If you have used Synaptic, you know that you can select multiple applications for installation, and then install all at the same time. With the Software Manager, however, you can only install one application at a time. Each installation requires user-authentication, with no option for the system to remember the password. If you have to install, say, six applications, it means that you will be required to type in your password six times. I think a better approach should be to either have a mechanism for the system to remember the password for the duration of the session, or to provide a means to select multiple applications for installation, just as it is with Synaptic.

The Software Manager allows users to post reviews and rate applications. Like most rating systems, the intent is to help users identify the best or most popular applications. However, I find that most of the reviews are meaningless one-liners.

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Application reviews

Out of the box, Linux Mint’s updates manager is configured to check for updates 30 seconds after boot up and every 15 minutes thereafter. By comparison, the update manager on Ubuntu and Mandriva are set up (out of the box) to check for updates once daily and every five minutes respectively.

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Available updates

The Updates Manager’s history feature lets you see an updates history of the system.

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Update history

Administrative Tools: All graphical administrative tools are accessible from System > Control Center, and separately from Applications > Administration, and Applications > Preferences. A graphical administrative tool worth a look here is mintBackup. With mintBackup, you can easily make a backup and restore of your files, and of installed applications.

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mintBackup

mintBackup is most useful when you need to backup your home folder to an external device.

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File backup options

And you can select specific file and folders to be excluded in a backup operation.

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Backup options

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