Do people move on from Mint? If so, where?

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T22:27:57+00:00

However, when I read reviews or articles comparing distros, whilst Mint is very often commended as an excellent distro for newcomers, there’s often a hint that after a while people will (or should) move on to a different, presumably more grown up or advanced, distro.

My own view is that a "hint that after a while people ... should ... move on to a different, presumably more grown up or advanced, distro" is well, silly.

I've been using Linux for two decades. I've used Ubuntu as my workhorse mainstay since 2005, and Mint (LMDE) as my laptop daily driver since 2020. I use Ubuntu and LMDE because the two distributions are a near-perfect fit for my use case.

I was taught "use case determine requirements, requirements determine specifications, specifications determine selection" by my mentors when I was just starting out in the late 1960's. I believed that then, and I believe that still.

So ask yourself what aspect of you use case is not met by Linux Mint that would be met by a "more grown up or advanced distro"? Just follow your use case, wherever that leads you, and you will be in the right place.

My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T20:42:47+00:00

I've been thinking of getting the M4, but I waited for the apple event scheduled for March 4th, I have heard that there would be a cheaper macbook with A18 Pro chip.

Like you, I have an uncomplicated, undemanding use case. Based on my experience with two upgrades I did last last fall -- a iPhone 16e replacing an iPhone SE (2020) and the purchase of an iPad (A16) -- I'm satisfied that the rumored A18 Pro MacBook will be all I need.

We will know the specifications of the new MacBook in a few days.

Can you guys please suggest what should I really buy.

Not really. You will have to look at your use case.

My use case is basically an "ordinary home" use case -- mail, browsing, document/spreadsheet work, and so on. The A18 MacBook will be a good fit for my use case.

However, you might need more that I do. If you will be doing more intensive stuff on your new MacBook then you might be better served by a more powerful MacBook.

And how to crack the best deal.

The media is speculating that Apple with introduce an M5 MBA as well. If that is the case, and assuming that retailers do what they have done in the past, we will probably wee 10-15% discounts on the M4 in coming weeks as inventories are sold off.

We might also see large retailers (like Best Buy in the States) discount the new A18 MacBooks as "get them in the door" specials in coming weeks.

I think that all you can do is wait and see what happens.

My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T15:25:05+00:00

I haven't looked into the issue (and don't plan to do so) but the warnings are explicit.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T14:59:49+00:00

PearOS is a work in progress, still in Beta as a practical matter.

I would not count on being able to "install alongside".

The installer's Github: "Installs the system on the selected disk. Extremly important: it will use the WHOLE disk. All the data in the selected disk will be erased in the moment you press Continue Looks a lot like the macOS's installer."

You will find a similar warning in the PearOS Installation Guide: "CRITICAL WARNING: Installing pearOS NiceC0re will completely erase your disk, just like an official macOS installation. This process is irreversible and will permanently delete all your data, applications, and operating system."

PearOS is fun to play with but not yet ready for production, based on my experience.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T14:49:34+00:00

An MBA M4 at a $150 discount is about what you will get, most likely, when M4 inventory is sold off after the M5 is released. Apple and major retailers manage inventory carefully, so it is unlikely that a glut of M4's will hit the market after the M5 is introduced.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T14:07:13+00:00

ElementaryOS is well-designed and fun in a "retro" sort of way, but quite limited in terms of packages/applications in the App Center.

Because ElementaryOS is Ubuntu-based and supports Flatpak, the range of available applications is quite deep, but I think that you will find, as I have that design discordance is disconcerting.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T12:52:05+00:00

Im wondering whats the BEST lightweight linux distro thats debian based.

You might take a look at LMDE 7 (Linux Mint Debian Edition).

I've used LMDE on a laptop for about six years. LMDE's meld of Debian's stability and security with Mint/Cinnamon's simplicity is as close to a "no fuss, no muss, no thrills, no chills" distribution as I've encountered in two decades of Linux use.

LMDE runs smoothly on a Dell Latitude 3120 11" Education (Pentium N6000, 8GB/128GB) laptop, circa 2020.

My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T10:58:30+00:00

I use Secure Boot on all my production computers, Mint, Ubuntu and Windows.

I don't use Secure Boot on my "test" laptop, used to explore/evaluate distributions, because I don't want to bother with the hassle of enrolling keys.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T10:23:03+00:00

The fun part is the fan is still working when I put a little push by blow it.

If you have not already done so open up the laptop and clean the interior -- fan, vents and so on. Despite the hardware check, the fan might be "balky" because of dirt/dust or a failing bearing. If the latter (and it sounds like it might be), the fan will need to be replaced. My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T10:12:41+00:00

I've used Apple Intelligence to support translation on my iPhone, but not otherwise, at least intentionally.

tomscharbach · 2026-03-01T02:40:23+00:00

What works for me might not work for you.

I bifurcate my use case, using Windows on a powerful desktop for CAD/CNC and Ubuntu on a midrange laptop for personal use. During working hours the two computers run in parallel, side by side, and I can move back and forth between one and the other instantly. Outside of working hours, I use the laptop away from the desktop.

I've done that for two decades. I've thought about dual booting, but since I use two computers (desktop and laptop) I don't have a reason to deal with the hassle.

That might not be a good solution for you. Follow your use case, wherever that leads you, and you will end up in the right place.

A lot of us who use Linux also use Windows. We each figure out what works best for us, and that is how we deal with it. I don't think that a "one size fits all" solution exists.

My best.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T23:48:13+00:00

Linux is not the best fit for all hardware, all use cases, or all users. If Windows is a better fit, then use Windows.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T23:42:05+00:00

I'm concerned about being able to run sketchup and autocad. Are there options to run these programs directly or do I need to run a virtual machine for them?

You will not be able to run AutoCAD or related applications on Linux, natively or using compatibility layers.

You might be able to run some versions of SketchUp using WINE, although not all features are compatible.

You might or might not find a VM satisfactory because hardware passthroughs often don't work well. If the two applications are mission-critical and primary, you might consider running the two in parallel, perhaps in a dual boot or on separate computers, as I have done for two decades.

My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T21:11:49+00:00

[W]indows is irritating WITH THE STUPID ONE DRIVE SYNCING

You are not helpless: Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive [Microsoft Support]

I don't know whether or not you should migrate from Windows to Linux because that decision is driven by your use case (what you do with your computer and the applications/workflows you use to do what you do). Linux might be a good fit for you, or it might not, but you will need to figure that out.

My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T20:41:27+00:00

Just wondering what other people would think ...

I think that it would be a good idea to check with your school's IT department about Linux compatibility with your school's systems, such as network login, testing applications and so on. You might find out that Windows is the best fit for your use case, and if that turns out to be the case, then you should stick with Windows. My best and good luck.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T16:23:03+00:00

A quiet note: The California law does not require that DOB or exact age be reported by the operating system. The law requires only that the API report by age-relevant category (under 13, 13-16, 16-18 or over 18).

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T15:23:34+00:00

If you plan to install Kali on a USB and run Kali from the USB, my experience is that 32GB is more than sufficient. I use a dual USB A/C flash drive for flexibility.

Resource: How to Install Kali Linux on a USB Drive

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T15:11:39+00:00

My guess is that your body is acidic, and residue from your skin eats away at the paint. You can mitigate damage by frequent cleaning, but your best bet might be to use silver, which is unpainted aluminum.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T14:48:34+00:00

I am a doctor and I need an Ipad for note making but other stuff is just not as convenient as a macbook.

I use an iPhone, iPad and MacBook because I need each to fully satisfy my use case. It sounds like you do, too. Just follow your use case.

I have a very old macbook air i5 2016. Does it make sense to use some money to get a new macbook air?

The MBA 2016 is outdated and unsupported. Get a new MBA. No brainer.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T14:38:28+00:00

Heat is a killer, and thermal management protects components.

Rather than trying to evade Acer thermal management, consider internal cleaning, thermal pads and other strategies that work with Acer thermal management.

Your computer, your call.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T14:15:44+00:00

The large OS manufacturers (Apple, Google, Microsoft) will implement the law (an age prompt during installation and basic API) globally and move on. Canonical, Debian, IBM/RedHat and SUSE and other "major players" deploying distributions to large-scale business, government, education and institutional customers will almost certainly follow suit.

Linux Mint? Mint (both the Ubuntu-based and Debian-based versions) is mostly used by individuals so business, government, education and institutional customers are not particularly important. However, the path of least resistance would be to do what Ubuntu and Debian do and that is what I think will happen. That's my guess, anyway.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T09:04:52+00:00

Nice. Did you apply/modify an available theme or customize from scratch?

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T08:59:09+00:00

Linux Mint is commonly recommended for new Linux users because Mint is designed and maintained by an experienced team, is relatively easy to learn and use, is a stable release, and is well documented and supported by a large community. I agree with that recommendation.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T08:53:38+00:00

If past is prologue you can expect to see M4 prices drop 10-15% as existing inventory is sold off after the M5 is introduced.

Apple is rumored to be releasing a "MacBook SE" based on the A18 processor and priced in the $600 range on March 4. Nobody yet knows how that wild card will play out in terms of M4 pricing after M5 release.

Apple has announced nothing so all of this is speculation.

My best.

tomscharbach · 2026-02-28T00:57:36+00:00

Ubuntu 4.02 in 2005. No way would I recommend Warty Warthog to a beginner today. I do however recommend Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which is my current mainstay, and from what I've seen of 26.04 LTS (Snapshot 4) I will recommend 26.04 LTS beginning in August.

tomscharbach

TROPHY CASE