Linux Mint Review: Great Until You Need More Than the Basics

Despite the progress Linux Mint has made over the years, I still don’t think it’s a good fit for most regular users.

With Windows 10 official support ending soon, I started seriously considering my options. Having Windows 11 doesn’t appeal to me, so I won’t put it on my main computer. With its hardware requirements, forced Microsoft account sign-in, and even more baked-in ads and bloat, I wanted something cleaner, lighter, and less intrusive. Maybe you feel the same way?

So, I installed Linux Mint and committed to using it full-time on my main PC for two months. This was the only way to get a solid sense of its potential and whether I could honestly recommend it or not.

This blog post summarizes my longer post on this topic exclusive to paid subscribers. Given the upcoming official end of support for Windows 10 in October, I wanted to bring attention to this again.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! Please consider supporting my work directly, using Buy Me a Coffee! Your support makes my work possible.

Linux Mint Works Well for Simple Tasks

Right away, I noticed how fast and responsive Linux Mint was. The desktop layout felt familiar, the system was lightweight, and for basic tasks like browsing, checking email, and writing documents. It does each of those really well. It booted quickly, ran smoothly, and didn’t get in the way like Windows often does.

I can absolutely see why it’s recommended as a Windows alternative for people with basic needs.

But the Problems Start Beyond the Basics

Things changed when I tried to do more. Zoom didn’t let me schedule calls properly. Dropbox and Google Drive were harder to set up than they should be. Some apps I rely on either weren’t available for Linux or required extra steps like using Wine or Bottles, tools that can be unreliable and awkward to use day-to-day. Even ExpressVPN, which I use regularly, had to be set up through the terminal.

Hardware Support Wasn’t Always Reliable

Windows has conditioned us to expect plug-and-play with most devices. On Linux Mint, as one might expect, I ran into issues getting a printer working and found myself troubleshooting drivers and combing through forums. That’s fine if you like tinkering, but most people don’t want to spend their time figuring out why something won’t work.

Why I Went Back to Windows 10

As flawed as Windows is, it still gives me access to the apps I need, works with my hardware out of the box, and runs reliably once I’ve done a bit of cleanup. With some effort and a few third-party tools, I can strip out the worst parts of the Windows experience and make it run how I want.

I Couldn’t Recommend It to My Mom

I briefly considered setting up Linux Mint on a budget laptop for my Mom. She travels for long house sits, so something simple and stable would be ideal, and I’m not interested in doing a lot of tech support for her. But the moment I pictured walking her through system issues or troubleshooting remotely or over the phone, I knew it wasn’t going to work.

The learning curve and lack of remote-friendly support options made it a bad fit for her needs. She ended up with a MacBook Air, something I could trust to work without my help most of the time. And in hindsight, I was correct. She is just finishing a winter-long house sit, and her laptop has only had minor issues.

Prefer to Stay With Windows 10? 0patch Is the Best Option for Staying Secure

If you’ve got a perfectly good computer running Windows 10 and don’t want to deal with Windows 11’s hardware requirements or Microsoft’s increasing control, 0patch is a smart and practical solution I highly recommend.

See my blog post for my paid subscribers about 0Patch here. They are not a sponsor. I’m simply a customer and love what they’re doing.

0patch quietly delivers small, focused security patches even after Microsoft stops updating the system. They even provide patches that Microsoft can’t be bothered to do. It’s not free, it costs about $37 a year per computer, but for most regular users, it’s far easier than switching to Linux or buying a new computer. If you just want your system to keep working safely without major changes, 0patch helps you do exactly that.

Conclusion: Linux Mint Has a Place, But It’s Not for Everyone

Linux Mint is a great choice for users who have basic needs and want to escape Windows. But it's not quite there yet for those of us who rely on specific software, expect smooth hardware compatibility, or just want things to work without constant tweaking.

I’ll stick with Windows 10 as long as I can, and when I’m finally forced to upgrade, I’ll weigh my options again. For now, Linux Mint just doesn’t meet all my needs.

Support My Work

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! Please consider supporting my work directly, using Buy Me a Coffee! Your support makes my work possible.