[01:15] <Test_> Question.  why would the desktop show applications on the left side and another time I boot the desktop applications are a pull down menu
[01:17] <Test_> anyone have a reason?
[01:20] <ChinnoDog> Test_: Did you change your video card or video driver configuration?
[01:21] <Test_> No on video card change
[01:22] <ChinnoDog> I'm assuming we are talking about the difference between runnning Unity and running the classic gnome desktop here
[01:22] <Test_> The problem I have is a application wont work on the pull down menu
[01:22] <ChinnoDog> Unity won't run if a) the video card won't support or be) you selected the classic desktop at login
[01:22] <ChinnoDog> What doesn't work about it?
[01:23] <Test_> I think I running gnome
[01:24] <JonathanD> hi ChinnoDog
[01:24] <ChinnoDog> There shouldn't be any functional differences whether running Unity or not.
[01:24] <ChinnoDog> (aside from the obvious operation of the task bark and some desktop elements)
[01:24] <Test_>  Application is DraftSight.  everything shows up in the graphic window but non-functionable
[01:25] <ChinnoDog> oh. It is CAD software. The reason you ended up at the classic desktop is probably also the reason Unity isn't running. Your 3D acceleration is broken
[01:25] <ChinnoDog> What kind of video card do you have?
[01:26] <ChinnoDog> oops, I mean the reason you aren't running unity is the reason DraftSight doesn't work
[01:26] <Test_> The change in the desktop is kind of random.  some times its the pull down and othertimes it shows apps on the right side
[01:27] <ChinnoDog> You have an intermittent problem but it probably starts at your video card
[01:27] <ChinnoDog> Or the driver
[01:27] <ChinnoDog> What kind of card do you have?
[01:28] <Test_> let me check on the card
[01:29] <ChinnoDog> just run lspci
[01:30] <Test_> I'm using a mac for Ichat--Ubuntu is on a pc
[01:31] <Test_> how do I run lspci?
[01:31] <ChinnoDog> Run it in a terminal
[01:31] <ChinnoDog> Terminal is on your menu somewhere
[01:31] <Test_> ok
[01:32] <ChinnoDog> It will dump out the identifier strings for all your PCI devices including your video card
[01:36] <ChinnoDog> I need a shower. Once you are in terminal you can also try: glxinfo | grep 'vendor'
[01:36] <ChinnoDog> That will show what 3D acceleration library is in use
[01:36] <ChinnoDog> I'll be back
[01:38] <Test_> I'm going to have to spend some time on this--as you can see I'm not good with computers
[02:09] <ChinnoDog> gone...
[21:05]  * ChinnoDog yawns