Gee that's not a bad price for the specs, is that $AU or $US??
Mint LMDE does that have the MATE desktop??
I'm looking at all this with my "In this day and age, It should just work straight out of the box" eyes on. I don't beieve you should have to compile XYZ or apt-get patch X or similar to have basic functionality these days.
It's like buying car and then having to buy a spare wheel from somehwere else and then jack from somewhere else again.
I don't claim to be a guru, but I've been in IT for 25 years now, my prediction for the next 5 years (for the desktop area only). Microsoft will not be such a power in the software arena, Windows may even be given away free as it will be viewed as not an important component in people's computing requirements. Android is already free and iOS updates are free as well.
Tablets are here to stay. They will become more powerful and used by many more people.
Android will dominate over iOS, this will be based solely on price and it's openness.
Google will become bigger than Microsoft, Microsoft will begin to look like Novell. Apple will stay where they are, but gather increased criticism for their 'proprietaryness'.
And desktop PC's will almost disappear and be replaced by laptops.
Just my 2 cents worth.
