[keithpeter]

I think you are being downvoted because of tone rather than fact.

Facts: Ubuntu desktop releases are available in a variety of 'flavours' including Lubuntu, Xubuntu and Gnome Ubuntu. The Kubuntu release has external sponsorship from Blue Systems. There is also UbuntuStudio that packages a lot of music/sound/graphics/video applications with a slightly remodelled XFCE4 UI. LTS status is limited to 3 years for the 'flavours' as opposed to 5 years for the Unity based Ubuntu, still one year overlap with the next LTS.

You can, as go8z says, install a range of desktop sessions on stock Ubuntu, but you do end up with a certain amount of duplication e.g. power manager, mousepad/Abiword and gedit/LibreOffice &c.

Plenty of choice so we can get our work done. It is all here...

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/

[abhinavk]

Kubuntu and Ubuntu Studio also get 5 years of support.

[keithpeter]

Excellent news, thanks, especially for UbuntuStudio. I haven't been following the detail.