11

To make my question as simple as possible, I'll start with showing my desktop, so that I don't need to describe everything in words:

Basically this is how I have been using Ubuntu 10.04 since it's been released: all ubuntu/gnome panels erased and only AWN (Awant Window Navigator) running on the left side of the screen.

How possible is it to get as close to this look as possible in Ubuntu 11.10 without downgrading to gnome 2?

Possible solutions I can roughly think of, but am not sure how to accomplish them:

1) Use Unity interface, hide the Unity launcher and try to get used to the necessary top panel (I don't think that can be erased, or can it?)

2) Use Gnome interface and somehow erase all the panels/launchers?

Uri Herrera
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Frantisek
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6 Answers6

3

enter image description here

Well almost - once this bug is resolved then the top pesky nautilus menu-bar will disappear!

How to...

  1. Some prerequisites - install gnome-session-fallback & avant-window-navigator.
  2. Logout and login with the new session "gnome classic"
  3. start awn-settings and configure awn as you need to - ensure you tick the box to start awn automatically.
  4. Run gnome-session-properties and add a new item compiz --replace
  5. Edit /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-classic.session and remove "gnome-panel"
  6. Edit /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-fallback.session and remove "gnome-panel"
  7. Logout and login
fossfreedom
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    how safe is it to use gnome-session-fallback? will it be maintained and supported properly? the fallback part sounds like it's kind of a "temporary, weak solution" – Frantisek Sep 19 '11 at 19:43
  • Its as safe as the gnome 3 guys support it... its the standard fallback session for computers that cannot support the full gnome 3 session. So very similar as the "unity 2d" fallback for standard Unity. – fossfreedom Sep 19 '11 at 20:17
  • Thanks, this really looks like the best solution, so I've accepted your answer, but could you please further explain what do the steps 4, 5 and 6 do? I think I understand the steps 5 and 6, but I'm not getting the step 4. Thanks! – Frantisek Oct 10 '11 at 00:47
  • When you remove the panels - compiz stops running... therefore, using compiz --replace just gets compiz to startup correctly. 5 & 6 just stops gnome-panel being started on logon. – fossfreedom Oct 10 '11 at 20:30
1

RiMMER, your desktop screenshot looks almost exactly like Unity except for a missing top-panel.

To change the default Unity to something more similar to your screenshot first install CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM). Click the "Ubuntu Unity Plugin" button.

  • under the BEHAVIOR tab, find where it says "Hide Launcher" and change the setting to "Never."

  • under the EXPERIMENTAL tab, find where it says "Launcher icon size" and shrink the icon size to a size of your choosing.

  • to my knowledge it is not possible to "delete" the top-panel so I suggest you just learn to live with it. It is non-intrusive, not very big, and actively participates in application functions (e.g., application menus and maximized-window-controls).

Rinzwind
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Chad--24216
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  • It may look similar, but it doesn't behave the same. AWN is not nearly as dictatorial as Unity as far as configuration goes. You can put it anywhere, and even have multiple panels if you want. I use it with Gnome Classic and Compiz, and like it much better. – Marty Fried Mar 03 '12 at 21:41
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I really dislike the new gnome user interface. I love the old classic look and feel so I went back with the help of the following question:

Then I alt + right clik each of the panel (top, right and bottom) and set their properties to autohide and once more my mind is at ease. Thus far, no errors and desktop makes sense again.

Community
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Sean
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0

You cannot remove the Unity Bars (you can in Unity 2D, but I wouldn't advise that). Your best bet is to install GNOME 3 and remove the panels, or create your own custom session.

To use GNOME 3, choose GNOME Classic from the login screen (not GNOME Shell) and alt+right click on the panels to get the regular menu (for editing).

RolandiXor
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  • Any idea how can I do that? I tried installing gnome shell and I couldn't find out how to erase all the panels to have only a clean desktop. – Frantisek Sep 19 '11 at 13:56
  • @RiMMER: Use GNOME Classic. GNOME Shell will be the same deal as Unity. – RolandiXor Sep 19 '11 at 13:59
  • Except that Gnome Classic cannot be run in 11.10. They have a similar looking replacement though, but it doesn't work the same way. – Jo-Erlend Schinstad Sep 19 '11 at 18:43
  • @Jo-ErlendSchinstad: that is not completely true. The new GNOME Classic is the same GNOME-Panel etc, just that they have had some changes. It is the same desktop environment with the same applications. – RolandiXor Sep 19 '11 at 20:24
  • No, Gnome Panel 3 is not the same as Gnome Panel 2. It cannot use traditional Gnome Panel Applets, for instance. At least it couldn't the last time I tried it. Has it changed recently? – Jo-Erlend Schinstad Sep 20 '11 at 16:47
  • @Jo-ErlendSchinstad: you cannot use them because some of them needed to be ported to new technologies. However, it is the same GNOME-Panel. What happened is that many of the old applets still use Bonobo, which has been on the chopping block for several releases of GNOME2, but did not get a complete drop until now. – RolandiXor Sep 20 '11 at 17:16
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    @Jo-Erlend Schinstad: Gnome Classic acts a hell of a lot more like Gnome 2 than the XFCE you often recommend. It has the same sort of UI, many of the same standard applets, etc. – Marty Fried Mar 03 '12 at 21:45
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You could add insights to this bug that is very related to the top panel issue. https://bugs.launchpad.net/unity/+bug/853865 Don't forget to press "affects me too"

alex
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0

You might also try installing xubuntu, install AWN and finally removing the XFCE panels. You will get something that nicely matches your desired end state with little effort.... you could do the same with lubuntu but personally I find Lubuntu's font rendering unacceptably poor.

Perhaps the nicest approach though is to use Gnome Classic... disable Unity Menu from with CCSM and the set AWN or Docky or Cairo Dock or similar or pick up the desktop UI load. Great font rendering, Nautilus Desktop plus....all work nicely.

ManyRoads
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