My new standard Linux for the "serious" side on my Gaming/Multimedia computer is Linux Mint 6. Under the "hood" is Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Linux but all the "extras" like Flash, Java, and all the video and audio codecs are all included.

At least that was the claim. So I installed Linux Mint 6 on the Linux partition. The installer was exactly the same as Ubuntu 8.10 - install went without a single hitch. Didn't even have to read the User's Guide.

All my hardware works perfectly. My Soundblaster "Audigy" sound card and the Diamond ATI 9250 video card "just work". The sound is not 5.1 Dolby surround but it's very clear and crisp. Video is a little slow but movies display on both the DVI (Digital Video Interface) and the standard VGA video, unlike Windows where video only displays on the DVI output.

Linux Mint 6 does indeed have all those "extras". Mint plays DVDs, audio CDs, FLAC, MP3, Flash video, MP4 video, mov video and even Windows Media files. Right "out of the box". I have yet to find anything it doen't play.

This Distro is perfect for a "stand alone", not connected to the Internet computer.

Since it is based on Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" Linux I wasn't surprised that my AirLink 101 WiFi card "just worked". The new Linux even has a driver for the rt2561 chipset.

At this time I've only been using Mint for about 4 hours and already it's my favourite.

I'll finish this "testdrive" a few days from now, when I've traveled some "miles" using Mint. It is a very up to date Distro with all the latest versions of all my favourite software. The only thing odd about the distro is the dictionary for spell-checking is English, as in British Isles English. So I've decided to go with it. Give my writing a bit of flavour ;-)

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Okay, now that I've been using Linux Mint 6 for 5 days I have a better opinion. Mint works without a single lockup or failure and all the codecs for every type of video or audio files. All media plays. The distro is solid and because of the included codecs it's great for a non Internet connected system like my gaming system. Because Mint includes a full office suite, graphics programs, and all the media programs needed to cover all the media types.