I’ve been using Ubuntu/Linux Mint for nearly a year now and I’m still pleased with it. I started Ubuntu around the 7.04 release. I had Skype configured and working, as well as Rhythmbox/Amarok. Recently (past 2 months), I’ve upgraded to Linux Mint 5 (based on Hardy Heron), and I’ve noticed something peculiar with the audio (which never happened in Gutsy Gibbon 7.04). If I have Rhythmbox, or some other audio player open, but minimized, then Skype sounds would not work, and I couldn’t place any calls. Skype would tell me that there was some error with the sound. When I first encountered this error I tinkered around, but couldn’t solve it. I eventually rebooted my Computer, and then Skype worked. I came to realize that Rhythmbox was the culprit. It seems to take control of the soundcard, however is simply remedied by closing the program, allowing skype to output sound. I have also noticed that Rhythmbox will block sound out of other applications, and even some games (Savage 2). There might be a better explanation as to why this happens, or even a fix, but for now I’ll just have to remember to close Rhythmbox when making a call, or playing a game.