After 30 years of using Linux, I only have 4 complaints – and 2 are taking me back to my MacBook

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

• Linux has been my default OS for decades.
• Although it has been an amazing journey, it is not always perfect.
• Here are a few gripes I still have about the open source OS.

Since 1997, my experience with Linux has been pretty good. It’s rare that I run into a problem, and when I do, it’s usually easy to solve. I’ve used Linux on desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, servers, and pretty much everything you can think of.

But that doesn’t mean all was well. Linux has a few ongoing problems. In some cases, those problems have improved but have not been fully resolved.

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The two issues below have caused me ongoing problems over the years; I once had to say goodbye to one of my favorite distributions, Bodhi Linux, because of sound problems. The only problem is the matter of taste (but it really bothers me).

Enough with the setup; let’s get to the news.

1. Audio recording may be glitchy

This is probably the issue that has plagued me more than any other. As I work with a lot of audio and video, I have had to struggle with audio problems on Linux for years. Now, I’m not talking about average audio usage here. Almost all Linux distributions are straight plug-and-play when you want to listen to your favorite songs on Spotify.

This is where you dive into the world of recording it sounds like things can be frustrating. From stuttering, dropping out of school, or just not playing, noise can be a problem. Years ago, I had a side gig as an audiobook fan, and Audacity on Linux gave me the ability to try and make it work at any time. I would have to restart the system and jump through all kinds of hoops.

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Fast forward to last year, when I went to record another audiobook, and the same problem hit me. Fortunately, this time I was able to solve the problem easily by connecting my microphone to a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2and everything was going well.

Many people do not have a noticeable external noise when sleeping, so this problem needs to be addressed. Remember that audio issues don’t just plague Linux; Linux seems to suffer more than other platforms. This problem is not a Linux kernel problem per se, but it is a problem with underlying audio servers like Pipewire. (Pipewire replaces ALSA, which had serious problems that seemed insurmountable.) These problems aren’t as bad now as they were, but you can bet that if I have to record, edit, or mix audio, I’ll probably do it on MacOS, because I don’t always have time to troubleshoot.

2. Laptops are not set up properly

If you use Linux on a laptop, you probably know that suspend/reboot can be a problem. You close the lid, and when you open it, it’s always a guess whether it will come back to life or the battery is dead.

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This is not the case with all distributions, and may be a release issue to remove. I found one release of the distro where the suspension worked, then in the next release, it didn’t. This is the main reason I usually go for my MacBook, rather than one of my Linux laptops. Battery life on Linux machines is fine except when I close the lid, at which point all bets are off for hibernation issues. Or, I can open the lid of my single Linux computer and the OS will not come out of suspension.

In some cases, the problem goes to video driver issues that prevent the OS from booting. Also, it can vary from hardware to hardware, so Linux and hibernation can be a real crap shoot.

3. Bluetooth disconnects

Bluetooth problems are not isolated to Linux. I have encountered Bluetooth problems on Linux, MacOS, Windows, and Android. The difference is that there were times when the solution in Linux was to not use Bluetooth.

And that’s not always an option.

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This Bluetooth problem is usually related to sound, although it can depend on the hardware you’re using. For example, I use three different sound amps, and can only connect one — the WiiM Amp Ultra — via Bluetooth with any regularity. Some amps show up, and I can connect to them, but the Bluetooth cuts out quickly.

The Bluetooth problem is not isolated to audio equipment; it also affects mice and keyboards. I have two mice: one Microsoft Bluetooth and one Logitech that uses a wireless receiver. Logitech has never had issues, but Microsoft’s Bluetooth mouse often does.

If you need to use Bluetooth on Linux, I would recommend installing the Blueman Bluetooth manager, as it gives you more control and troubleshooting options.

4. Default dark themes

This is a matter of personal preference, but it just comes with Linux. For whatever reason, the developers have decided that dark themes are the best option. When I install a Linux distribution, there is about a 99.9% chance that the distro will default to a dark theme.

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I get the idea of ​​dark themes: they’re easy on the eyes in low light situations. But who works all day in the dark?

Not me. The first thing I always do with a new Linux installation is switch it to a light theme. I may be weird, but dark themes hurt my eyes.

It would be nice if developers followed the lead of distributions that give users a choice at first login about which theme to use. This is especially true for new Linux users who may not know where to change the theme at first.

That’s it for my list of gripes. It’s short and sweet, but it would be great if these issues were addressed once and for all.