Is there a difference between Linux and Linux Mint?

Well thanks for trying, I appreciate that (: s for windows is what we had for the last 6 years and my dad wanted to try something new and so we did, he thinks it’s better then windows but I don’t like it very much. xD

Linux Mint is based off Ubuntu. They guy who made Mint originally started with just a modified version of Ubuntu - he want some features added and others removed. So he released his own distro. Now he takes Ubuntu after its been released and applies his batch of adjustments and additions to it and releases the new version of Mint.

Chances of getting viruses on any Linux distro are very slim because there aren’t that many viruses out there for it, and on a whole Linux is more secure than Windows.

I have Xubuntu running on one laptop and Mint running on another. I do notice that some sites a quite a bit slower on either laptop (even taking into account there slower specs). It seems anything really java or flash heavy doesn’t run as well on Linux in general. Facebook is also glitchier on Linux that XP for me.

I would first try making sure your browser is up to date, along with Java, and Flash

Java and Flash? Got it. I can see where my dad learned about Ubuntu. Which is why he switched from Windows XP.

Ubuntu (or one of its clones like Mint, Xubuntu, Lubuntu etc) are some of the closed looking and feeling to Windows, so its a popular choice for trying out right from windows.