Ubuntu 14.10, nicknamed Utopic Unicorn, is coming in just a few short months. Alpha releases have been available for some time, but this week marks the start of the beta testing phase, which means releases are generally stable enough for virtual machines and other testing scenarios. Ubuntu's current release cycle means that the main Ubuntu line usually sits out the first beta and 14.10 is no exception. There is no beta 1 for Ubuntu 14.10; instead this beta consists of participating "flavors". If you've never tried anything but Ubuntu, the first 14.10 beta releases make a good time to test alternate waters -- especially if you're concerned about your privacy. Unlike the Unity desktop, which sends your search data to both Canonical and Amazon -- something Richard Stallman terms "spyware" -- other flavors of Ubuntu have no such features. There are quite a few alternative flavors of Ubuntu, including the Xfce-based Xubuntu, the KDE-based Kubuntu, the LDXE-based Lubuntu, GNOME-based Ubuntu GNOME and soon perhaps a Mate-based Ubuntu. There is already a MATE-based version of Ubuntu available though it hasn't been approved or endorsed by Canonical. That will likely change by the next release if the developers are able to meet Canonical's guidelines for recognition. Keep in mind that all of these flavors share the same Ubuntu underpinnings -- a Debian-based core with the same familiar apt-get package system and access to all the same .deb resources in the Ubuntu community. The primary difference comes down to desktop environment. ## Xubuntu Xubuntu ships with a relatively heavyweight version of the Xfce desktop that includes pretty much everything, the kitchen sink and the Ubuntu Software Center. The first beta version of Xubuntu 14.10 isn't packing any huge changes, but does have some changes in progress including a few things that will also benefit Debian Xfce users as well. This release sees some new tools under the hood, including a new display manager dialog that supports drag and drop, Gtk3.12-based themes and a new "minimal" install option that might mean Xubuntu doesn't have to be a heavweight version of Xfce. 14.10 has a revamped power manager as well, which can now control the keyboard-backlight, though I haven't able to get this working properly yet. Xubuntu appears to have dropped XChat since it is no longer being maintained. Pidgin can still connect to IRC, though heavy IRC users will no doubt like a better IRC client. Fortunately there are plenty in the Ubuntu repos. ## Kubuntu Kubuntu doesn't heavily customize the KDE experience, which makes sense given that part of what's appealing about KDE for many users is the level of customizability. There's no sense over-customizing a desktop that most people are going to tweak themselves. If you love Ubuntu for the Software Center, Kubuntu might disappoint. Kubuntu uses Muon for GUI package management, which lacks some of the hand holding, beginner-friendliness of the Ubuntu Software Center. Kubuntu will not be making any major changes in this release, but will be offering some incremental updates to the core system -- KDE 4.14 forms the base -- as well as updates for all the pre-installed KDE apps. The KDE developers are hard at work on KDE Frameworks 5 and the Plasma 5 Desktop, but sadly you won't find it in Kubuntu just yet. That's probably a good thing given that Plasma 5 certainly still has some bugs and missing features. Still, once you've used Plasma 5 its hard to go back to the much more garish 4.x line. If you would like to play with the recently released KDE Plasma 5 desktop there are downloads available. Keep in mind though that both Kubuntu 14.10 and KDE 5 are very much works in progress and there will likely be some bugs. Recommended for testing purposes or satisfying your curiosity about the future of KDE, but not day-to-day use at this point. ## Lubuntu Lubuntu is the simplest, least resource-intensive version of Ubuntu you're likely to find. Lubuntu features the minimalist LXDE desktop, which combines Openbox, PCMan File Manager and a handful of other tools for a power-sipping, battery-loving desktop that's perfect for older hardware -- particularly laptops. Lubuntu is coming off its first ever LTS release in the form of Lubuntu 14.04. Having just spent all its effort putting out the stablest possible release, many were hoping that Lubuntu would use 14.10 to make the leap from LXDE to the new Qt-based LXQt. Unfortunately for those itching to get away from GTK, Lubuntu's move to LXQt has once again been pushed back. Instead Lubuntu 14.10 will stick with LXDE and focus on bug fixes and stability improvements. ## Ubuntu GNOME Ubuntu GNOME, which wisely passed on the name Gubuntu, has quickly gone from unofficial community project to really great Gnome 3 platform. For stability reasons Ubuntu Gnome doesn't use the cutting edge of Gnome 3 releases. That means Ubuntu Gnome 14.10 will use Gnome 3.12 rather than the newest release (which will be Gnome 3.14 by the time the final version of 14.10 is out). Gnome 3.12 brings two new default apps to the desktop, Maps and Weather, which are both available in this first beta. I used to wonder why the Ubuntu Gnome developers bothered. Gnome is, after all, a lot like Unity, but lacking the tight integration with the rest of the Ubuntu desktop that Unity enjoys. After using Ubuntu Gnome for a while though I've come around. Ubuntu actually makes a great base on which to run Gnome 3. I've found it to be less prone to crashes than Unity and a bit speedier as well. If you're curious to see what all the fuss about Gnome 3.x is about, but don't want to distro hop just to test it out, give Ubuntu Gnome a try. ## Ubuntu MATE Will it be Mubuntu? Mabuntu? Or just Ubuntu MATE? Whatever the case, if you have fond memories of Ubuntu 9.10, MATE will take you back. Modeled on an interface familiar to anyone who ever used Gnome 2.x, MATE takes Ubuntu back to its roots. So far this is a totally unofficial community created flavor, but it deserves mention here for two reasons. First, it will very likely become an official flavor soon and second, MATE is often cited as a reason for moving to Linux Mint. If you like MATE, but want to stick with Ubuntu, this is the spin for you. It's the closest thing you'll get to a modern version of Ubuntu 9.10. It also happens to be a very nice integration of MATE and Ubuntu brought to you by MATE desktop developer Martin Wimpress. ## Conclusion Unity based Ubuntu will always overshadow its various flavors, even if, as has been proposed, the Unity 8 desktop becomes a yet another flavor. The main Ubuntu distro is the focus of Canonical's time and effort and, despite the current focus on mobile and tablet interfaces, will likely remain that way. Still, if you like what's behind Ubuntu, but aren't crazy about Unity, take one of these alternatives for a spin.