Sound on Linux wasn't a problem 5 years ago. In fact, it wasn't a problem even earlier. I started using linux on a regular basis circa 2006 and never ran into a

Sound on Linux wasn't a problem 5 years ago. In fact, it wasn't a problem even earlier. I started using linux on a regular basis circa 2006 and never ran into any problems with sound. I used different distros (knoppix, ASPLinux, openSUSE, ubuntu, linux mint, arch) on different desktop machines and laptops. The worst problem I had was with winmodems that refused to work with anything but windows, but even that I was able to solve by installing some weird drivers.