hmmm yes i can also say that the new layout takes some time to get use to, i cannot say if it is worse then before since i just got it.

Anybody here know if it's possible to get the panel in to bottom, i always have my panel setup like it was in XP, in the bottom, gnome menu, and window list

The new side "windows list" is not bad, it just takes getting used to, i will say that this new layout looks more like our smartphones layout, and thats not bad for the future, i really look forward to the day where i have a device like the N900, just bigger screen and running pure ubuntu, pref on a x64 system so no porting is necessary for win games (wine)