If you don't like other components of Unity interface like the launcher on left, lenses, dash etc, there is a way to disable them and use a custom dock. This can be done by making a custom session for Ubuntu that loads Unity-2D panel.

Next we need a dock/launcher to manage our open windows. Install Docky from Ubuntu Software Center or Plank from this PPA





Plank can be configured by editing ~/.config/plank/dock1/settings file. Cardapio menu can be added to docky by installing cardapio-docky package (enable cardapio helper from docky options).





Unity 2D in Ubuntu behaves a bit differently than Unity 3D. The top panel and the actual Unity shell are separate components in Unity 2D while they are considered same in Unity 3D. By loading only unity 2D panel in a custom session, we can remove Unity shell for good. The only disadvantage will be that you will loose HUD functionality.To make a custom session, we need to create two files, onefile to launch our session and onefile to define our gnome session.Create a text file and name itor anything else while keepingextension. Paste the following lines into it:Save the file and copy it toNow create another text file. Name itor anything else you want (keepextension). Paste the following lines into it.Thecommand above should match thefile name. In this case itsSave the file and copy it toNow logout and pick your new session. Once logged in, you will see Unity 2D panel on top without Unity Shell.There are few things we need to do to make this session usable. Firstly we need a menu to find and launch applications. To do that installoror. Cardapio can be launched by hitting Super+Space key and to configure it, right click anywhere on the window.All set, just couple of more things. We need to enable composting for our session (required for docky and desktop notifications). To do that, first install gconf editor by running command below:Launch it from terminal by running command. Go toand enableas shown in screenshot below:In case you see bad tooltips and other effects, disableas well. You can also do these actions by running commands below:Lastly, if you are seeing maximized window titlebar on both unity panel and window itself, disableinin gconf editor. This can also be done by running the command below: