Can I assume that Peppermint is just a type of Ubuntu? I want to install SimpleScreenRecorder and there are various packages depending on which Linux distribution you are using - would I be okay installing the Ubuntu package?

Thanks

Nick

No, what you describe is a disaster. You use the Peppermint repositories that should be in your /etc/apt/sources.list file. Or you might find the correct version for your distribution here.
jdk

Hi,
Pmint is a type of Lubutu/Ubuntu.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._distributions
Download file and save in downloads.
Open and view. Use your Ctrl+middle mouse wheel to scroll zoom (magnify) to read.

pkgs: I recommend the Synaptic Package Manager. This program will tell you many things.The most important is the packages that are safe learn (be very careful of) about 3rd party packages) to run with Pmint. The program will also tell you which packages you all ready have. (again, Google use of third party packages download/running in Linux)
Google: How to use the Linux Synaptic Package Manager or Linux Synaptic Package Managers do's and dont's or Steps to use the ..... you get the idea.Learn how to query google/Yahoo. The first thing you should be told is to mouse click the reload/refresh button. This is always done to update your system/pkgs. With regards to downloading pkgs. Thoroughly Google the package before you download it. Make absolutely sure you want it and it will do what you want it to do. The more packages you download effects the time it takes to upload you OS. Google something like: Start time to load linux OS and the number of files contained in the OS. Try variations of this and you will get the idea.If you have 2 or 3 times the amount of ram/hard drive space that Pmint recommends to run the operating system, you should be ok to handle additional packages. Google to find the effects of ram and swap space etc.
Do not willy nilly do anything until you have thoroughly checked it out.

Pmint is a great starter/middle level distro. The Pmint site is geared more to mid experienced users. This site LQ, in my opinion, is superior with respect to tolerances of Newbies. Technical questions might be better answered by Pmint site but you had better have a sound understanding of what you need and how to pose the question not to mention the do's and dont's in posting. Pmint site is nasty if you do not do your homework.One admin,/moderator is very short with Newbies.I know.You might also try Linux Mint forums (Ubuntu hybrid based). They are geared/a little more tolerant to Newbies. Also see Wiki list of distros above.

Hopes this helps all Newbies.
Bob

Normally, it's best to get software from your distro's own repository. If they don't have it, a deb package from the developers (see the link given by jdkaye) is usually safe. If it doesn't work (rare), it's not going to eat your computer!

It's not a good idea to enable an alien repository. If you ever really have to get something from Ubuntu, then download the package and install that: in that way you ensure that any dependencies it asks for come from the Peppermint repository.

A good place to hunt for odd things is here:
http://pkgs.org/

Thanks for all your replies, you've been really helpful.