For years - it has been one of my first installs on a new system. It is *necessary*? No. Is it fun? Yup. Lots of wonder screensavers and the ability to have random or the same on multiple screens. Love it!
This is the best! I have also used this with Ubuntu 22.04 (Wayland), so the X11 compatibility mode works well. I just had to change the power modes to allow Xscreensaver to engage. Tested builds: Linux Mint 20.3. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Wayland.
Super! The best screensaver to Mint. There are extra packages for Xscreensaver if you like to expand your collection.
I have used xscreensaver for years; always liked it. Mint screensaver will work if you install xscreensaver, start the daemon by starting screensaver-demo. Then you can make the settings for a particular screensaver, like gl-slideshow, selecting an appropriate file directory, and so on. Then test it. Obviously, it is simpler to just use Xscreensaver itself and turn of Mint's version; just my opinion.
Forgive them, for they know not what they say. Xscreensaver is the best screensaver as of 2016 in any Linux distro. Period.
I disable it. Power manager is enough. Don't need multiple programs fighting to do the same thing.
For anyone concerned with the security of xscreensaver compared to gnome-screensaver for example, I recommend you read the Xscreensaver FAQ page at jwz.org
Breaks the Lock Screen command and some Power Manager functionality on Mint 17 XFCE, and interrupts full-screen applications without keyboard & mouse input (doesn't detect other inputs). If you want to stare at pretty patterns or you're simple enough to be amused by a bouncing 3D cow, this is for you. If you actually want to lock your screen to keep your contacts' confidential emails safe while taking a piss, use gnome-screensaver instead.
No menu item: once installed the only way to run it seems to be to call it from a terminal