Linux Mint 22.2 Delivers Fresh Features And Polish For Everyday Linux Users - And Longtime Fans

My highly customized Linux Mint 22.2 Zara desktop runs for illustration a charm.

sjvn

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Linux Mint Zara is an fantabulous desktop for some Linux and Windows users looking for a change.
• Linux Mint 22.2 comes pinch galore humble improvements.
• You tin tally nan caller Mint without worrying astir needing to make awesome updates.

Clement "Clem" Lefebvre and nan remainder of nan Linux Mint squad person done it again. With nan merchandise of Linux Mint 22.2, besides known arsenic Zara, users get a distribution that's easy to usage and packed pinch adjuvant improvements to make nan regular desktop acquisition amended than ever.

As a long-time Linux Mint fan, I'm delighted pinch this latest release. As successful nan past version, Linux Mint 22.1, codenamed Xia, nan merchandise is based connected nan Ubuntu 24.04 Long Term Support (LTS) Linux distro. The caller Mint has nan accustomed desktop choices, including nan default Cinnamon 6.4 interface. It besides comes pinch nan latest Xfce 4.18 and MATE 1.26 environments.

Also: Ready to ditch Windows 10? Don't fto these 7 Linux myths extremity you

While location person been immoderate reports that Mint 22.2 now uses nan Linux kernel 6.14 by default, that's not rather true. If you upgrade your system, for illustration I did, nan modular Mint Linux kernel remains nan LTS Linux kernel 6.8, specifically 6.8.0-79. That's because 6.14 is only supported until February 2026, while 6.8 is supported until April 2029. 

However, if you instal nan caller Mint for nan first time, you will get nan 6.14 kernel. That's bully news if you person a newer PC aliases are a gamer; nan newer kernel supports much of nan latest hardware, and nan improved NTSYNC driver boosts nan capacity of Windows games and programs. 

Also: The easiest measurement to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

But if you want to move from 1 kernel to another, spell to the Mint Update Manager and prime "View" -> "Linux Kernels" from nan menu. With that shape complete, you tin reboot your machine and take "Advanced options" successful nan Grub menu. From here, you tin prime a caller kernel and your machine will footwear pinch that one. I don't urge beginners effort this approach, though. It requires immoderate acquisition to displacement kernels successfully. For astir people, nan default kernel will beryllium fine. 

sjvn

Moving on, for nan first time, Linux Mint has fingerprint authentication. Thanks to nan caller Fingwit app, you tin log in, unlock your screensaver, and tally important guidelines commands pinch conscionable a touch. Mint 22.2 users pinch a fingerprint scanner connected their laptop nary longer request to fiddle pinch passwords.

Besides nan 6.14 kernel hardware support, Mint 22.2 ships pinch nan latest Mesa graphics stack. This stack enables you to get nan astir retired of your graphic-heavy programs. 

Also: How to determine betwixt Linux and MacOS - if you're fresh to ditch Windows

Aesthetics matter, and Zara's theming overhaul is clear nan infinitesimal you usage nan desktop. The Mint-Y taxable rocks a cooler grey palette, improved acheronian mode, and existent GTK harmony crossed Flatpak and Adwaita apps. In addition, system-wide accent colors yet transportation complete into third-party apps, blurring nan lines betwixt autochthonal and containerized software. Even nan login surface gets a modern makeover, complete pinch avatars and stylish blur effects.

Linux Mint isn't conscionable playing catch-up; it's besides pushing guardant connected cross-platform convenience. The Sticky Notes app now synchronizes your notes betwixt Linux and Android devices, and Warpinator record transportation enables you to transportation files to Windows PCs and iPhones easily.

Of course, nan accustomed Mint refinements are besides here. A nimbler Software Manager and Update Manager, smarter record renaming tools, and updated packages for Firefox and Thunderbird, still delivered arsenic bully aged DEB files, not Snaps. That said, if you for illustration Snap applications, arsenic I do, you tin still set Mint up to support Snap exertion installation.

As always, Mint comes pinch free top-of-the-line end-user programs, pinch everything you request for location aliases agency work. Specifically, Mint comes pinch LibreOffice 24.7.2 for agency activity and homework, Firefox 142 for web browsing, Thunderbird 128.14 for email and calendaring. If you're a gamer, Linux Mint supports Steam, which lets you tally games conscionable for illustration you would connected Windows. All of this, including Mint, won't costs you a bladed dime.

Also: This caller Linux desktop is almost a dormant ringer for OS X

You'd alternatively tally different program? No fuss, nary muss. You tin usage Mint's Software Manager to prime immoderate programme you want. For example, I for illustration Chrome for web browsing and Evolution for email. Mint makes these choices simple. You usage nan Software Manager to hunt for a program, download it, and instal it pinch a click. Anyone who tells you it's difficult to instal Linux programs hasn't touched nan operating strategy successful nan 2020s.

I'm moving nan caller Mint connected my religious 2020 Dell Precision 3451, powered by an Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU. The PC besides includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. I'm besides utilizing Mint 22.2 connected my 2024 HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-223. This machine has an eight-core 3.8 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB Solid-State Drive (SSD). It besides has integrated AMD Radeon Graphics. On some PCs, Mint runs for illustration a well-tuned Porsche. 

Either instrumentality is much machine than Mint needs. You're bully to spell if your PC has 2GB of RAM and 100GB of storage, immoderate graphics card, and a show that supports a 1024×768 resolution. If you're unsure astir utilizing Mint, see grabbing a PC from a second-hand shop to effort it out.

Also: This lightweight Linux distro makes switching from Windows 10 easy

If you're already moving Mint, you tin upgrade to 22.2 via nan Update Manager. There's nary drama, nary risky transitions; conscionable coagulated updates and semipermanent reliability. If you want to effort Mint connected a caller computer, you must download an ISO, pain it to a USB stick, and instal it utilizing nan instructions successful my communicative astir how to instal Mint connected a Windows PC. 

In a world wherever immoderate Linux distros pursuit nan bleeding edge, Linux Mint 22.2 "Zara" is simply a reminder that thoughtful refinement tin beryllium revolutionary successful its ain right. For those who want a Linux desktop that useful and keeps getting better, merchandise aft release, Zara is nan upgrade you've been waiting for.