Since the first release of Linux by Linus Torvalds in 1991, this operating system has grown to power everything from supercomputers to the New York Stock Exchange. But unlike the more popular Windows and Mac OSs, Linux is developed collaboratively with the responsibility of development and support falling to many different companies. This format is responsible for creating an ecosystem that is extremely efficient in adapting to new innovations in the market place. This is why Linux can be found on computers, GPS locators, phones, smartwatches and more. It is a reliable and secure platform trusted by organizations across all industries.

Now, the new Linux Mint 17.2 has been released, and it has improvements that will make the desktop experience more enjoyable.

The Linux Mint 17.2 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2019. The main components of the latest release features Cinnamon 2.6, MDM 2.0, a Linux kernel 3.16 and an Ubuntu (News – Alert) 14.04 package base. The announcement also stated until 2016, future versions of Linux Mint will use the same package base as Linux Mint 17.2, eliminating the need to upgrade until that time.

Some of the key upgrades for the Linux Mint 17.2 "Rafaela" Cinnamon Edition include:

• Desktop freezes – Using a newer “cogl” API, Cinnamon prevents some causes of desktop freezes on earlier versions. A short cut on the keyboard resolves this problem. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Escape restarts Cinnamon, continuing your current session exactly without losing any work. At the same time all your windows and applications remain open.
• Gains in responsiveness, load times and CPU usage – Performance gains were achieved by optimizing how Cinnamon reacts to particular events and reducing the number of tasks or repeated tasks it performs.
• Multi-monitor and multi-panel support – New Keybindings and better window list actions allow users to move windows to other monitors and have multiple panels, which can be placed across multiple monitors.
• Support for HTML5 and XScreenSaver.
• Applet improvements – A new “inhibit” applet lets you disable or turn off notifications of power management without having to modify the power settings. This prevents unwanted notifications from popping up and changing device behavior, such as screen dimming.

It has a better system setting with a redesigned and reorganized look, layout and transitions.

The goal for this upgrade seems to have been geared toward not doing what Microsoft (News – Alert) did with Windows 8. They left everything intact and just added polish to improve the desktop user experience, a lesson hopefully Microsoft learned as Windows 10 is set for release later this month.