On the DVD

Linux Mint 16 "Petra"

This month's DVD brings you two great versions of the Ubuntu derivative Mint on a double-sided Live DVD. Linux Mint 16 Mate and Cinnamon are two notable alternatives to the Ubuntu desktop.

Mate debuts a new, speedier login screen that lets you switch easily between users; a new tool formats USB sticks in FAT32, ext4, and NTFS, and several performance improvements make the user experience more pleasant. The Software Manager delivers software quicker, easier, and with a more informative user interface. System improvements include better support for EFI and Steam, secure search engines, and better help support.

Cinnamon 2.0 adds configurable sound effects for system events, improved user and password management, better edge tiling and edge snapping, and MIME improvements that make it easier to associate applications with file types.