On nearly any post about Ubuntu, or Linux in general, the Ubuntu derivative Linux Mint is offered as an alternative, or comes up (multiple times) as a recommendation in the comments. What sets Mint apart? Blogger (and obvious Linux lover) Jeff Hoogland makes five cases for Mint over Ubuntu. The default software picks (Pidgin over Empathy, Thunderbird included), the graphical look, and the general ease of use for newcomers used to Windows are all valid considerations, but we'd consider the default inclusion of "restricted" stuff like MP3 codecs, Java, and Flash to be the true killer app for beginners. What puts Mint over Ubuntu in your mind, or vice-versa? [Thoughts on Technology]

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