to be setup to a normal state. When I installed a Linux Mint for the first time, be setup under almost was not necessary. For me, Linux mint is the most convenient at the moment