14 DAY TRIAL // The Linux Mint developers have just outed the first and probably only RC for the Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce edition. Users can now download the images and test the new release.
Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce RC was announced just a few days ago and the developers have been quick to release it. The reason for this speed is the fact that the 17.1 branch is based on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, just like the previous iteration. Keeping only to Ubuntu LTS releases was a very good decision and now the devs are reaping the benefits of sticking with just one base.
Now that the Release Candidate has been released, it's safe to say that the final version of the distribution is not very far. The Linux Mint makers did say that it was possible for the stable version to arrive in the first days of 2015. It all depends on the number of problems and issues that will be reported and found. If the bugs are in small number, then it shouldn't take too long.
Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce might be here sooner than you think
The Xfce edition is using Ubuntu 14.04 LTS as the base and that means it shares the same support period until 2019. This is a lot to handle, even for large teams of developers, but the Linux Mint team showed that it's very capable.
The makers of the distro have explained that they provide both the Xfwm and Compiz windows managers, which will give users some very interesting options. "Among the various window managers available for Linux, Compiz is certainly the most impressive when it comes to desktop effects.There's nothing quite like a rotating cube to catch everybody's attention."
"Of course, Compiz isn't just about the "wow" factor. It's also a very capable window manager. When properly installed and configured it can rival the best and bring your Xfce desktop on par with more recent desktops such as Cinnamon," reads the announcement.
Also, the Update Manager has been improved as well, a number of Xfce-only features have been added, the Language Settings entry has been redesigned, the Login Screen is now configurable, and numerous other features and fixes have been implemented.
Check the official announcement for more details about this release. Users can download Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" Xfce RC right now from Softpedia. Remember that this is a development version and that it still has bugs. It would be a good idea to test it first with the Live CD.
