Our main repository packages.linuxmint.com isn’t currently able to
serve connections to everybody. This can result in errors, timeouts and
delays in apt-get, and in your update manager.
Please switch to a mirror while we fix this situation:
From the menu, open “Software Sources” (or type “mintsources” in a terminal)
Type your password
Click on the combo box beside “Main”
Select a server from the top of the list
Click on “Apply”
Click on “Update the Cache”
Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. Our traffic
doubled since November and we’re now trying to set up a cluster of
servers.
The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” Xfce RC.
Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca Xfce Edition
Linux Mint 17.1 is a long term support release which will be
supported until 2019. It comes with updated software and brings
refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more
comfortable to use. New features at a glance:
The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” KDE RC.
Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca KDE Edition
Linux Mint 17.1 is a long term support release which will be
supported until 2019. It comes with updated software and brings
refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more
comfortable to use. New features at a glance:
It is now possible to upgrade the Cinnamon and MATE editions of Linux Mint 17 to version 17.1.
If you’ve been waiting for this I’d like to thank you for your patience. Upgrade for a reason
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
You might want to upgrade to 17.1 because some bug that annoys you is
fixed or because you want to get some of the new features. In any case,
you should know why you’re upgrading.
As excited as we are about 17.1, upgrading blindly for the sake of
running the latest version does not make much sense, especially if
you’re already happy with 17 and everything is working perfectly.
Make sure to read the release notes and to known the new features so you have all the information you need before deciding whether you want to upgrade. Be selective with updates
Upgrading from 17 to 17.1 will upgrade from Qiana to Rebecca of course, but also apply all level 1 updates for you.
You do not need to apply level 2, 3, 4 or 5 updates to upgrade to the
new version of Linux Mint, and doing so won’t apply these for you.
Level 4 and 5 updates are not recommended unless they bring solutions
to issues you’re facing. Level 3 updates should be applied selectively
and with precautions. Enjoy
Upgrading to 17.1 is relatively easy:
In the Update Manager, click on the Refresh button to check for any
new version of mintupdate. If there is one, apply it and wait for the
Update Manager to restart itself.
Launch the System Upgrade by clicking on “Edit->Upgrade to Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca”.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Once the upgrade is finished, reboot your computer. Additional info
The same upgrade path will be available for the Xfce and KDE
editions, after they are released as stable 17.1 at the end of the
month.
Although Linux Mint 17.1 features a newer kernel than the one used
in the 17 release, this upgrade does not change the kernel on your
behalf. This is a decision only you should take. Should you decide to
upgrade to 17.1′s recommended kernel you can do so by applying the
“linux-kernel-generic” update, post-upgrade.
Although they are featured in the 17.1 release, this
upgrade doesn’t automatically include “retro” backgrounds and
backgrounds for Maya, Nadia, Olivia and Petra. They represent a
significant amount to download so the choice to do so was left to you.
These backgrounds are provided via packages which name start with
“mint-backgrounds”.
MATE is a fork of the GNOME 2 desktop environment once used on Ubuntu
and other Linux distributions by default. It’s still popular among many
people who don't see why we need new desktops like Ubuntu's unity or Gnome 3.
Selecting Compiz options in Linux Mint 17.1.
Back in the day, Compiz provided fancy graphical effects for GNOME 2
desktops. It can still do so for MATE, although many people had
difficulties setting this up on Linux Mint. That’s why Linux Mint 17.1
includes easy Compiz setup.
The Windows pane in the Desktop Settings window provides a box
allowing you to choose between the stable-but-potentially-boring “Marco”
window manager and the fancy-but-potentially-unstable Compiz window
manager. Desktop cubes, wobbly windows, and more—it’s all back.
Compiz cubes!
Cinnamon 2.4 brings polish and memory improvements
The Cinnamon desktop was bumped to version 2.4. Unlike MATE, which is based on GNOME 2, Cinnamon is based on a more modern Gnome 3 code, but it takes that modern code and forms it into a more traditional Linux desktop interface.
There’s a lot of polish in the latest version to provide “smoother
experience.” Thirty memory leaks were fixed in various components, which
will reduce memory usage. There are new animations and some icon load
times should be reduced. Various bits of the interface have been
polished—settings in Cinnamon Settings are now sorted alphabetically,
for example.
Linux Mint 17.1's Cinnamon desktop.
The Theme settings were completely redesigned, and you can now use a
slideshow as your desktop background. The Nemo file manager gains a
button to quickly open a terminal window (hidden by default) and support
for “emblems” that can be added to folders to make them more visually
distinct.
Real improvements for everyone
Various other changes affect both desktops. Linux Mint now uses the
Noto fonts by default, and the default theme comes in many other color
choices. The Login Window preferences were redesigned, and the Language
configuration window now allows much easier installation of “input
methods”— welcome news for people who need to write Chinese, Japanese,
Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and other languages where all the characters
aren’t present on the keyboard for easy input.
But perhaps the biggest change is in the Update Manager application.
It no longer shows individual package updates, but groups updates by
“source package.” This means that—for example—when an update for
LibreOffice is available, you won’t simply see a list of 22 packages.
Instead, by default, you’ll see a single “LibreOffice” update in the
list, although you’re free to drill down if you choose. According to
Linux Mint’s developers, installing some individual package updates but
not others —for packages like Mesa 3D graphics library, for example—can
sometimes break people’s systems, however.
The refined Update Manager in Linux Mint 17.1's Cinnamon desktop.
Going hand-in-hand with this change, there’s also a redesigned kernel
selection screen that makes it easy to see available kernels along with
information about security fixes and known regressions (problems in the
new kernel, in other words).
For a more in-depth look at the changes, check out the official lists of new features in Linux Mint 17.1 MATE or new features in Linux Mint 17.1 Cinnamon.
Overall, this is exactly the kind of release I—and many other Linux users—like to see. While Ubuntu 14.10
just shipped with no visible changes besides version bumps in a number
of packages, Linux Mint has made the choice to stick with Ubuntu 14.04
under-the-hood and modify the stuff on top. Linux Mint 17.1 provides a
great Linux desktop system, especially if you long for the days of more
traditional Linux desktop interfaces.
