I replaced my Windows workflow with Linux Mint and it was easier than I imagined
Linux Mint has a reputation for being the distro most enthusiasts recommend to Windows users who want to try Linux. After trying Pop!_OS for a week , my next project was using Linux Mint for work, entertainment, and everything in between. After two weeks of daily driving Mint, I now understand why everyone recommends it as a Windows replacement.
The friendly installation process and familiar desktop
Anyone who has ever installed Windows will tell you that it has a friendly installation process. Installing Linux Mint is just as simple: you simply download the ISO, create a bootable USB flash drive , and then follow the installation prompts.
The user-friendliness of Linux Mint's download page particularly stands out. It segments the available editions and features a button that redirects to detailed installation instructions. For this experiment, I installed the Cinnamon edition of Linux Mint 22.3 . It would be a shame not to mention that Mint has over 130 local download mirrors and a torrent option that you'll love if you've ever experienced problems while downloading a large file via a browser's Downloads Manager.
Mint's installation process is as straightforward as Windows. The installer walks you through everything, from selecting a language and keyboard layout to installing media codecs, choosing an installation type, selecting a time zone, and setting up a user profile. If you've ever installed Windows and other OSs, installing Linux Mint will feel familiar and intuitive.
From the moment you land on the desktop for the first time, Mint feels familiar and almost like someone has cloned Windows and given it a Linux makeover. On most Linux distros, the dock's default position is the top or left side; not Linux Mint. The Linux Mint Panel is exactly where you'd find the Windows taskbar: at the bottom. Similarly, Mint's System Tray is home to the update manager, network settings, volume controls, and the clock.
The power menu is also in the general area you'd find it on Windows. The Mint Menu is also around where the Windows Start Menu is: the bottom-left corner of the taskbar. On both OSs, pressing the Super Key opens a menu that offers very similar options: access to apps, system settings, the power menu, and more.
Nemo, the default file explorer, looks almost identical to Windows File Explorer; the folder icons are lookalikes. The sidebar is also similar to what you get on Windows and is a quick way to access documents, pictures, videos, and the network.
Mint's folder structure and address bar are eerily similar to Windows. When you right-click a folder or file on Linux Mint, you get all the familiar Windows options like rename, cut, copy, open in Terminal, and more. Both operating systems have a similar update manager system: when updates are available, a system tray icon notifies you. Clicking the icon opens an update manager that shows available updates, complete with click-to-install options.
Like Windows, Mint just works: no muss, no fuss
Besides familiarity, Windows dominates the OS market because it just works. Its driver support for many hardware components and media files makes it easy to use for work and entertainment out of the box.
Thanks to the Linux kernel , Linux Mint also offers similar, if not better, driver support; USBs, Wi-Fi chips, GPUs, and most hardware components work flawlessly out of the box. Mint's Driver Manager is the place to go to install drivers for proprietary hardware like NVIDIA graphics cards.
Like most people, whenever I change operating systems, I quickly install communication apps like Slack, entertainment apps like VLC, and productivity apps like Chrome and TickTick. Installing apps from the Microsoft Store is almost error-proof. Admittedly, Mint's Software Manager doesn't have as many tools as the Microsoft Store, but it's just as easy to use, and you can find, install, and use most day-to-day apps on it. For example, although Google Chrome isn't available on Mint's Software Manager, you can download its deb file and install it that way.
Even without installing third-party media tools and codecs, media viewing and playback on Mint is as seamless as it is on Windows. Whereas Windows has Photos, the Media Player, and Windows Media Player Legacy as the default photo, audio, and video handlers, Mint uses Celluloid for audio and video files and Xviewer for photos.
The everyday user experience
The more I used Mint, the more the little things made it feel like Windows. Most—if not all—of the familiar shortcuts you'd use on Windows work on Mint. For example, both operating systems have a vertical "Show Desktop" line at the far right of the taskbar and panel.
The notification systems on Mint and Windows are also quite alike: notification pop-ups use similar animation styles, and on both systems, the notification hub is in the bottom-right corner of the System Tray. Pinning apps on the Windows Taskbar and Linux Mint Panel is also similar: you simply right-click and select the add to panel or pin to taskbar option, respectively. If you like Windows desktop widgets, Mint's Desklets offer a similar experience.
After daily driving Mint for two weeks, I'm convinced that its user-friendliness, a familiar desktop, and the fact that it just works are why it's the Linux distro everyone recommends to Windows users.
Let's take off the rose-colored glasses
No Linux distro can be a true Windows replica, and clearly, Mint is a unique distro that's not trying to be 100% like Windows. It looks and feels a lot like Windows, but not everything about it works as it does on Windows. For example, compared to Mint, Windows has a better tiling layout, and its window snap feature is way more responsive—getting the feature to work consistently on Mint was a struggle.
So, who is Linux Mint for? Well, it's for anyone looking to replace Windows with a modern, elegant, and easy-to-use Linux operating system. Like Windows, it works out of the box, but with the added advantage of being free and open source. That makes it a worthy contender if you're looking to switch from Windows to Linux.
