Linux Mint is a free Linux-based operating system designed for use on desktop and laptop computers.
Want to see the latest news from the blog? Set the Firefox homepage to:
where is a current or past release. Here's an example using release 21.1 'Vera':
https://linuxmint.com/start/vera/
You could also donate to them to the tune of the revenue that they get from advertising.
Just because something is open source, doesn't mean that it's free or without cost to the publisher.
You can choose to go elsewhere or block the advertising if you feel strongly about it.
It actually keeps me from donating to them…
Similarly, they don’t expose the donation amounts from other means than PayPal…
Well then, good news, you can use another distro or not even donate. I use #LMDE
Between the wide prevalence of ad-blockers, the multitude of privacy-enhancing extensions and options, the absolutely minimal useful marketing data to be gleaned from a visitor to their site, and their need to keep the lights on while supplying the world with the fruits of their significant work for free... I'm fine with that.
It's not like they're injecting stalkerware onto your OS installs.
Sure, but « better than nothing » doesn’t make it the best. In the end, it’s a much worse look when wording it this way: « they sell your visit's information to google for profit »
It’s a bit odd for a « for privacy » distro to have this on their website
So, basically what every website uses? Google owns so much of web traffic that I personally don't think this is really a issue unless you have a tinfoil hat.
Also, why would we hate that they need money? They are putting years of development into putting their vision into a Linux desktop which users can use for free.