Which Linux Mint?

[Spacecadet]

Mate or Cinnamon?

[TheFaQQer]

Try both and see which you prefer.

I preferred MATE when I last downloaded it, but it depends on what you are used to and what you like about each one.

[TheFaQQer]

Curiously, Mint 14 has a longer support life than Mint 15

[stek]

Make sure you install it After Eight...

[DimPrawn]

Is that Linux with a hole?

[Platypus]

Isn't this a problem with Linux, too many distros? I think it might fragment itself to death

[petergriffin]

Isn't this a problem with Linux, too many distros? I think it might fragment itself to death

You should have vented your worries back in 1992.

[TheFaQQer]

Isn't this a problem with Linux, too many distros? I think it might fragment itself to death

This is the same distro, just different DE.

So even worse

[Sysman]

Curiously, Mint 14 has a longer support life than Mint 15

Linux Mint 13 (Maya) is the LTS (Long Term Support) version. That means that patches won't dry up until 2017, 5 years from the release date.

I got burned by Mint 10 when patches dried up, and at the time the later versions barfed on the oldish hardware I was using.

Blame it on Ubuntu, 'cos that's what's upstream.

Edit:
To answer to OP's question, XFCE 'cos it does what I want.

Also: Changed LTS to Linux Mint 13