Yes, that's right--for all those who were worrying, the next Linux Mint will not, in fact, adopt Unity, despite the fact that it is based on Ubuntu 11.04.

It will sport GNOME, but--contrary to earlier reports--not the new, and also somewhat controversial, GNOME 3. Rather, GNOME 2.32 is the version featured along with "the traditional Linux Mint desktop layout, mintMenu and the same desktop elements featured in previous releases," the project team said.

Compiz is also installed by default in Linux Mint 11, as is "fusion-icon," a feature that lets users switch easily between Compiz and Metacity.