The new Linux Mint 21.2, codenamed "Victoria," is a refreshing update to my favorite Linux desktop distribution. It continues to build on the solid foundation of Ubuntu 22.04 Long Term Support (LTS) and the Linux kernel 5.15, offering a stable and reliable operating system for both new and experienced users. This version is also a Mint LTS; you can use it confidently until 2027.

Why do I prefer it over Windows 11 or MacOS Ventura? Besides that it has better security than either one, I also like that it comes with all the free and open-source software I need for work. 

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Like all Linux desktop distros, Victoria isn't just a comprehensive desktop operating system. It includes all the software you need. It comes with LibreOffice 7.3.7 for office productivity, Thunderbird 102.4 for email and calendaring, GIMP 2.10.30 for graphics editing, and Firefox 115.02 for web browsing. 

Want a different program? No problem. You may have heard installing programs on Linux is a major pain. That's not true. It's simple. Just open up the Software Manager and search for your program. 

For example, if, like me, you prefer Chrome, all I had to do was search for "Web browser," and I have three dozen web browsers to choose from. I found Chrome from a selection that included Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and -- a real blast from the past -- Mosaic and clicked on it. A minute later, I was in business.  

All of these are free.

The Software Manager also features a refreshed user interface and the option to download applications via Flatpak. This is a significant development as Mint is one of the latest Linux distributions to adopt Flatpak. The Software Manager also includes application ratings to help you make informed decisions about your applications.

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Flatpak allows developers to enable users to install containerized programs on their desktops easily. Don't like Flatpak because these containerized applications take up more drive and memory space? No problem. Software Manager makes it easy to see the difference between a conventional and a Flatpak installation. 

Mint's leadership has never liked Flatpak's rival Snap program manager.  If you want to use snaps anyway -- I do -- take the following steps from the shell.

$sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref

$apt update

$apt install snapd

And, while the Snap store won't be integrated with the Software and Update Manager, you can install Snap programs.  

One of the most significant updates in Linux Mint 21.2 is the enhancement of the Cinnamon desktop environment. Cinnamon, already known for its user-friendly and intuitive interface, has been further polished in this release. 

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The latest version, Cinnamon 5.8, introduces a new concept called Styles, which offers three modes: dark, light, and mixed. These modes, combined with theme variants, allow users to customize the look and feel of their desktop to their liking. Other improvements include improved gesture support for window management, media controls, and workspace management, the ability to resize the main menu manually, and the addition of icons to notification windows to better illustrate the message.

Don't care for Cinnamon? Linux Mint 21.2 also comes with MATE, the GNOME 2-style desktop, which is no longer in development. If you have a low-powered PC, Linux Mint Xfce 21.2 is also ready to install and run. All are very simple to pick up. 

Speaking of computer power, the Cinnamon interface is also faster and snappier. There have been many changes under the hood to speed up the display. I noticed this immediately on my main desktop. The new Mint ran faster than ever on my 2020 Dell Precision 3451. An Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU powers this PC. It also includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. 

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This is far more computer power than Mint needs. Linux Mint will run on pretty much any computer. You're good to go if your PC has 2GBs of RAM and 100GB, any graphics card, and a monitor that supports a 1024