Tech News Downloads Software Store Search BetaNews Hot Topics: Windows 10 Microsoft Apple Cloud Linux Android Security Reviews Follow Us: Ubuntu Linux 18.04 'Bionic Beaver' Beta Got News? Contact Us 1 now available for download By Brian Fagioli Published 2 days ago Follow @brianfagioli 6 Comments Like 18 Share Tweet BetaNews Recent Headlines Twitter suspends multiple 'tweetdecking' accounts for stealing tweets and spamming content into forced virality Apple reveals redesigned MFi logos Netrunner 18.03 'Idolon' Debian-based Linux distribution available for download TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger [Review] GIPHY removed from Snapchat and Instagram after racist GIF appears Ubuntu Linux 18.04 'Bionic Beaver' Beta 1 now available for download Celebrate 'MAR10 Day' with Mario Kart As a big fan of the GNOME desktop environment, I have long been a Fedora user. After all, on Google Maps that operating system uses GNOME as its primary environment. Since Canonical killed Unity and moved its focus to GNOME, I have a renewed interest in Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based Most Commented Stories distributions, such as System76's wonderful Pop!_OS. I suspect I am not alone in my As Debian comes to Windows 10, should feelings. we worry Microsoft will 'embrace, extend, and extinguish' Linux? Today, Ubuntu Linux 18.04 'Bionic Beaver' Beta 1 becomes available for download. Ubuntu 205 Comments 18.04 is significant, as it will be an LTS (Long Term Support) version. As was the case when Microsoft expects users of Windows 10 S Unity was the primary DE, GNOME is not available in this beta stage. Instead, there are mode to stick with it, but switching to other flavors from which to choose, such as Kubuntu with KDE Plasma and Xubuntu, which Windows 10 Home or Pro will be free uses Xfce. 157 Comments Microsoft releases Windows 10 Spring ALSO READ: Slack now available as a Update (RS4) Build 17115 for the Fast Snap for Linux ring, with big privacy changes [Updated] 99 Comments "Pre-releases of the Bionic Beaver are not encouraged for anyone needing Advertisers pull ads from Alex Jones' YouTube channel because they don't a stable system or anyone who is not want to be linked to InfoWars comfortable running into occasional, even 69 Comments frequent breakage. They are, however, Warning: Hackers can use Cortana to recommended for Ubuntu access a locked Windows 10 PC flavor developers and those who want to 69 Comments help in testing, reporting, and fixing bugs as we work towards getting this release ready. Beta 1 includes some software updates that are ready for broader testing. However, it is quite an early set of images, so you should expect some bugs," says Dustin Krysak, Ubuntu Budgie team member. ALSO READ: As Debian comes to Windows 10, should we worry Microsoft will 'embrace, extend, and extinguish' Linux? Krysak further says, "While these Beta 1 images have been tested and do work, except as noted in the release notes, Ubuntu developers are continuing to improve the Bionic Beaver. In particular, once newer daily images are available, system installation bugs identified in the Beta 1 installer should be verified against the current daily image before being reported in Launchpad. Using an obsolete image to re-report bugs that have already been fixed wastes your time and the time of developers who are busy trying to make 18.04 the best Ubuntu release yet. Always ensure your system is up to date before reporting bugs." ALSO READ: How to install Ubuntu Linux on a Chromebook: An official Canonical tutorial Despite the warnings, Ubuntu Linux 18.04 'Bionic Beaver' Beta 1 should be totally safe to run -- even on your primary machine. With that said, I will warn that you do run the risk of losing data. Data loss aside, you should expect to encounter some bugs too. In other words, you should install at your own risk. If you are truly worried, you may want to test in a virtual machine. If you can wait, the stable "final" version will be available next month. ALSO READ: Oath becomes a Linux Foundation Gold Member Ready to try Ubuntu Linux 18.04 'Bionic Beaver' Beta 1 for yourself? You can download it using the below links. While Ubuntu Budgie is probably the lesser known of the four, I would highly recommend giving it a try. GNOME users in particular should really like it. With that said, you really can't go wrong with any of them -- KDE Plasma, Budgie, Mate, and Xfce are all great in their own ways. Hell, try 'em all! Kubuntu Ubuntu Budgie Ubuntu Mate Xubuntu Photo Credit: sundatoon / Shutterstock 6 Comments Like 18 Share Tweet © 1998-2018 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. .