Linux Mint Xfce is rolling on top of a Debian Testing package base and uses the same repositories as LMDE. The Linux Mint team has announced the release of Linux Mint XFCE 201104 RC two days ago !

Quote:
Download Linux Mint XFCE 201104 32-bit / 64-bit

Features

- A huge performance boost
- A continuous flow of updates which allows users to keep their system up to date without waiting for new releases
- A more mainstream desktop and software selection
- An easier maintenance for the team which makes it easier to release in both 32-bit and 64-bit with every LMDE release

Performance boost

One of the most significant improvements is the performance boost given to this edition. Here are a few figures comparing the memory consumption in the 32-bit live sessions of Linux Mint Xfce and Linux Mint 9 Xfce:

Mint Xfce: 107 MB RAM (Mint 9 Xfce: 153 MB RAM)
Mint Xfce + OO Writer + OO Calc + Firefox: 162 MB RAM (Mint 9 Xfce + OO Writer + OO Calc + Firefox: 212 MB RAM)
Mint Xfce + OO Writer + OO Calc + Firefox + Thunderbird + VLC + Rhythmbox: 207 MB RAM (Mint 9 Xfce + OO Writer + OO Calc + Firefox + Thunderbird + Gnome MPlayer + Exaile: 256 MB RAM)

Mainstream Edition

This performance boost allowed us to give Xfce a more mainstream software selection, replacing Exaile with Rhythmox, adding VLC and giving Xfce almost the same software selection as Gnome.


With KDE 4 and Gnome 3 bringing drastic changes to their environments, and with the emergence of Fluxbox and LXDE on the lightweight scene, Xfce represents a nice alternative for PC desktop users who are looking for a light yet full-featured desktop solution. Its relevance is becoming more significant and this is another reason for us to support it in both 32-bit and 64-bit and to give it a mainstream software selection.

Mintmenu has also been added to this edition as an alternative menu. Be aware that it was designed for Gnome and that it uses an additional 30MB RAM. You can add it easily by right-clicking on the panel and selecting “Add new Items”->”XfApplet”->”mintMenu”. Don’t hesitate to report bugs on mintMenu in Xfce as it will eventually support both desktop environments.

Njoy !