So...you've decided to try Linux Mint on your laptop/notebook/netbook ( it really doesn't matter the brand, processor, RAM or HDD capacity!).
Even if it's for the first time in your life you're using a Linux distribution...just don't be scared of trying it! I assure you : once you'll start using Linux Mint your troubles (as in Windows) with restarting, reinstalling, using cracked programs will end.
First you have to acquire an ISO image of this distribution.
The developers provide two versions :
1.Linux Mint 8 "Helena" - Main Edition (688MB)
2.LinuxMint 8 Universal (1GB)
Both are available for download at http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=45.
I remind you that Linux Mint is a free distribution which was born from someone's effort to offer everyone an extremely easy to use, fast and reliable alternative to whatever "trademark-crap-with-big-name" is on the market. So consider donating to have this Linux distribution more and more improved!
My suggestion: go on and download the torrent that points to the 697MB/32bit one.
The ISO file you've just downloaded will be used to ”burn” a boot-able CD ( no matter what operation system you use I'm sure you have the necessary tools and also you know how to use them in order to create a boot-able CD ) or a boot-able USB key.
Create a boot-able USB key
This works great when your laptop/netbook/notebook doesn't have an internal CD/DVD reader/writer and also you don't want to spend 60 dollars for an external one!.
You'll need an USB key with at least 1GB capacity and a program that will help you “transfer” the ISO file on your USB key. Remember that IT IS NOT a simple file transfer copy/paste.
The program you need is Unetbootin and it is free, available for download (Windows and Linux) at http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ . The program is extremely easy to install and use and the webpage provides all necessary information so I'll not insist on this.
After downloading and installing Unetbootin you need to format your USB key.
For this, insert it into a free USB port and if your operation system is Windows , right click on the icon representing your USB key and select Format.
It's okay if you'll use the default fat32 format.
When it's done, remove and then re-insert the USB key and start the UNetbootin program.
In the window that opened be sure you select the following:
Disk Image: ISO
[Select the path to your downloaded ISO file] ( it's the box right next to Disk Image )
Type: USB Drive
Drive: [the_letter_that_represents_your_USB_key] .
For Windows users this could be D:\ , E:\ , F:\ , etc while for Linux users this could be /dev/sdb1 , /dev/sdc1 , /dev/sdd1 , etc.
When all these settings are done just click OK and the program will start creating your boot-able USB key.
It will take a little time and when the progress bar will reach 100% the program will ask you to Reboot your computer.
Do as it says!
While your computer restarts, press the key that will give you the possibility to access the BIOS.
Usually for laptops this key is F2.
Once the BIOS menu initiated , find the boot options, and using UP/DOWN arrows highlight the USB key ( it should appear in this menu as USB HDD: ).
Then, depending of your BIOS, use the F5 and F6 keys ( sometimes + and – keys will do the same ) to place the highlighted option on the first place ( meaning the option on the first place will be considered as being the drive to boot from ).
Then using the same keys, put on the second place the Hard Drive ( it will appear as HDD: or IDEO: followed by manufacturer's brand, serial number...something like that).
When you're done, just press F10 to save your settings ( by default YES is highlighted ) and then press ENTER.
The computer will restart with the new settings and , of course, do not remove the USB key so the BIOS will find it and boot the operation system from it ( in the present case – Linux Mint ).
If everything was setup correctly in BIOS when restarting your computer will display the boot: prompt.
Press ENTER and the next screen will display the Unetbootin menu with some options.
At this point if you want only to try Linux Mint without modifying anything at all into your basic operation system already installed highlight the Default option in this menu and press ENTER.
In less then a minute you'll have Linux Mint up and running.
Yes, the Desktop is green! And the icons too! But don't worry about this. If you don't like it you can customize everything: Desktop background, Theme, Icons, Fonts.
You can even designate keys or combination of keys to initiate any program you like without being necessary the use of a mouse supposed to click on different icons.
This is extremely useful in case you have a netbook with a small display (8 or 10 inches display).
If you want to explore what's “under the hood” just click on the Menu icon ( lower left corner ).
You'll discover a multitude of programs ( free and already installed ): audio/video players, image editors ( GIMP is an Adobe Photoshop like program ) , image viewers, Open Office ( Microsoft Office like program), Pidgin ( instant messenger program that allows you to login with different accounts on Yahoo Messenger and/or different other popular instant messengers you might use and have accounts on), Firefox Web Browser , Thunderbird Mail, Transmission Bit Torrent and a lot of other applications that look like whatever you know and/or use already on Windows.
If you have an iPod ( Apple product ) then Rhythmbox solves the problem with the transfer of your music files from your iPod into your computer and vice-versa. Like iTunes but better and with less consumption of resources.
The transfer of mp3 files will be handled into/from any other portable mp3 player similar as in Windows.....EXCEPT Zune.
If you have a Zune mp3 player , things are very “nashpa”.
Zune belongs to Microsoft so because they didn't want to reveal much about the processor, the software and how all things are going on inside a Zune portable player, Linux can't handle this kind of players.....for now.
What you won't find installed by default is Skype.
But don't worry about it! You can do it by yourself accessing the lower left corner Menu, then click on Package Manager ( a very important and useful tool that helps you install into your computer everything you want ).
This will work if you have configured an active Network Connection.
When the Synaptic Package Manager starts , you'll find in it a box that said Quick Search. Just type in it Skype and here we go … found it!
All you have to do now is to select the package named “skype” , right click on it and in the menu that opens select Mark for Installation.
A dialog box with two buttons will appear : Cancel and Mark. Of course, select Mark and in a few seconds ( depending on your speed of your connection ) Skype will be installed on your computer.
If you have a netbook with webcam and microphone included , all you have to do is to adjust the necessary settings in Skype so you'll have sound and video in a jiffy.
Netbooks being so called “last generation” devices ….Linux Mint will have and use drivers for all internal hardware they might contain so you don't have to worry about wireless network cards drivers, video drivers, or whatever.
Even if you have a 4-5 years old laptop there are 99% chances for Linux Mint to have the necessary drivers for it.
Linux Mint is based on Debian Linux as also are Ubuntu, Kubuntu, CrunchBang, Kuki Linux and many others.
All mentioned distributions will work perfect into your laptop/netbook/notebook and will look almost like Linux Mint too ( not so green ! ) but all of them have some more or less comfortable flows.
Some of them after update won't recognize anymore the wireless net card, some of them have an unusual graphic interface that you won't like or you might like but some hardware will require a little bit of “know what and how to do“ workaround in order to make use of them, or pure and simple some of them won't have access to so many repositories as Linux Mint has so you might not be able to install whatever needed program .
I have tested way too many Linux distributions and in the end I can say that as for the moment of this writing if you have a laptop/notebook/netbook go with Linux Mint!!!!
Observation
It is possible (especially when you put your computer to sleep and then wakeup ) from time to time that your wireless card won't be recognised.
When this happens stop your computer, wait a minute and fire it up again.
This will solve the problem for sure.
The second best would be Kuki Linux as they say it was specially designed for Acer Aspire One.
Yes, Kuki is okay, very stable and very fast but the big disadvantage…. Rhythmbox in Kuki Linux doesn't contain the necessary plugin to handle mp3 files so you can't handle your iPod in this case!!!
This requires a little bit of fucking around with it in order to install the plugin. Very uncomfortable for a “green horn” especially if you want to convince him/her to use Linux.
When time will come and you'll decide that you want to install Linux Mint , press the Install icon on your Desktop. Remember that this will guide you through a series of settings that will remove your basic operation system.
Coming soon Installing Linux Mint: how to create “comfortable” partitions for a laptop/netbook/notebook.
