Since installing Linux Mint on my Acer One I have moved all of my desktop machines from Kubuntu to Linux Mint. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and offers "enhancements" to the desktop although the only enhancement that I can think of that I like is the way the menu works.

Anyway, I have to say I have been chomping at the bit ever since the release of Ubuntu 9.10. I guess that is a minor disadvantage of Linux Mint. Since LM is based on Ubuntu, the new release of LM has to come after a new release of Ubuntu. I happened to visit the Linux Mint site today and saw an article on "How to upgrade Linux Mint 8 RC1 to Linux Mint 8 (stable)". My heart leaped a little with excitement until I went to the Downloads page and discovered it was "Still In Development". Going back to the home page and looking more closely it looks like LM 8 RC1 is so close to being stable it is time to go for it.

...

I downloaded the ISO image as well as UNetBootin. Since I am going to install this on my Acer One, I have to create a Installation Jump Drive and the Instructions to Install From a USB Stick makes it easy.

The installation went so smooth.  I loaded the  RC1 and after installation the Upgrade Manager advised over 100 upgrades.  A couple hours of install and upgrade time and it was completed...

... It has been a couple of days now since I installed Linux Mint 8 on my Acer One.  I still just like it!  Almost everything works very well.    The few things that are querqy are things that I have always had problems with ever since I loaded Ubuntu.  The webcam sometimes works using Cheese but I have not been able to get it to work from Flash based applications.  Additionally when trying to view Flashed based video, Firefox sometimes dies.... not a Linux Mint issue, but a Flash issue.

I have also recently loaded Windows 7 on my HP laptop, an upgrade from XP.  Given the KaJillion dollars Microsoft has pumped into the devalopment of Windows 7 some things are bound to work a little better.  I have found a few things, such as my Keyspan USB to Serial adapter as well as my Logitech Web Cam Pro that Windows 7 complains doesn't have a compatible driver.  I still have Ubuntu 9.10 as a dual boot on this machine and given a preference I prefer to use Linux over Windows.   One thing worth noting about my upgrade from XP to Windows 7.  I had installed Kubuntu on XP using Wubi.  When Windows 7 was loaded it recognized Kubuntu and I was able to select it on Boot, however it corrupted something and wouldn't shut down properly.  I wasn't able to uninstall it under the Windows Add / Remove Programs and when I installed Ubuntu using Wabi it added Ubuntu but the Kubuntu boot option is still there.  I still need to figure out how to remove that reference.

Anyway, I still highly recommend Ubuntu or Linux Mint to anyone as an alternative to Windows especially for someone who has an older machine.