Is there a Unity alternative?

Question

I've been using natty since it came out now. I'm a developer and unity doesn't fit my workflow.

I figured out how to disable unity (from the login screen) a week ago, but everything seems to be working only halfway on my desktop now, the notification area doesn't work correctly anymore, my sound-control has gone, I don't have control over the horrible shadows around the windows with ambiance or radiance on, under other things.

I'm considering to downgrade to 10.10 LTS - but first I wanted to ask here if there's some kind of alternative (maybe not official) build of ubuntu natty - with the old desktop configuration.

there are many questions on this site regarding this topic. All you need to do is switch to Ubuntu Classic from your login screen. — RolandiXor, May 18 '11 at 19:50
possible duplicate of How do I switch to the Classic GNOME Desktop? — RolandiXor, May 18 '11 at 19:52

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered May 17 '11 at 17:20

9

With both Gnome 3 and Unity interfaces the current & possibly future directions of the newer linux distros, my advise would be not to look backwards, but to consider alternative desktop interfaces.

XFCE is such an example, with many of the application indicators you previously have used.

enter image description here

You can either try a brand new install of Xubuntu - or just search for XFCE meta package in the software center and install the desktop.

enter image description here Logout and choose the XFCE session.

answered May 17 '11 at 17:20

fossfreedom

172,746

kubuntu is another option, using KDE as the desktop instead of XFCE. You can search for and install it in the same way as XFCE. – ImaginaryRobots May 18 '11 at 18:40

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered May 17 '11 at 17:12

5

The Old desktop configuration is already in Natty : Ubuntu Classic Desktop You can easily switch to it.

enter image description here

answered May 17 '11 at 17:12

Binarylife

16,442

1

binarylife - the OP mentioned in his question that this is what he has already done... – fossfreedom May 17 '11 at 17:45
@fossfreedom: He is simply considering to downgrade to 10.10 , and he wants the old desktop configurations , as I know; the usual desktop that we used to had is in 10.10 and old versions. – Binarylife May 17 '11 at 17:52
From the OP - "I figured out how to disable unity (from the login screen) a week ago..." – Shauna May 17 '11 at 19:56
Ohh I see, I didn't notice this. :) – Binarylife May 17 '11 at 20:00

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

1

There is Unity 2D: https://launchpad.net/unity-2d

it is nearly as good as Unity but eats much less resources:

How do I install and switch to the Unity 2D desktop?

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

Community

1

answered May 18 '11 at 13:41

merinid

71

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 17 '11 at 20:41

0

You could try and manually add/remove the gnome-toolbar elements (like main menu,indicator-applet). I cannot tell you the english names of the panel elements because of my german locale, but there seems to be the "complete indicator applet" as well as session- and meMenu elements).

Together with whitelisting all indicator icons you'd have a pretty much pre 11.04 panel.

answered May 17 '11 at 20:41

marto

1,391

As for window-shadows: there are options to tweak windowdecorations including dropshadows in compizconfig-settings-manager. – marto May 17 '11 at 20:45

Is there a Unity alternative?

4 Answers4