Linux Mint Debian (LMDE) is a rolling release distribution based on Debian Testing.

LMDE Update Pack 4, which will include Linux Kernel 3.2, Mate Desktop 1.2 (a renamed GNOME 2 desktop), Cinnamon 1.4 (GNOME Shell fork), GNOME Shell 3.2.2, KDE 4.7.4 and Xfce 4.8, "is being prepared and tested at the moment" and should be available soon. , which(a renamed GNOME 2 desktop),(GNOME Shell fork),, "is being prepared and tested at the moment" and should be available soon.

In a comment, Clement Lefebvre, the Linux Mint Project Leader, has specified that a new respin of LMDE ISOs will be available too when Update Pack 4 will be released. He also stated that it hasn't been decided yet if MATE or Cinnamon will be made default and if they will both be on the ISO, but "both will be fully supported".

you'll be able to avoid the update, keeping GNOME 2, by changing the software sources as explained on the Linux Mint If you don't like any of the desktop environments available with LMDE Update Pack 4,, keeping GNOME 2, by changing the software sources as explained on the Linux Mint blog

Install Linux Mint Debian Update Pack 4 (testing only!)

tested: download LMDE from LMDE Update Pack 4 can already be: download LMDE from HERE , then install Update Pack 3 using the Update Manager and then, to install Update Pack 4, you'll need to add the Linux Mint Debian testing repositories - to do this, run the following command in a terminal:

gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming testing main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming/security testing/updates main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming/multimedia testing main non-free









Then open the Linux Mint Update Manager, click "Refresh" so the software sources are updated and LMDE Update Pack 4 should be available for installation.

After the upgrade, only the GNOME Shell and GNOME Fallback sessions will be available:





LMDE - GNOME Shell





sudo apt-get install cinnamon

Cinnamon

sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment

MATE

via Linux Mint blog

And replace the contents of this file with the following repositories:Then log out and select MATE / Cinnamon from the GDM login screen.