Mint OS v21.x & v22 Review
A full featured Linux distro intended for ease of use
This article was enhanced with AI on 1/16/24.
Discovery
When I first ventured into the world of Linux, I was looking for a distro that would
be as close to Windows as possible. I wanted something that was easy to use and didn’t require a
steep learning curve. After doing some research and watching YouTube videos, Linux Mint kept
coming up as one of the best options for people transitioning from Windows. I also learned that
Mint is based on Ubuntu Linux and shares a lot of the same code.
Installation
I downloaded the latest Mint 21.x ISO from the official website
and used that version for all of my installations.
#1 My first installation was on a Hyper-V virtual machine using the
Mint ISO. It was quick and easy. This was just to do a basic review and compare it to Windows. I
liked what I saw, so I decided to go further and try installing Mint on real hardware.
#2 Next, I found an old HP desktop (Core i3 Gen 2) that had been
sitting in my closet for years. It was missing a few parts, but I added 8GB of RAM from another
old computer and installed a new 512GB SSD. Using Belena Etcher, I created a bootable USB drive
from the ISO and installed Mint onto the old desktop. To my surprise, the performance was great
for a 12-year-old computer! I managed to create a fully working Mint PC for just $35!
#3 I later moved the SSD with Mint onto a newer Core i3 Gen 10
desktop that a client had abandoned. It had been sitting here for almost two years, and despite
trying to contact the client several times, they never picked it up. When I moved the SSD, Mint
recognized the new processor right away and had no issues. A note of caution: this type of
upgrade only works if you’re moving from one Intel processor to another Intel processor. If you
try to switch from Intel to AMD, you’ll run into problems. This is true for both Linux and
Windows.
Printer Driver
Setting up printers in Windows can be a pain, but I was pleasantly surprised by how
easy it was on Mint. My Brother Laser AIO printer, which is connected to the network via
Ethernet, was automatically detected. I didn’t need to install any drivers—printing just worked.
However, I haven’t tried using the scanner yet, so I’m guessing I’d need to download software
from Brother for that to work.
Wi-Fi
At first, I couldn’t get Wi-Fi to work. I tried using a TP-Link external USB
Wi-Fi adapter, but I couldn’t find the right driver, so I gave up on it. Next, I installed a
TP-Link internal Wi-Fi card with an Intel chipset, and this time it worked right away—the
operating system recognized it without any issues.
Lesson 1: Installing Wi-Fi is easy if you have the right Linux
drivers for your Wi-Fi card. If you don’t have the correct drivers, it gets trickier, but some
people have managed to make it work with some complicated fixes that I’m still not familiar
with.
Lesson 2: Linux Mint seems to natively support Wi-Fi
cards with Intel chipsets, making them easier to set up.
Samba/SMB Support
Samba allows Windows computers to interact with file shares and printers on a
non-Windows server, making it a crucial tool for interoperability between different operating
systems.
This feature works just as expected without any additional installation or configuration. The
first time you connect to a shared network drive, it may take a second or two. I am assuming the
system has to search for the shared device and folder the network. Then, you’ll need to enter a
password for the network share. Once that’s done, you’re good to go. The connection will stay
active until the computer is shut down. You can access the shared folder as much as you want
without re-inputting a password. I like to bookmark the location within the file manager/file
explorer so I don't need to type the network path. This will save you a little time.
Software
I used the Software Manager to install applications I was familiar with from Windows, like OBS,
VLC, LibreOffice, VSCode, Steam, Minecraft, Mahjongg, and others. All of these worked just like
they do on Windows and looked the same.
However, finding the right software can take a little searching since there are fewer options
available compared to Windows. For example, Adobe Acrobat isn’t available for Linux, so I had to
find an alternative PDF reader. I ended up using FoxIt Reader. Once you find the right
alternative software, there might be another learning curve to get used to how it works.
Windows Hyper-V Settings for Mint
This section will be added soon!
I have noticed that using Linux within Hyper-V doesn't allow a person to change the screen
resolution by simply expanding the Window or by changing it within Linux. However it is possible
by making a modification within Grub. Contact Meyer computer for these instructions!
Overall Impressions of Mint Cinnamon v21
Mint v21 is the easiest Linux distribution I’ve used so far. The setup was
fast—probably even quicker than installing Windows 10. The interface is similar to Windows,
which makes it a good choice for people who are new to Linux. Overall, Mint v21 has been the
best Linux experience I’ve had so far.
Upgrade to Version 22 (Wilma)
If you're using Linux Mint on Hyper-V, skip the upgrade to version 22. It simply
won’t work as an upgrade. I tried multiple times, and each attempt ended with a bunch of error
messages. I managed to fix some of them, but I couldn’t get through the whole upgrade.
Then I tried a fresh install using the v22.x ISO on Hyper-V Gen 2, but it failed to boot. I
tried again with Gen 1, but got the same result. After some research, I found that everyone else
seems to be facing the same issue, which seems to be related to video settings not working with
Hyper-V. I’ve given up on using version 22.x with Hyper-V for now. If I find a solution, I’ll
report back, but I may eventually switch to a different hypervisor.
I also tried upgrading on a standalone desktop and ran into the same errors. It looks like I’ll
need to wipe the drive and do a fresh install there too. The Linux community often talks about
how great everything is, but when it comes time to upgrade, it feels like simple updates are
impossible to pull off. This definitely lowered my confidence in Linux. My overall opinion of
Mint has dropped a notch. A few days later I reformatted and reinstalled Mint 22 on dedicated
hardware and it went great. I accomplished the task but I feel that I should not need to
reformat and reload my software.
Mint 22.x has 2 flaws during installation that may or may not affect your
implementation:
Hyper-V compatibility is broken. - There is a workaround.
The ability to simply upgrade from 21 to 22 appears to be broken. You will need to install
fresh.
Overall Impression of Linux
Linux distros require much less system power than Windows, making them perfect for
giving old Windows computers a second life. Linux Mint 21.x, in particular, is very stable and
reliable—I haven’t experienced any crashes. It just works. Some software is available for both
Windows and Linux, and it looks and works the same on both systems. However, upgrading to Mint
v22 was a total disaster.
Linux is a different world, and my goal is to use the command line (also called the terminal) as
much as possible to get more experience. The Linux command line is very different from Windows,
and the learning curve is steep. To figure things out, I find myself searching on Google or
YouTube to solve problems and learn new things. Right now, I don’t feel ready to switch from
Windows to Linux as my main operating system just yet.
Side Note
As a beginner, I’ve been taking notes on using Linux, especially Mint, to help
answer common questions. I’ve written down solutions for problems I’ve encountered and looked
up. Once I double-check everything and refine the wording, I might turn it into a PDF to
share.
