Ubuntu screwed up with the Unity desktop, i think. I'm using ubuntu 11.10 on my laptop, changed to gnome 3 on first day. LOLz.
Used mint on my older laptop, versions 7,8 and 9 DVD. Started using ubuntu on laptop as it was more "manually configurable" and stable than mint. (Mint was having bugs on my laptop, but ubuntu never had).
You should understand that ubuntu and mint are almost same OS, where mint is more windows like and automatic/easy for newbies.
My desktop OS is Fedora 14 64-bit