Before we begin, it’s a good idea to clarify that this is not a new version of the beloved Linux Mint. Instead, it’s a special release designed for particular use cases. Here’s what it’s all about.
Linux Mint 21.3 Edge ISO: Whatโs This?
As we informed you, Linux Mint, one of the best desktop-oriented distributions, recently released its highly anticipated new Linux Mint 21.3 โVirginia.โ
But what if youโve recently purchased a laptop or PC with such new and modern hardware that when you try installing Linux Mint, the operating system (kernel) fails to recognize it? This is where the Linux Mint Edge comes to the rescue.
Because Linux Mint 21.3 is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, which comes with Linux kernel 5.15 LTS, the Mint release inherits it.
However, this can be a problem when you have new hardware, as this kernel version is nearly two and a half years old (initially released on October 31, 2021) and may not include support for the most recent hardware.
Itโs for this reason that the Mint developers, shortly after the main release, rolled out a special new one, Linux Mint Edge, which itself is the same version as the main, but with the big difference that it comes with a more recent and up-to-date version of the Linux kernel.
This is to support (as much as possible) the latest hardware. In this regard, the release ofย Linux Mint Edge 21.3 Edge Cinnamonย has just been announced, which, unlike the flagship edition,ย ships withย Linux kernel 6.5ย instead of 5.15 LTS.
So, if you canโt boot or install Linux Mint because your hardware is too new or isnโt being detected correctly, give the Mint 21.3 Edge ISO image a try.
The expectation is that it will detect your hardware properly and that you will perform a smooth installation of the OS, resulting in a system that is (almost) identical to what you get after installing from the primary installation images.
The only significant difference from the Linux Mint 21.3 release is that you will end up with the Mint system powered by Linux kernel 6.5 and some newer components from the Ubuntu 22.04.3 repositories.
However, remember that the Edge ISO image is not as stable as the other ISOs and may not support as many proprietary drivers. So, only use it if you cannot boot or install it with the different ISOs.
The announcement is here for more information, as the Mint 21.3 Edge ISO can be downloaded from here.
