If you have yet to try the developing Budgie desktop, the latest \nrelease of Ubuntu Budgie is a perfect opportunity to experience a classy\n and user-friendly computing platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Budgie is one of the first home-grown Linux distros to release its \nlatest version based on Ubuntu 18.04. The independent developer \nannounced Ubuntu Budgie 18.04 last week, coinciding with Canonical\u2019s \nrelease of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canonical also offers a Budgie desktop option in Ubuntu Linux. However, the two Ubuntu-branded distros are not the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie is maintained by a UK-based developer community. \nFormerly Budgie Remix, the Ubuntu Budgie distro is a desktop Linux \ndistribution featuring the simple Budgie desktop. Ubuntu Budgie is not \nfrom Canonical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Solus community originally developed Budgie from scratch and \ntightly integrated the desktop user interface with the GNOME stack. \nSolus also offers the GNOME and MATE desktops. Ubuntu Budgie only comes \nin one flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie 18.04 is the community\u2019s first Long Term Support \nrelease good for three years instead of the nine-month release cycle. \nThis new release comes with numerous new features, fixes and \noptimizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The improvements include more customization options via Budgie \nWelcome, more available Budgie applets, dynamic workspaces, hot-corners \nand Window shuffler, plus a new GTK+ theme called \u201cPocillo.\u201d You also \nget new applets as standard in the panel or available to be added via \nBudgie Settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie Welcome Screen
\nUbuntu Budgie\u2019s expanded Welcome Screen makes it very easy for new users to find what they need to get up to speed quickly.
\nShowing Progress
\nI have used the Budgie desktop with several Linux distros on and off \nover the last few years for a change of pace on a few of my secondary \nwork machines. At first, I found Budgie to be a bit limited in what it \noffered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, with each new major upgrade, Budgie became more useful and \nflexible. It has now progressed to the point that it does not sacrifice \nperformance in favor of simple design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie desktop settings
\nBudgie desktop settings are easy to apply and provide an expanded set of options.
\nI am particularly pleased with the latest release of Ubuntu Budgie. This\n distro\u2019s implementation of the Budgie desktop has shown substantial \ngrowth in features and usability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The developers are dedicated to mastering the user experience with \njust this desktop environment. That attention to detail has paid off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distro at a Glance
\nUbuntu Budgie comes with a choice of three stable releases. Besides the \nlatest 18.04 LTS edition, you can install version 17.10.1 and the \n16.04.4 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest edition (18.04) has Long Term Support until Apr 2021. The \nprevious edition, 17.10.1, is a standard stable release and follows the \nUbuntu support cadence for three more months. The oldest available \nedition, 16.04.4, will receive community support only until the end of \nthis July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie is available in 64-bit and 32-bit versions. Given the \nshort support period remaining on the other two choices, go with the \nlatest edition to get the best experience with the Budgie desktop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 64-bit latest edition works well with computers running 4 GB or \nmore of RAM on both Intel and AMD processors. It also works on modern \nIntel-based Apple Macs. If your hardware has UEFI support, be sure to \nboot in CSM mode. In other words, turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS \nsettings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minimum system requirements invite a wide range of legacy computers to the Linux party, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentium Dual Core 1.6 Ghz
\n2 GB of RAM
\n16 GB disk storage
\nFor better performance, your hardware should match these recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentium i3
\n4 GB of RAM
\n80 GB disk storage
\nWhat\u2019s Inside
\nOut of the box, Ubuntu Budgie provides a complete set of applications \nfor your daily basic computing tasks. The software center makes adding \nor removing applications quick and simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are inclined to be a software purist, you can spare yourself \nthe manual labor by choosing the minimal installation option. It will \ngive you a stripped-down install with just the Chromium Web browser and a\n few key utilities to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can elect to install third-party software for graphics and WiFi \nhardware components, along with MP3 and other media. You also can choose\n to download updates while installing the operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you bypass the minimal installation, you will get the latest \nversion of the LibreOffice suite. Thanks to some tightly knit \ncooperation with Canonical, the installation process also bundles some \nuseful Ubuntu-based applications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
spice-vdagent to improve performance in VMs such as GNOME Boxes and QEMU GNOME 3.28 applications;
\nNautilus 3.26 to ensure desktop icons support is maintained throughout the LTS period;
\nLinux Kernel 4.15 to give you many fixes throughout the Ubuntu stack.
\nAdvertisement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working With Budgie
\nBudgie is designed for the computing experiences of modern users. Its \ndisplay presents users with a simple and elegant design. It has a plain \nand clean style and is easy to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Budgie desktop is not a fork of any other desktop project. Its \ndesigners planned for an easy integration into other distros, and it is \nan open source project in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of the limitations in earlier iterations of the Budgie desktop \nhave been removed. Of course, those limitations were a tradeoff to \nsimplify the user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Budgie has an uncluttered design with little software bloat. To keep \nthings simple and elegant, you still can not fully alter Budgie\u2019s look \nand feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, the desktop view remains uncluttered partly because you\n can not stick application icons anywhere. Another annoying feature of \nsorts is the inability to fully resize application windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of my standard screenshot settings for distro reviews is to \narrange a collection of interesting system tools or other running \napplications on the desktop. I still can not do that for the Budgie \ndesktop. It is nearly impossible to squeeze in two reduced windows, \nespecially if I combine the view with opened menu panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I still miss the ability to use favorite keyboard shortcuts, but I am\n much happier with the improved features for navigating among virtual \nworkspaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, there is a balance of good and not-so-good. Notice that I have \nnot described these remaining limitations as bad things. Budgie just \nrequires adjusting my workflow slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lay of the Land
\nParts of the screen layout resemble GNOME 3. A quick launch dock, called\n a \u201cPlank,\u201d hangs on the left vertical edge of the screen. You easily \ncan pin application launchers there or remove them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A panel bar sits across the top of the screen. It has a few nifty \nicons to drop down handy things like QuickNote, Night Light, and some \nstandard system icons typical for most Linux distros. You easily can add\n applets to the panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie desktop settings
\nUbuntu Budgie\u2019s screen design includes a simple applications menu and functional top panel bar.
\nUbuntu Budgie\u2019s main menu drops down from the top left. The menu is just\n as simple and uncluttered as the rest of the user interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right-clicking on the desktop opens a limited menu with the ability \nto create a new folder, change background, open terminal window and \norganize icons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The application menu has no cascading views. It is a two-column design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The left column lists the application categories. The right column \nlists the individual apps in that category. A search window at the top \nof the two columns makes it easy to quickly locate any installed \nprogram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravin\u2019 Design
\nAt the heart of the Budgie desktop is Raven \u2014 an applet, notification \nand customization center. Combined with the system settings panel, it is\n the key to controlling the user experience through easy customizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To access Raven, use the super key + N key combination. You also can \nclick on the Raven icon on the top panel bar. It slides out from the \nright screen edge much like the GNOME 3 virtual desktop display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within the Raven applet, click the Applets tab to access the controls\n for calendar, speaker and microphone. Click the Notifications tab to \nsee unread system notifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click the Setting gear wheel to open the Budgie settings panel. There you find two tabs: General and Panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ubuntu Budgie strictly enforces the simplicity rule. Even the \nsettings panel and the desktop right-click menu are neat and clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bottom Line<\/strong> However, this latest release makes good on Ubuntu Budgie\u2019s promise to\n provide simplicity and elegance along with functionality. It goes \nfurther down the development pathway to improve on the simplicity to \nmake Budgie a solid desktop choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to Suggest a Review?<\/strong> Please email your ideas to me, and I\u2019ll consider them for a future Linux Picks and Pans column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And use the Reader Comments feature below to provide your input!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you have yet to try the developing Budgie desktop, the latest release of Ubuntu Budgie is a perfect opportunity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10,13],"tags":[19,21,56,80,86,92],"class_list":["post-9","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-international","category-technology","tag-better-remix","tag-budgie","tag-it","tag-technology","tag-ubuntu","tag-whistles-up"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/capixabamix.com.br\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The Budgie desktop lacks the glitz and glitter found in more seasoned desktop environments. Animation is nonexistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is there a Linux software application or distro you\u2019d like to suggest for review? Something you love or would like to get to know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n