It was time to replace my work PC. The hardware, or physical bits and bobs, were decided for me, but I got to choose the operating system. Having been impressed with my laptop rebuild, I decided to go with Linux Mint again. This time, I was given a snazzy new Corsair keyboard, new speakers, and an ultrawide monitor to complete the perfect setup.
Small Yet Mighty
The first shock was the size of the PC. Not much bigger than my iPhone 16 Max Pro (more on that another day), I wondered how it could compete with the bulky tower it was replacing. My doubts vanished the first time I switched it on. I didn’t even have time to drum my fingers impatiently before I could authenticate – and was in.
Workspaces Redefined
There were a few challenges, though. I’d gone from a two-screen setup to one ultrawide monitor. How to arrange my workspaces now? I use at least two browsers and have various spreadsheets and documents open. At first, I had to resize, drag, and drop the various windows, which was both annoying and time-consuming.
But after watching a YouTube tutorial, I discovered the ‘snap’ function, which allows me to have multiple windows on one screen that ‘stick’ to an area of the screen. And I don’t have to stop at one screen – I can have as many virtual desktops as I like, using the workspace switcher to scroll through them. The screenshot above indicates we’re in, ‘Workspace 2’.
Customisation Made Easy
What truly sets Linux Mint apart from other operating systems is its customisation options. As an open-source platform, Linux Mint allows users to modify and adapt the system to their liking. No technical knowledge is required – just play with the preferences and experiment until you find the perfect font size, icon size, screen saver, and accessibility options. From changing the theme and desktop layout to installing different software and tools, the possibilities are endless. I was able to create a personalised system that suited my needs and preferences. I have not had such fine control over an operating system before, and the much-used Control-plus shortcut is now a thing of the past.
The Perfect Accessory
And then there’s the Corsair keyboard, loved by gamers and now loved by me. On a laptop, I like to have a keypad – my only must-have – and I’ve been using a standard keyboard for years. But this keyboard is a revelation. It gently tells me if I’ve pressed the Caps or Num Lock on or off, I can adjust the brightness of the backlighting, and it has a wrist-rest. Best of all, I love the satisfying clunking sound when I press the keys.
So, my experience with Linux Mint has been positive. I thought I might miss Windows when I first switched to Linux, but seriously, there’s absolutely nothing that would take me back there. And just to reiterate, I’m not a coder or someone with technical skills or insight – I just like something that works, is private, and is secure.