What Don't You Like about Linux Mint?

[Termy]

Most people tend to be only too happy to sing praises, but what don't you like about Linux Mint? It might wind up being interesting feedback for the developers. We could also discuss what we don't like, perhaps offering solutions, ideas, or alternatives, provided it's constructive.

I'll start:

Configuring the system in such a way that the user cannot update the kernel via the terminal (sudo apt-get dist-upgrade). This is unnecessarily restrictive, IMO. If the user goes out of their way to open up a terminal and enter in commands as an alternative for what a GUI offers, they should be allowed to do so.

This is what I've observed in Linux Mint 18.3 with Cinnamon, but if this has changed in recent versions, then yay.

[MartyMint]

I don't like having Timeshift "bolted on" to the upgrade procedure between releases.

[Termy]

I don't like having Timeshift "bolted on" to the upgrade procedure between releases.

I didn't know about this. What do you mean by "bolted on"?

[MartyMint]

I didn't know about this. What do you mean by "bolted on"?

You are compelled to go through a Timeshift backup if you do the direct upgrade between Mint releases.
I suppose there's a workaround...and I understand why it's there...but...

[Schultz]

System D(umb) and PulseAudio.

[Termy]

You are compelled to go through a Timeshift backup if you do the direct upgrade between Mint releases.
I suppose there's a workaround...and I understand why it's there...but...

Lol. Fair enough. I think I'm with you on that! It should be a choice.

System D(umb) and PulseAudio.

I've had a really good experience with PA over the years -- mostly --, so I'm surprised to read that would be a reason for disliking Mint. Do you tend to just uninstall PA in favor of something else?

[MartyMint]

PulseAudio.

I did audio production on Linux before Pulseaudio.

You either didn't or you don't remember it well.

[Termy]

I didn't. Lol Unless you count making YouTube videos for a few years, but I doubt it. Must say though, one thing I love about PA is the live noise-cancelling feature you can enable; it's made the audio quality so much better. One thing I can definitely complain about though, is the annoying clicks when I start a recording.

[MartyMint]

Imagine using Linux Mint minus pavucontrol with...

bluetooth

hdmi audio

usb audio

networked audio

I could go on...

[AndyMH]

Poor backwards compatibility.

• things get left out in newer kernels so stuff stops working on older hardware (had issues with my external monitor on any kernel > 4.5.7). It got worse on the 5.x kernels.

• software that was in the repos, but not now, e.g. chromium (now changed), shutter (now a ppa). Some of this is self-inflicted in LM20 with the decision not to support python2 (still a lot of software out there dependent on it - it means pulling stuff out of earlier repos, e.g. ubuntu 18.04).

[all41]

In my 4 Mint world--nothing to fix, everything works out of box, no problems, no frustrations.
almost boring

Not the same for every newer hardware combo though, but new kernels are being released and updted often.
I am blessed, the 8 year old xeon workstation has worked perfectly so far on every Mint.

[Trepie]

I would prefer to have a stock Firefox experience after a new install. Don't appreciate that hoop I have to jump though to get google search turned back on.

All of my windows like to maximize to my secondary monitor when I start my day for some reason. I don't shutdown or lock the computer at night, just turn the monitors off.

Other than that nothing else to complain about. Linux Mint Cinnamon has been one of the most stable Linux experiences I've had.

[msseufert]

Configuring the system in such a way that the user cannot update the kernel via the terminal (sudo apt-get dist-upgrade). This is unnecessarily restrictive, IMO. If the user goes out of their way to open up a terminal and enter in commands as an alternative for what a GUI offers, they should be allowed to do so.

Pedantically speaking. dist-upgrade is Debian's way of allowing a user to upgrade to the next release. For example version 9 to 10, or from stable to testing. etc. It's not a kernel upgrading tool, so in practice dist-upgrade doesn't upgrade the kernel on any up-to-date Debian based system either. To upgrade the kernel in Debian one must explicitly install it. IE apt install linux-image-5.8.0 In Linux Mint, kernels can be managed through the Update Manager => View => Linux Kernels.

---

What I don't like about Linux Mint is that it doesn't make coffee or bake cookies.

[Moem]

What I don't like about Mint is that the documentation is lacking. The installation guide is outdated and there is no decent and up to date manual online.
I understand how these things happen (after all someone has to do it) but there it is.

I'm happy that Mint doesn't bake cookies, for the sake of my waistline. I have one and intend to keep it that way.

[DAMIEN1307]

I'm happy that Mint doesn't bake cookies, for the sake of my waistline. I have one and intend to keep it that way.

Hi Moem,
Im glad you still got yours going for you, but i cant resist a joke on myself with that "line".

Ive got one too...somewhere i guess...just cant remember...I think i misplaced mine...are my pants supposed to ride above the naval or below it???

Ive been on weight watchers for years now...Yep, still watching all that weight go on...lol.

You know your fat when your pants are ordered online with "expansion" panels on each side for "comfort fit"...lol

Can we make my cookies chocolate chip???...lol...DAMIEN

[ajgreeny]

It used to annoy me that synaptic could not be used to upgrade packages.
I now realise that it's possible to install the Ubuntu version of synaptic over the mint version, thereby getting the upgrade option back.

I never suffered the problems spoken of if i use synaptic in Ubuntu for upgrades, though I generally use aliases for update and upgrade in terminal which is a lot quicker.

[bjmh46]

"Suspend" has not been reliable in versions after mint 17.x . Co-incidentally 17 was the last non-systemd version.
this is on several thinkpads and latitudes. Finally couldn't stand the "suspense" of not knowing if a laptop was going to wake from suspend and be functional or not. I now leave everything run 24/7 except that I turn off the display after 15 min. inactivity. MX-linux has always reliably suspended on all my laptops and it is non-systemd.

Ever since switching from 18.3 to 19.3, with the newer version of xfce, thunar is very slow at transferring files. Not really a mint problem per-se, since it's part of xfce, but annoying in any case. I now use double-commander for large file operations. (~50% faster than the new thunar). Mint 20 is the same.

Minor gripes, nothing that makes me want to leave mint xfce for another distro.

Regards
Bob

[Mick-Cork]

Documentation
I'm going to second Moem on the documentation. It is out of date which I think leads to the same support questions being asked here on the forum for example. It might also be a deterrent for potential new users. I think it would be worth redirecting some of the donations, if necessary and if feasible, to get a technical writer on board, even if on a fixed term basis.

linuxmint.com
Needs a refresh.

Nemo performance issues
I'd like to see any improvements introduced in LM20 backported to the 19 releases.

[antikythera]

Slick Greeter and the enforced Linux Mint scheme for it that overrides any settings entered by the end user even as root. A tad too much Windows-like...

[Pepi]

For me it's printing. Some documents will print right away and others may take way too long