Linux Mint, which features a 2.6.17 kernel and the GNOME 2.16.1 desktop. Ubuntu, itself based on Debian Linux code, has only been in production use since October of 2004.

The Ireland-based Linux Mint project team, whose goal is to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java, and other components, released Linux Mint 2.0 on Nov. 14.

"This release is based on Ubuntu 6.10 and uses the Ubuntu installer," the team said in the release notes.

Linux Mint 2.0 comes with the following plug-ins: Macromedia Flash 9 beta, Sun Java 1.5 Update 9, RealPlayer 10

Standard features bundled in Linux Mint 2.0: OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 office suite, GAIM 2.0.0 beta3 messenging client, Firefox 2.0 browser, Evolution 2.8.1 integrated mail, addressbook and calendaring, GIMP 2.2.13 graphics editor,Amarok 1.4.4

Support for MP3, Windows media and other codecs, and encrypted DVDs is installed by default.

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