For those who may be interested the beta release for the new Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) v3 “Cindy” can be downloaded at: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3629

Even though this is a beta release I'm going to install it on a separate partition and see what improvements have been made since LMDE v2. Should be interesting.

LMDE v3 "Cindy" is an OS project the Linux Mint development team uses to discover what would be necessary for Mint to move consistently forward if Ubuntu ever became unavailable.

LMDE is as similar as possible to the current Ubuntu based Linux Mint release, but without depending on Ubuntu packages in any form, instead using the latest Debian package base exclusively.

LMDE provides no point releases like the main Ubuntu based Linux Mint editions do, for example Linux Mint 18, 18.2 and 18.3. Other than bug fixes and security updates the Debian base packages stay the same. Nevertheless Mint specific and other desktop components are continually updated in LMDE, and when they're ready new and improved features are directly introduced into LMDE via the Mint Update utility.

Ubuntu based Linux Mint does not immediately receive new features such as these, but has them staged for inclusion in the next point release. Which means that LMDE users have new features available long before Ubuntu based Linux Mint users ever see them.

If this LMDE v3 beta works well I'll install the upcoming v3 release on this test machine along side Linux Mint 18.3 and give it a proper shakedown.

Stay tuned..

No plans to upgrade at this time. Thanks for the info. I do have LMDE II running. Be interested in what you discover in III that's worth an upgrade.

I'm guessing, having installed the beta of LMDE III on a separate 65gb partition and finding it so far flawless, that what we have here will be essentially what the LMDE III release looks like in a short time. Based on Debian 9 'Stretch' stable, LMDE III comes with all the features Debian offers while being a lot simpler to set up and run as a Mint distro. Should be a pleasure to run the next few years with its Debian 9 base and Mint's impressive custom touches.

My LMDE II runs fine. The fewer changes in O/S loads the better for me.

That's the best approach to most things, bikes as well as operating systems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Without a spare laptop to install and play with new distros on I'd be in the same boat..

I've got a bunch of Dells for that purpose. My Mint 17.3 PC has been sitting on the desk for months. It's left over from my last upgrade to Mint 18.3 Didn't know how the upgrade would go so I started from a blank machine. Leaving the old one in place just in case the new one sh*t the bed.

I had immediate issues with FF not playing videos. Hours to get that working. Same for the Arduino development system. There's always something.

FF now reports it's in need of an upgrade. I'm skipping that for now. I also don't like the way FF jumps fields in the middle of data entry. So half your P/W ends up someplace else.

I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again. Mint includes the 'TimeShift' utility in 18.3 as well as 19. It's a lifesaver. In 19 it runs automatically while in 18.3 you set it to run yourself. I love it. Makes problems simply 'disappear' if they arise. Of course you can use your favorite backup utility as well, but having 'TimeShift' in place solves problems before they do any damage, and that's a win/win in my book.

I haven't used Firefox for many years. Google Chrome syncs everything I do online with all my machines and does so flawlessly, so I have no need of Firefox.

I may switch to Chrome soon. Not used TimeShift. CloneZilla and the WD My Passport USB drive have worked well.

Pull that spare Dell off the shelf when you have a minute and give Mint 19 place to live! The ISO you'll want is Linux Mint 19 version 2. One of the servers that has it available is found at:
http://mirror.clarkson.edu/linuxmint/iso/images/stable/19/

By the way, we're leaving for Fort Collins, Co in the morning. My wife's grand daughter is getting married. We're scheduled to be there so the Dodge diesel has been serviced and the trailer is being packed. Figure on a two day drive, then three or four days in Fort Collins. Afterwards we'll drive back through Utah to visit my sister and her family in Pleasant Grove, then down state through Page, on to Flagstaff, Payson, and back home again. Should be a fun trip. Longest I've taken since moving to Rim country. My wife's a good driver, so sharing that duty makes things easier.

Thanks for the Linux info. I'm swamped right now with automation work. Business trip also forth coming. When a get a minute, I'll play with a new Linux version, perhaps.

Enjoy your trip and travel safely. Well wishes for great weather. You'll likely see smoke as there are fires burning everywhere. Jeannie and I do the same thing with driving. Can't beat teamwork.