Linux Mint 8 “Helena” LXDE RC1 released!

The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 8 “Helena” LXDE Community Edition RC1.

Quick steps:

  • Download the ISO or the torrent.
  • While it’s downloading look at the overview of the new features in Linux Mint 8 LXDE, read the User Guide and make sure to quickly go through the known issues.
  • After the ISO is downloaded verify the MD5 (as described in the user guide).
  • Burn the ISO at low speed and enjoy testing Linux Mint 8 LXDE RC1.
  • Report bugs on the dedicated forum thread.

Introduction to Linux Mint 8 LXDE:

Based on Linux Mint 8 Main Edition, Linux 2.6.31, Openbox 3.4.7.2, PCManFM 0.5.2, and Xorg 7.4, Linux Mint 8 LXDE Edition features a complete and familiar desktop experience while being low on resource usage and is suitable for a good variety of older hardware.

For a detailed overview of the new features and improvements included in Linux Mint 8 LXDE, please read “What’s new in Helena LXDE?“.

Benchmark:

Here’s a quick benchmark comparing this edition to the Fluxbox and Xfce editions of Linux Mint. All 3 editions were tested on the same hardware (a computer with 384MB RAM).

RAM usage at idle:

  • Fluxbox: 131MB
  • LXDE: 141MB
  • Xfce: 154MB

Maximum RAM usage during the installation:

  • Fluxbox: 235MB
  • LXDE: 246MB
  • Xfce: 262MB

Boot time from Grub to the login manager:

  • Fluxbox: 31.16 seconds
  • LXDE: 26.79 seconds
  • Xfce: 26.46 seconds

Boot time from the login manager to the desktop:

  • Fluxbox: 3.32 seconds
  • LXDE: 3.77 seconds
  • Xfce: 9.63 seconds

System requirements:

  • x86 processor
  • 256 MB of system memory (RAM)
  • 3 GB of disk space for installation
  • Graphics card capable of 800×600 resolution
  • CD-ROM drive or USB port

Important information and known issues:

As an RC (Release Candidate) this release is targeted at developers and beta-testers who want to help Linux Mint find and correct bugs before the stable release. Please do not use this release as your main desktop. For a complete list of known issues read the Release Notes.

Feedback and bug reports:

Please report any bug you may find via the Linux Mint 8 LXDE RC1 Bug Thread and give us your feedback on this release by posting a comment right here on the blog.

Download Linux Mint 8 LXDE RC1:

You can download Linux Mint 8 LXDE RC1 via torrent or via HTTP:

Size: 669MB LiveCD
MD5Sum: b66991424a718eeccc972c5509a20a5c

Torrent download: http://www.linuxmint.com/torrent/LinuxMint-8-LXDE-RC1.iso.torrent HTTP download: http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=51

Africa:

  • ftp://ftp.is.co.za/mirror/linuxmint.com/testing/ (South Africa)

Asia:

  • http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/LinuxMint-ISO/testing/ (Japan)
  • http://ftp.riken.jp/pub/Linux/linuxmint/testing/ (Japan)
  • http://ftp.oss.tw/pub/Mint/LinuxMint-ISO/testing/ (Taiwan)

Europe:

  • http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/linux/mint/isos/testing/ (Austria)
  • http://ftp.mgts.by/pub/linuxmint/isos/testing/ (Belarus)
  • http://mint.nano-box.net/iso/testing/ (Bulgaria)
  • http://mirrors.cytanet.com.cy/linux/mint/testing/ (Cyprus)
  • ftp://ftp.linuxmint-fr.org/pub/linuxmint.com/testing/ (France)
  • http://linuxmint.copahost.com/testing/ (Germany)
  • http://linuxmint.cybermirror.org/testing/ (Germany)
  • http://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/linux/debian/mint/testing/ (Germany)
  • http://mirror.netcologne.de/mint/testing/ (Germany)
  • http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/linuxmint/testing/ (Greece)
  • http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/testing/ (Ireland)
  • http://ftp.akl.lt/Linux/Mint/testing/ (Lithuania)
  • ftp://ftp.tpnet.pl/pub/linux/linuxmint/isos/testing/ (Poland)
  • http://cesium.di.uminho.pt/pub/linuxmint/testing/ (Portugal)
  • http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/linuxmint/testing/ (Sweden)
  • http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp/mirror/linuxmint/testing/ (Switzerland)
  • http://mirror.sov.uk.goscomb.net/linuxmint.com/testing/ (UK)

Northern America:

  • http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/linuxmint/testing/ (Canada)
  • http://mirror.amarillolinux.com/linuxmint/testing/ (USA)
  • http://mint.ez.by/linuxmint.com/testing/ (USA)
  • http://linuxmint.secsup.org/testing/ (USA)
  • ftp://mirrors.secution.com/linuxmint.com/testing/ (USA)
  • http://mira.sunsite.utk.edu/linuxmint/testing/ (USA)
  • http://mirror.yellowfiber.net/linuxmint/testing/ (USA)

Oceania:

  • http://mirror.optus.net/linuxmint/isos/testing/ (Australia)
  • http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/linuxmint/testing/ (Australia)
  • http://mirror.waia.asn.au/pub/linux/linuxmint/linuxmint-isos/linuxmint.com/testing/ (Australia)

Enjoy!

Have a lot of fun testing this release candidate and let’s all hope it will help us make a great stable release.