Just a few weeks ago we saw the launch of a , with the final version due this month, and now the Linux Mint project has rolled out a release candidate for its own

Mint and Ubuntu tend to jostle for the No. 1 spot in popularity rankings on , but lately--perhaps as a result of this upcoming new release--Mint is in the top seat.

The final version of Mint 13 is expected to arrive soon. Want a sneak preview? Here are some of the highlights of what you can expect.

1. Two Editions

I've already written a few times about Mint's new , and Maya will offer a version of the OS based on it. So, users of Linux Mint 13 will be able to choose between the "productive, stable and mature MATE 1.2 desktop," as the project puts it, and the "brand new modern-looking and exciting Cinnamon 1.4."