Unified installer images for all desktop environments

[gwvr]

This is a suggestion/feature request to include all major Mint desktop environments (Cinnamon, MATE, KDE & Xfce) in unified Mint installer images. The desktop environment would be chosen at boot time from the Grub menu. Additionally a "minimal" or "no desktop environment" option would be a nice to have.

Advantages:

• Fewer download options - less choice and confusion for new users
• Only one download required for those who want to try/install the different desktop environments (less total bandwidth consumed in this case)
• Fewer torrents, more seeders, better availability of installer images
• Lower barrier to trying out the different desktop environments - just reboot the Live image (no more burning required)
• Fewer DVDs and memory sticks required for administrators

Downsides:

• Releases have historically been staggered - all desktop environments would have to be made available at once (this might be easier for Mint >17)
• Increased complexity of Live image boot
• The installer downloads would obviously be larger (but wouldn't fit on a CD in any case)

The number of installer images could be reduced to five from the current fourteen (not including LMDE), as follows:

• Cinnamon, MATE, KDE & Xfce (32 & 64 bit)
• Cinnamon, MATE, KDE & Xfce - no codecs (32 & 64 bit)
• Cinnamon, MATE - OEM (64 bit)

[micaelr95]

I like the idea and if it go forward i like to participate in the development