Now that the beta version of Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) is out, I took it for a test spin. Unity didn’t even load because I don’t have 3D graphics. I was hoping that it would so I could give it a spin. However I did discover that it is pretty easy to switch back to the Gnome desktop. You do this while logging in.
On the right you will see the login page. On the bottom there is a scroll bar that lets you select Ubuntu Classic. In the Alpha version it was called Ubuntu Classic Edition. This will take you to the usual two panel Gnome desktop that you are used to.
There are currently a ton of bugs in this beta version. I had a number of crashes, so I don’t recommend installing it on your system. Maybe its just me, but there seems to be more bugs that usual.
Now I should warn you that the top panel acted differently than it normally did, at lease in the beta version. If you open a file the title bar appears in the panel (that’s the File > Edit > View > Search, etc. Just right click and remove it from the desktop. You will also notice that the usual Applications > Places > System is missing (at least in the beta version). You can add that by right clicking, choose Add to Panel, and select Menu bar: a custom menu.
Oh ya, you will want to remove the menu bar that is provided.
