you can just install gnome-do on Xubuntu and you'll have the same search based workflow in the interface you're used to and the Ubuntu base below.
I TRIED to like Ubuntu's Unity, but the fact that I can't either: (a) right click things like panels and choose 'configure' or 'properties' and adjust everything to my liking [the Windows way, that I still prefer] or (b) have a goddamn' config/settings center where I can actually adjust the UI settings I care of [the KDE and Xfce way that works...] ...I mean, I still don't know how to disable window grouping for the damn "taskbar"
Yes, that's fine and all, but Xubuntu no longer (for me) has the lightweight advantage that it once had over Ubuntu and I have seen (again, personally) significant performance gains from Ubuntu OVER Xubuntu. Once you have to start installing GTK and KDE toolkits just to be productive on Xubuntu, it becomes quite heavy.
I TRIED to like Ubuntu's Unity, but the fact that I can't either: (a) right click things like panels and choose 'configure' or 'properties' and adjust everything to my liking [the Windows way, that I still prefer] or (b) have a goddamn' config/settings center where I can actually adjust the UI settings I care of [the KDE and Xfce way that works...] ...I mean, I still don't know how to disable window grouping for the damn "taskbar"