Linux Mint 22 Wilma, a great upgrade.

I made the upgrade to Linux Mint 22 Wilma, an while it isn't a revolutionary upgrade it has been quite a good upgrade. To be honest, is the kind of upgrade that I've come to expect from the Linux Mint team, they bring those upgrades that will continue to give the best user experience without braking the system.

The update I notice the most, is the blueman-manager for Bluetooth devices. It connects to my Bluetooth headphones a lot faster and effectively. It is simply way better, and something I do notice since I do use Bluetooth headphone with my laptop on daily basis, specially at work when I want to concentrate on my job.

With each Linux Mint release, the more I'm convinced that Linux can be used by people that just want an computer that just work for them. While not Linux is not for everyone, it has come a long way to be useful to a larger set of users. Not only that, it has become a lot more user friendly that most people believe.

A user that just wants to browse the Internet and watch YouTube or Netflix, can use Linux Mint without much trouble.; even Spotify runs well on Linux. 

With time, the apps that don't run on Linux have been decreasing. And the reason why they don't run on Linux have more to do with not enough people using Linux than technical reasons. Which means, that if enough people ask for Linux version, software developer will make it available for Linux at some point.

With Linux distros like Linux Mint becoming more user friendly, and with longer support times, means that more users and businesses can use it without more trouble than making sure that the apps they use are supported.

The fact that each Linux Mint major release is supported for four years, is something that make the transition for businesses is a lot easier. I make the upgrade every two years, yet the fact that businesses can wait up to four years is a plus.

I've been using Linux for the better part of two decades, and I've seen getting better with time. Specially in the user experience front, with distros like Linux Mint and Ubuntu. Linux Mint and Ubuntu are distros that are easy to use, and make it easy for people with no Linux experience to make the jump from other operating systems. Specially because most of what can be done on Windows can be done on Linux Mint or Ubuntu without much trouble.

Now it has come to specific software that targets either Windows, or macOS, and has no direct replacement on Linux that make it hard to make the jump. Other than that, there is no reason for not being able to make the jump.

To be honest, I'm glad that I'm witness to how much improvement Linux has made on the user experience with time.

Google Pixel: my favorite smartphones.

I've been using the Pixel 7a for about 5 months now, and it has really surpassed my expectations. From how it just works really great for me, to getting monthly security updates, it has been one of the best Android devices I've used.

So much so, that while I usually prefer mid-range devices because they give the best value for my money, I'd be willing to to move upward when the time comes to change my smartphone. It might be Pixel 11, or 12, when I choose to upgrade but the Pixel devises have proven to be the best fit for me.

The only other Android smartphone I'd consider would be a Nothing device, since my experience with the Nothing Phone (1) also really great. I just prefer the Pixel lineup because of personal preferences.

Mainly because Pixel and Nothing devices are why I prefer to use Android devices. They work out of the box for me, and I can set them up as I want them software wise. On the hardware side of things, I can choose the specs that more closely fit my needs at the price point I'm willing, or my budget allows, to pay for.

What I like most about the Pixel devices, is that I've a choice for mid-range, or premium, smartphone that I now know fits my needs and wants. To be honest, I've been wanting a Pixel device for a while now, but the chance to get one didn't come up until this year.

I use it in the Movistar network here in Mexico, and it works like a charm. I can even get 5G access. While Movistar's 5G network still need to expand a bit, it has quite a good coverage to begin with.

All changes with time, but for now Movistar and the Pixel phone are my go to combination.

Linux Mint 22 Wilma is close.

With the beta of Linux Mint 22 Wilma released for testing, I'm looking forward to upgrading to it when it possible.

The new features that Linux Mint 22 Wilma might not be ground breaking, but they are nice improvements to an already solid OS. To be honest, the fact that Linux Mint upgrades bring whats needed and not just the latest software to say they are bleeding edge, is why it has become my go-to OS.

While being at the bleeding edge might be cool, it isn't something that I prioritize or need on my everyday laptop. What it need is an OS that has update software that just works and doesn't get in the way. Linux Mint does this, in quite an elegant way, without having to worry about an upgrade breaking things.

The Linux Mint developers tend to add new technologies when they are mature, or they have no other option, which makes for quite an stable OS with predictable upgrades. That means that I can focus on using my laptop the way I like while just keeping an eye on updates so nothing breaks on my system.

To be honest, Linux Mint is an example that Linux is user-friendly enough to go mainstream. Any one who can use a Windows or a Mac computer, can use a computer using Linux Mint, POP! OS or Ubuntu to give some examples.

Life is good to be a Linux user, and it keeps getting better.

Linux Mint: from freedom came elegance.

I've been using Linux Mint constantly since about 2019, on three different laptops, and with each new version of Linux Mint it has been getting better. Mainly with little quality of living details, with a few changes that have meant a difference on how I use my laptop.

Yet, even those change have made my experience using the OS better. And one the things I've come to appreciate about Linux Mint since moving to only releasing long-term support releases, is that I'm not in a hurry to get the latest release. Each point release brings more then enough upgrades to keep the Linux Mint current.

Not only that, since each upgrade it the hardware requirements don't jump up that much, it means that my laptop has a longer life expectancy. I don't need to change it that often, mainly if it starts having problems with hardware that can't be changed easily or cheaply.

I used to prefer Ubuntu, but with Cinnamon becoming a mature desktop environment Linux Mint has become my go to Linux distro. Cinnamon just works better for me than GNOME, giving me all what I need and want, and then some more.

And I find Linux Mint to be all that much more of an elegant OS, that just works for me. Simple, yet it can be configured to work as you want it to work while looking like you want it to look. What I love, is that you don't need to much technical know-how to do so, while if you have technical proficiency you can do much do so much more.

Linux Mint just works, and can be actually a good way to get into using Linux of beginner and a great option for those who already use Linux that want a distro that is just easy to use and doesn't get in the way. It is truly one of those distros that prove that Linux is no longer the realm of computer experts.

Machenike L16A: a great value for the money.

I recently got a Machenike L16A to replace the HP laptop I've been using for about 4 years now, and it has been quite a good upgrade.

The value for the price has been excellent, it has really felt like an upgrade. Specially going from 8Gb of RAM to 16Gb. I specially notice the better performance when at work, since I use a remote desktop. I simply don't see as much slowdowns on the same use.

Most of the time, at work I've the remote desktop app, Firefox, Thunderbird, Spotify, or sometimes Rhythmbox, open at the same time and having 16Gb of RAM gives the performance I need since at time around 6-7Gb are used.

I also feel the AMD Ryzen CPU has been quite an upgrade, since it has more cores and threads than the Intel CPU my HP laptop has. That makes for a better user experience.

But, where I see the better user experience is on the keyboard, and display side of things. The keyboard keys got stuck often, making the track pad unusable and characters to repeat themselves. While the Machenike keyboard is not perfect, is far more usable and I find it to be quite nice to use.

On the display play side of things, that the panel is a 2.5k display makes it quite an upgrade. Not to mention that is an 16 inch over the 15.6 inch of the HP laptop. It isn't that bigger, but personally it make quite the difference.

Now I know that my favorite display size for laptops ranges from 15.6 to 16 inches. It has become my sweet spot for me, with the right compromise of size and portability.

And to top it up, Linux Mint works like a charm on the Machenike L16A. I just had to adjust the display resolution to my liking, other than that Linux Mint just works on the laptop. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations about the system when I got it, but after using it I most admit that can recommend it to most users that want a mid range laptop.

Linux Mint going for the long-term support model was the right choice.

Ever since I stared using Linux Mint with the long-term support mantra with the version 19 Tara release, I've come to prefer Linux distros that use development model rather than distros that release updates more often with shorter support windows.

Even though I upgrade to the new Linux Mint release as soon it becomes available, knowing that I don't have to rush it and that the testing to make sure nothing is broken with the new release is a bit more intense, gives me feel a bit safer about thing will continue working as I used to and expect them to. Besides, all the apps I use are updated as continuously. As such, I don't need to worry using versions of those apps that fall behind.

Not only the that, with updates to Linux Mint come as needed and the point releases keep bring the big releases that weren't included at the original release of the OS. For my needs, Linux Mint cover them all, and it gets better with time. With each release, Linux Mint keeps feeling like a modern OS with a lot of stability baked in.

Each release fixes what needs to be fixed, while making sure that everything else keeps working. It also adds the functionalities that people can expect from a modern OS, without having to learn how to used all over again. It just works, and most of the time it just keeps working without much change. While there have been changes here and there, those changes are easy to understand why there were made and easy to get used to.

Most importantly, Linux Mint is quite an elegant OS that can be set up to each user taste if the user wishes to do so. If not, using without changes is a breeze.

No wonder Linux Mint has become my go to OS for both work and personal use.

Linux Mint at work.

After three years of using Linux Mint for work, mainly accessing the work server via remote desktop or web app, I can say that it just works.

Due to several factors, the company I work for decided to use a Windows server in order for us to access the software we need to do our work. And it has proved to be quite a good decision, since it has simplified the software management by the IT department, and help everyone to be able to work remotely when needed. Specially the sales team, because they are almost always on the move.

Personally, it has helped me to better manage my work flow and to keep on top on deadlines. I just like the fact that I can better balance my work-life better, though it would be better if we could work remotely at least a couple of days a week.

Whats more, it has given me even more arguments for me not to return to Windows. Linux Mint work a lot better for me, and I rather use free and open-source software as much as possible.

And as the old Linux Mint tag line use to say: from freedom came elegance, I find Linux Mint to be a lot more of an elegant OS than either Windows , macOS, or any other Linux distro I've used so far. Linux Mint is just simple to use, and with each update has improved its usability and become more reliable.

Cinnamon, Linux Mint desktop environment, has improved leaps and bounds with time. So much so, that other Linux distros like Arch Linux, Debian, and openSUSE include use it.

Linux Mint is a great option for those who want to make the jump to a Linux distro from Windows. It is easy to use, and can be used by people who don´t really have that much technical expertise or those who simple don´t want to get their hands dirty hacking their system.