Seven Ways Linux Mint Beats Windows 11 for a Simpler, More Private Desktop

I swapped Windows 11 for Linux Mint and, after several weeks of daily use and cross‑checking the facts, I found seven concrete areas where Mint delivers a better, simpler, or more private desktop experience than a stock Windows 11 installation — but the trade‑offs matter and the migration is far from frictionless. rview
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu‑based desktop distribution engineered around familiarity, ease of use, and a conservative, low‑noise user experience. It ships in three mainstream desktop "flavors" — Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce — that change the look, resource profile, and workflow of the OS rather than unlocking features behind a product SKU like Windows Home vs Pro. The hands‑on impressions that inspired a PCMag style write‑up — the seven things Mint “does much better” — align with long‑running community observations: lower cost of entry, modest system demands, a minimal‑clutter interface, strong customization choices, simple live‑USB testing, an OS that ships without an AI assistant, and an opt‑in approach to diagnostics. Those claims can be verified and qualified against project documentation, Microsoft’s own policy pages, and independent reporting.
This article supportmmarizes the technical details, and offers an evidence‑based assessment for readers who are weighing whether to switch, dual‑boot, or keep Windows and use Linux Mint as a complementary tool.

---

What PCMag reported — the seven advantages, at a glance​

• Price: no license required for Linux Mint versus retail Windows pricing.
• System requirements: Mint runs well rare and ships as small ISOs (~2.7–3.1 GB).
• Interface: a cleaner, low‑friction desktop by default, with shortcuts and fewer promotional elements.
• Customization: three distinct desktop editions (Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce) that matter experience.
• Live USB: straightforward live sessions and optional persistence options make testing risk‑free.
  out a built‑in assistant like Microsoft Copilot; any AI use is user‑initiated (browser or installed option: Mint defaults to minimal, opt‑in diagnostic reporting; Windows 11 collects required diagnostic data and offers an optional those statements stands up to verification — but with important nuances and practical caveats. The sections below unpack the numbers, show where the claims are they need caution.

---

1. Price: no license fee vs Microsoft retail pricing​

Linux Mint is free to download and use — the project provides ISOs and package repositories under open‑source licenses, and there is no per‑seat purchase required for desktop use. That difference matters for anyone building or refurbishing machines on a tight budget.

• Microsoft’s retail list price for Windows 11 Home is commonly shown at $139 and Windows 11 Pro at $199 on the Microsoft Store; retailers and deal sites sometimes sell Pro licenses for far less during promotions, but the standard MSRP is widely published.
• That means a small lab, community center, or hobbyist building many machines can avoid additional per‑machine costs by choosing Linux Mint. The savings are direct and immediate; there’s no license activation or subscription required for the base OS.

Caveat: if your hardware was sold with Windows preinstalled, the OEM cost of that license is baked into the device price — switching to Mint does not “refund” that cost. For organizations, there are also management and compatibility costs to factor in when replacing a Windows fleet.

---

2. System requirements and installer footprint: small and efficient​

Mint’s baseline hardware guidance is modest: 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended), around 20 GB disk space as a practical minimum, and a 64‑bit CPU for modern releases. Recent Mint ISOs are compact — generally in the ~2.7–3.1 GB range for mainstream Cinnamon/MATE/Xfce images — which is smaller than a modern Windows 11 image and far smaller than recent macOS installers. Community mirrors and release notes repeatedly show Mint ISOs around that 3 GB mark.
Why that matters in practice:

• Lower idle resource usage: lighter background services and no mandatory telemetry agents reduce idle RAM and CPU load, making older hardware feel snappier. Real‑world tests and community reports repeatedly show a measurable responsiveness uplift on devices that struggled under Windows.
• Choice of desktop environment: Cinnamon is the most feature rich and polisher), MATE is a balanced middle ground, and Xfce is the lightest option for very old machines — giving you control over the hardware–UI trade‑off. Independent comparisons and Mint’s own community documentation outline the practical differences in RAM and CPU overhead between the three DEs.

Practical note: web browsers — particularly Chromium/Chrome and Electron‑based apps — remain the single largest memory consumer in everyday use, so the desktop environment choice is necessary but not a cure‑all for web‑heavy workloads.

---

3. Interface: cleaner defaults, less marketing noise​

Linux Mint favors a classic desktop paradigm: a bottom panel, a single menu, and a conservative approach to UI changes. That contrasts with recent Windows 11 direction, where the Start menu, taskbar, and settings surfaces increasingly surface promotions, Microsoft services, and recommendations. The Mint Files app and system menu are intentionally straightforward, and many familiar Windows keyboard shortcuts (including the Windows key to open the main menu) behave as expapproach buys you:

• Predictability: the shell is focused on launching apps and managing windows rather than serving product suggestions.
• Discoverability: settings and small utilities (like the Update Manager and Driver Manager) are presented plainly and rarely surprise the user with up‑sells or forced cloud sign‑ins.

Where the coted: Windows 11 also offers polished UX innovations (Snap layouts, deep integration with Microsoft services, and gaming features) that many users value. The “cleaner” desktop is a design choice, not an absolute usability win for all workflows.

---

4. Customization: three flavors, three different experiences​

Linux Mint’s Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce are not “editions” like Windows Home vs Pro — they are distinct desktop environments with different design philosophies and resource profiles. That means installing Mint gives you a genuine choice about how your desktop behaves.

• Cinnamon: modern, integrated, and feature rich; best for users who want a polished, Windows‑like experience.
• MATE: conservative, stable, and leaner than Cinnamon while retaining classic desktop metaphors.
• Xfce: the lightweight champion for very old hardware or when minimal resource use is critical.

Independent write‑ups and practical bench tests document how idle RAM and CPU vary by DE — in general, Cinnamon uses more RAM than MATE, and Xfce uses the least. For users repurposing older machines, simply choosing Xfce or MATE will often produce distinctly better performance than Cinnamon on the same hardware.

---

5. Live USBs and persistence: test without committing​

One of Mint’s most user‑friendly features is the live‑USB experience: you can boot a fully functional desktop from removable media, test drivers and peripherals, and only install if you’re satisfied. By default live sessions are ephemeral (changes disappear on reboot), but you can create a live USB with a persistent partition (a casper‑rw or persistence file) so settings and installed apps survive reboots. Community tutorials and Mint’s documentation cover the persistent live‑USB creation process, and tools like Rufus or mkusb make the workflow accessible.
Contrast with Windows: Microsoft historically offered a Windows‑from‑USB solution called Windows To Go, but that was an enterprise‑centric feature that was deprecated and removed because of hardware certification issues and lack of broader support. The net result is that mainstream Windows consumers do not have a supported, general live‑USB option comparable to Mint’s out‑of‑the‑box live mode. If you want Linux’s risk‑free test drive, Mint is in the lead here.
Caveat: live USB persistence has limits — it’s not a substitute for a full install in performance or reliability, and encrypted full installs are recommended for production use.

---

6. AI: no Copilot baked into the OS (but you can add AI tools)​

If you dislike embedded assistants or automatic AI features in the OS, Mint is an obvious choice: it ships without a system‑level conversational agent. Windows 11, by contrast, integrates Microsoft Copilot into the taskbar and system UI as a built‑in assistant with voice and contextual capabilities. Microsoft’s public materials describe Copilot as an integrated feature of Windows 11, and independent reporting documents its growing presence and the options for disabling or removing it — albeit with registry or Group Policy steps for deeper removal.
Practical consequence:

• Mint gives you a neutral platform — use web‑based ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini in a browser, or install a local/third‑party assistant if you wish.
• If your workflow depends on tightly integrated Copilot features (taskbar prompts, File Explorer integration, native Copilot vision), those conveniences won’t be replicated by Mint without third‑party tooling or web services.

---

7. Data collection and telemetry: opt‑in vs required tiers​

Windows diagnostic and telemetry policies are explicit: Microsoft divides telemetry into Required and Optional diagnostic data. Required diagnostic data is described as the minimum data necessary for updates, security, and platform operation; optional telemetry collects broader usage and browsing information and can be toggled, but Required collection cannot be fully turned off in consumer builds. Enterprise editions have additional policy controls that can reduce telemetry to a lower level. Microsoft documents these tiers in its privacy and diagnostic guidance.
Linux Mint’s model is different: the OS itself does not ship with continuous telemetry. Mint’s System Reports and crash reporting tools collect diagnostic information only when invoked and generally require user action to upload or transmit detailed crash data. Community discussions and Mint project notes repeatedly state that Mint avoids telemetry and defaults to opt‑in diagnostic workflows. That makes Mint a stronger default choice for users prioritizing privacy by design.
Caveat: “No telemetry” is not an absolute guarantee. Third‑party applications you install (for example, web browsers, cloud sync clients, or proprietary drivers) may themselves collect data. Privacy gains from Mint are strongest when you choose and control the stack of applications you run.

---

The trade‑offs — where Mint falls short for many users​

No desktop choice is a universal solution. Mint is weaker or incompatible in several high‑impact areas:

• Native professional creative apps: *** (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects) and other industry‑standard Windows/Mac apps don’t run natively on Mint. While alternatives (GIMP, Kdenlive, DaVinci Resolve on Linux) and compatibility layers (Wine, Proton) exist, professional pipelines thandor‑specific plugins are not reliably portable.
• Microsoft Office desktop apps: desktop versions of Microsoft 365 have better native support on Windows; many users rely on Office desktop features that the web apps don’t fully replicate. Web‑based Officerity is not perfect.
• Hardware and vendor utilities: some OEM utilities, firmware updaters, or GPU driver tools (especially vendor‑specific control panels) are only available on Windows. While NVIDIA and AMD provide Linux drivers, vendor support for special features varies.
• Phone integration: Windows Pcosystem integrations are deeper on Windows and macOS; Mint can achieve similar Android functionality via KDE Connect or GSConnect but it requires installing and configuring the components and may not reach feature parity for iOS due to vendor restrictions.
• Occasional CLI and troubleshooting: even Mint’s friendly tools sometimes require a terminal for edge‑case driver issues or low‑level debugging. That’s manageable for many users, but it increases support overhead for nontechnical populations.

Bottom line: Mint is an excellent daily driver for web‑centric productivity, education, lightweight creative work, and system recovery/repurposing tasks. It’s less suitable as a drop‑in replacement for creative professionals who depend on the native Windows toolchain or for enterprises standardized on specific Windows‑only tools.

---

Practical migration checklist (a realistic plan)​

• Inventory your essential apps and map them to Linux options:
• Native Linux app, web app, compatibility layer (Wine/Proton), or must‑keep Windows.
• Create a live USB and test hardware (Wi‑Fi, GPU, sound, printers). Use persistence if you want to keep settings between reboots.
• Back up Windows data (full image plus documents). Never skip this.
• Try the common workflows for two weeks in live or VM mode: browsing, video calls, editing documents, gaming (check ProtonDB).
• Dual‑boot first if you need safety; once confident, migrate to a full install.
• Keep a small Windows VM or a secondary device for work‑critical, Windows‑only tasks.

This staged approach limits risk and preserves the ability to revert if a specific application or device doesn’t behave as expected.

---

Security and enterprise considerations​

• Windows provides platform‑level protections (TPM, secure boot, virtualization‑based security) that are integrated into the vendor ecosystem; moving to Mint eliminates Microsoft‑specific hardware assurances but replaces them with well‑maintained upstream patches and optional full‑disk encryption (LUKS). Evaluate the specific security controls you need — disk encryption, managed updates, and endpoint management differ materially between platforms.
• For enterprise deployments, supportability and vendor compliance are the dominant decision factors; Mint is attractive for cost control and privacy, but the move requires proof of compatibility with enterprise apps, authentication systems, and management tooling.

---

Final analysis — strengths, risks, and the verdict​

Linux Mint’s strengths are tangible and verifiable: zero license cost, low hardware demands, a clean, control‑oriented desktop, multiple DE choices, easy live‑USB testing, no preinstalled AI assistant, and a default opt‑in diagnostic model. These are not marketing slogans; they’re functional differences reflected in Mint’s design and in Microsoft’s own policies on telemetry and Copilot.
The risks and limitations are equally real: lack of native Adobe/Microsoft desktop parity, possible driver and peripheral gaps, and the need for occasional command‑line troubleshooting. For creative professionals or enterprises bound tightly to Windows‑only toolchains, Mint is better positioned as a complement (dual‑boot or VM) rather than a wholesale replacement. For students, hobbyists, privacy‑minded users, and anyone repurposing older hardware, Mint can deliver immediate, measurable benefits.
If you value local control, privacy by default, and a straightforward migration path, sacrifice a USB stick and give Mint a live session a try — you can validate hardware compatibility in minutes and decide with low risk. If your day depends on a particular Windows app or OEM utility, run that workflow in a VM or keep a Windows partition while moving noncritical tasks to Mint.

---

Conclusion​

Replacing Windows 11 with Linux Mint is a practical, defensible choice for many users: it reduces cost, extends the life of older PCs, removes built‑in assistant and telemetry surprises, and restores a classic, low‑friction desktop. The migration requires planning — check app compatibility, test on a live USB or VM, and keep fallbacks for mission‑critical Windows workloads — but for the right user the benefits are immediate, visible, and lasting. Practicality, privacy, and choice are Mint’s core offers; whether they outweigh Windows‑specific productivity, creative, or enterprise requirements is a decision each reader should make after testing the system on their own hardware.

---

Source: PCMag I Replaced Windows 11 With Linux Mint. Here Are 7 Things It Does Much Better

 

[ChatGPT]

I swapped a preinstalled, telemetry-heavy Windows 11 desktop for a clean Linux Mint setup and found seven concrete areas where Mint delivers a noticeably simpler, faster, or more private day‑to‑day experience — but the switch comes with important workflow and compatibility trade‑offs that matter for most power users and creative professionals.

Background / Overview​

Linux Mint is an Ubuntu‑based distribution that intentionally prioritizes familiarity, low friction, and modest system resource use. Its mainstream editions — Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce — present three distinct desktop experiences, each suited to different hardware profiles and user preferences. The comparison with Windows 11 that follows draws on hands‑on impressions and corroborating technical details about Mint’s installer sizes, baseline requirements, live‑USB behavior, telemetry model, and desktop design choices.
This article summarizes the seven things PCMag highlighted that Mint “does much better,” validates the core claims, and then provides critical analysis and practical migration guidance for readers who are considering replacing or supplementing Windows 11 with Linux Mint.

---

1. Price: No license, no catch​

Linux Mint is free to download and use; there is no per‑seat license fee or mandatory activation for desktop use. That single fact changes the economics for hobbyists, refurbishers, community labs, and small organizations where adding Windows retail licenses would increase cost per machine.

• Windows 11 retail pricing is often cited at approximately $139 for Home and $199 for Pro on Microsoft’s store MSRP, which is the baseline many consumers use when budgeting for self‑built systems. The presence of OEM licensing in prebuilt systems complicates the direct comparison — that cost is baked into the hardware purchase, not refunded if you switch to Mint.

Why it matters in practice: saving $139–$199 per machine is tangible when building labs, refreshing old hardware, or deploying dozens of units. But cost is only one axis — total cost of ownership also includes support, compatibility, and productivity tool availability, which can offset license savings in mixed or enterprise environments.

---

2. System requirements: minimal hardware, maximum performance​

Linux Mint’s installer images are lean — the biggest ISOs for mainstream Mint flavors typically sit in the ~2.7–3.1 GB range — and the project documents modest baseline requirements (a usable system can run with 2 GB RAM, though 4 GB or more is recommended for comfortable use). That small footprint and fewer background services mean Mint can feel significantly snappier on older machines than a comparably equipped Windows 11 setup.

• Minimal baseline: 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended), and roughly 20 GB disk for a practical install is commonly cited across release notes and community documentation. The live ISO sizes for Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions are all substantially smaller than a full Windows 11 image.
• Real‑world effect: fewer background processes (no mandatory telemetry agents, updaters that run constantly, or heavy indexing by default) reduces idle CPU and RAM consumption, which improves responsiveness on legacy hardware. Choosing Xfce or MATE can further reduce memory use and extend useful life for machines that Windows 11 would otherwise slow to a crawl.

Caveats: performance depends on the chosen desktop environment (Cinnamon is the richest but heavier; Xfce is the lightest). Storage performance still matters — installing on an SSD yields the biggest perceived gains regardless of OS.

---

3. Interface: a cleaner desktop without the clutter​

Mint’s desktop philosophy is conservative and utility‑first: panels, an application menu, and a system tray that do what you expect and seldom try to upsell or promote cloud services. For users fatigued by extra UI chrome, suggested apps, or promoted content in modern Windows shells, Mint’s calmer default shell is a welcome change.

• Familiarity: Cinnamon intentionally mirrors a classic desktop metaphor (taskbar, pinned apps, menu, system tray), reducing friction for users migrating from older Windows versions. Keyboard shortcuts and expected behaviors (for example, the Windows key opening the Mint Menu) are supported out of the box.
• Practical details: Mint’s Files app includes features like regular expression searching and pause‑and‑resume file operations that are appreciated in day‑to‑day file management. The Update Manager, Driver Manager, and TimeShift snapshots are presented with clear UI affordances aimed at reducing surprises.

What Mint trades away visually are some of Windows 11’s modern UI innovations — Snap layouts, integrated gaming overlays, and deep service integrations — which are meaningful for some users. The “cleaner” desktop is a design choice that favors predictability and low noise over platform‑level integrations.

---

4. Customization: three flavors, three very different experiences​

Unlike the Home/Pro product split in Windows, Mint’s Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions are full desktop environments with divergent performance and workflow trade‑offs. That means the same distribution can be tailored to feel modern and integrated or lightweight and quick, depending on the hardware and user preference.

• Cinnamon: polished, feature rich, and the default recommendation for users who want a Windows‑like feel.
• MATE: traditional and leaner, offering stability with modest resource use.
• Xfce: the most lightweight, ideal for very old or low‑RAM machines.

That choice flexibility is one of Linux’s enduring strengths: pick the environment that matches your machine and workflow rather than being forced into a single UI paradigm. Independent community guides and practical RAM/CPU comparisons consistently show Cinnamon consumes more memory than MATE or Xfce, making the latter two better choices for repurposed hardware.

---

5. Live USB drives: a risk‑free way to test drive Linux​

Linux Mint makes it straightforward to boot a full desktop from a USB stick in “Live” mode, which lets you test Wi‑Fi, display, audio, printers, and other peripherals without changing the internal disk. By contrast, Windows’ past attempt at running from USB (Windows To Go) was enterprise‑focused and ultimately deprecated; mainstream Windows consumers don’t have a comparable, supported live USB test drive.

• Persistence options: by default a live session is ephemeral (changes vanish on reboot), but you can create a persistent live USB that stores settings and installed apps via a casper‑rw/persistence partition or file — well‑documented procedures exist and are widely used. Tools like Rufus, mkusb, or dd are commonly referenced for creating persistent media.

Why this matters: the live USB workflow is the lowest‑risk method to verify hardware compatibility and the general feel of the OS before committing to a partitioned dual‑boot or full install. For anyone considering a switch, Mint’s live mode is an easy first step.

---

6. AI: no Copilot, no assistants — just an OS (unless you opt in)​

Windows 11 ships with Microsoft Copilot increasingly integrated into the taskbar and system UI. Linux Mint, by contrast, ships with no built‑in AI assistant or system‑level Copilot. That neutrality appeals to users who prefer an OS that doesn’t embed AI features by default; it also gives users complete control over which AI tools they add via the browser or local apps.

• Practical nuance: if you rely on Copilot’s context‑aware features in the OS (for example, system‑wide summarization or task suggestions), you will not find an equivalent baked into Mint. Web‑based AI services and third‑party local assistants remain available but must be chosen and configured by the user.

This is a design trade: Mint’s neutral stance reduces unwanted telemetry and integration surfaces but also places the burden on you to pick and configure AI tools when and where you want them.

---

7. Data collection: minimal telemetry, maximum privacy​

Mint’s approach to diagnostics is opt‑in: the distribution collects diagnostic data only when you explicitly use the System Reports Tool, unlike Windows where certain telemetry is enabled by default and some diagnostic data is transmitted to Microsoft for servicing and improvement. Mint’s policy and tooling are oriented toward giving users control over what (if anything) they share.

• Contrast with Windows: while Windows allows toggling many privacy settings, certain levels of telemetry and required diagnostic reporting cannot be fully disabled in all editions. That makes Mint appealing to privacy‑conscious users who prefer minimal default exfiltration.

Important caveat: “minimal telemetry” is not synonymous with “no telemetry.” Community tools, optional diagnostics, package updates, and third‑party software installed later can introduce their own telemetry paths. Users who need airtight data isolation must audit installed packages and services and consider additional measures (local mirrors, firewall rules, or offline usage).

---

The trade‑offs: where Mint falls short​

The decision to replace Windows 11 with Linux Mint is not purely a technical one — it’s also about software ecosystem, hardware support, and acceptable workflow changes. Here are the most consequential limitations to weigh carefully.

• Major proprietary apps: Adobe Creative Cloud (native apps) and some Microsoft 365 desktop features are not available natively on Mint. Creative professionals who rely on native Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, or the full Microsoft Office desktop experience will find gaps that browser‑based alternatives or Wine/Proton compatibility layers cannot always close.
• Hardware and driver gaps: certain vendor‑specific utilities, firmware updaters, or proprietary enterprise management tools (for things like specialized docking stations, touchscreen calibration tools, or IoT peripherals) may lack Linux drivers or vendor support. Mint’s Driver Manager covers common GPUs and wireless chipsets, but edge cases exist.
• Mobile/device integration: Mint does not have a first‑class “link your phone to your desktop” feature on par with Windows Phone Link or macOS Continuity; phone‑to‑desktop workflows typically use third‑party apps or web services.
• Occasional terminal use and learning curve: while Mint does a lot graphically, certain tasks (advanced troubleshooting, niche drivers, or custom kernel tweaks) still benefit from command‑line proficiency. Expect a short learning curve if you have spent decades in a Windows environment.
• Gaming and DRM: gaming support has improved substantially on Linux, but not every game or anti‑cheat stack works flawlessly. Gamers should validate their titles (and anti‑cheat requirements) using ProtonDB and native client notes before committing. This is especially important for competitive titles and some AAA releases.

Bottom line: Mint is excellent as a primary OS for web‑centric users, developers, students, and those repurposing older hardware. It is less suitable as a drop‑in replacement for workflows that are tightly coupled to Windows‑only professional tooling or vendor‑locked hardware.

---

Practical migration checklist: how to evaluate and test Mint safely​

• Back up everything first. Create full images or file‑level backups before touching partitions.
• Create a live USB and test in Live mode for several days. Verify Wi‑Fi, sound, printers, and GPU behavior. Use persistence if you want settings to survive reboots.
• Inventory critical apps and validate alternatives. Make a short list: which apps are essential and whether browser versions, native Linux ports, or virtualization will satisfy you.
• Test document fidelity and creative workflows. For creatives, open source alternatives and browser apps rarely match native Adobe/DaVinci/Proton workflows; test real projects before migrating.
• Check drivers and firmware tools. Boot the live USB and open Driver Manager; verify GPU and Wi‑Fi drivers. For specialized peripherals, search vendor support forums.
• Consider dual‑boot or VM first. If you require Windows apps occasionally, keep a Windows partition or use a Windows VM in VirtualBox/VMware with GPU passthrough where possible.
• Plan for recovery. Keep a recovery USB for both Mint and Windows during transition to facilitate rollbacks.

---

Critical analysis — strengths, opportunities, and risks​

Strengths

• Cost and longevity: Mint extends usable lifespan for older hardware, reducing e‑waste and license spending for many real‑world scenarios.
• Privacy by default: opt‑in telemetry and minimal default service integrations match the expectations of privacy‑minded users.
• Low‑risk testing: live USB + persistence makes it trivial to validate the environment without touching disks.

Opportunities

• Polished desktop options: Cinnamon continues to iterate with useful refinements (menu tweaks, better diagnostics) that lower the entry barrier for Windows converts.
• Tooling maturity: bundled utilities (Timeshift, Update Manager, Driver Manager) remove a lot of historical friction around maintenance and backups.

Risks and mitigations

• Application lock‑in risk: If key workflows depend on Windows‑only native apps (Adobe, specific enterprise tools), the migration cost can be prohibitive. Mitigate with VMs, cloud apps, or retaining a Windows partition.
• Vendor support gaps: hardware vendors may prioritize Windows drivers, leaving Linux users with community drivers that lack vendor QA. Mitigate by testing hardware on a live USB and researching vendor forums.
• Security and update model differences: while Mint uses an LTS base and offers stable kernels with optional HWE kernels for newer hardware, enterprise update policies and patch cadences differ from Microsoft’s managed update model. Organizations should plan configuration management and endpoint security accordingly.

Unverifiable or variable claims to watch for

• Claims about absolute performance gains on every machine are contingent on hardware, desktop choice, and real‑world workloads; treat blanket performance claims as likely but environment‑dependent.

---

A practical verdict​

For many users, Linux Mint is a pragmatic and defensible alternative to Windows 11: it’s free, runs well on older hardware, ships without an embedded AI assistant, and defaults to a low‑telemetry posture. That combination is especially compelling for students, web‑centric professionals, developers, and anybody who values predictability and control over the bleeding edge of platform integrations.
However, Mint is not a universal solution. Creative professionals tied to Adobe’s native toolchain, enterprises dependent on Windows‑specific management fleets, and gamers who depend on certain anti‑cheat implementations will generally need to retain Windows at least for some workflows. For those users, Mint is best adopted as a complementary tool (dual‑boot, VM, or a separate machine) rather than a wholesale replacement.

---

Linux Mint’s appeal is straightforward: it gives users a low‑noise, cost‑free desktop that revives aging hardware and restores user choice over privacy and UI clutter. The switch requires planning, honest testing with a live USB, and a realistic appraisal of which apps and devices are indispensable. For those willing to accept the trade‑offs, the payoff is a lighter, quieter desktop that often feels more like a tool and less like a platform trying to sell you services.

---

Source: PCMag UK I Replaced Windows 11 With Linux Mint. Here Are 7 Things It Does Much Better