Ok, just to get the non-moderators off my back rofl I searched and couldn't find anywhere else to post this.

I have heard about mint, but I don't know anything about it. What is it for? I currently use Kali after I had Backtrack5. I don't know what it is for exactly. My assumptions are to run windows programs in Linux but not exactly sure.

It's normal distribution of linux for daily usage. You can also run some windows apps on it.

MINT is known worldwide for being the easiest distro of penguin !!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Mint

http://www.linuxmint.com/

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint

So it is just a different flavor of Linux similar to kali or Ubuntu?

In addition to the information above, the link below is the 'about linux mint' site.

http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php

If you scroll further down the main page here at LQ under Linux - Distributions, there is a specific page for Linux Mint. Linux Mint was not created to run windows programs although there is software which can be installed to run some of those programs. It's an operating system using the Linux kernel and is probably used by more home computer users than any other. There is actually no way to really determine that but is just a guess by people who are into guessing.

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It's based on Ubuntu - but without that horrible Unity desktop.

Try it.

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What's it for? What's any Linux distribution for?

It's a user-friendly Ubuntu derivative with all [most] of the hideous crap removed, and in my experience improved stability and reliability.

Mints are typically for freshening one's breath. In Linux, it makes for a fresher computer.

Well seriously, it's "just" a distribution. One of many. The links provided by others can clearly get you enough information where you can research the history of how Mint came to be and how the distro has evolved.

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When a new LTS version of Ubuntu comes out and the first bug-fixes have arrived, Clem replaces the desktop, adds some extra goodies, and that's Mint.

Extra goodies? Well, for a couple of years Ubuntu's installation disk wouldn't work with older Intel video; then there was the mysterious installer crash on certain hardware; then the broken usb sound module — all of that was filtered out of Mint. Also the Mint disk has media codecs on it, while the Ubuntu installer downloads them — that once took me 45 minutes! Oh, I nearly forgot the Ubuntu Sftware Centre — great at selling things, less great at actually finding programs. Actually, I'm being a bit unfair, since the latest Ubuntu Gnome was rather nice — maybe they've just realised they needed to keep up with the competition!

...

Do you actually want to run an os (other than Win/Mac) or just do some 'backtracking'?

Fred.

Are you trying to discredit the work of Clem?

It looks like the contrary, he is crediting Clem for fixing Ubuntu to a usable state.

jlinkels

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Don't forget Linux Mint Debian Edition which is not based on Debian derived Ubuntu but on Debian Testing itself. Greatest advantage is full compatibility with Debian Testing as rolling distro, which means that updates become continuously available.

jlinkels

I like it!