Tips:Customize the Gnome desktop panel Ubuntu

The default Ubuntu desktop is configured with two "panels", one each at the top and bottom of the desktop. These ubuntu panels contain various "applets" such as the system menu, the clock, the logout button, or the list of open applications (what Windows calls the taskbar). Fortunately, unlike Windows, the desktop's panels can be fully customized. This tip describes some of the common operations you might perform to customize the appearance and functionality of your desktop panels.
Add a new "applet": New features can be added to your panel by right clicking on an empty area of the panel, and choosing "Add to Panel" in the resulting popup menu. A new utility window will appear, allowing you to select from all the features available. Note, the same "applet" can be added multiple times if needed.
Removing applets: All panel applets can be removed by right clicking on them, and choosing "Remove from Panel". You can remove everything so that you only have empty panels left.
Rearrange applets: All applets can also be placed wherever the user pleases, a feature not found on either Windows or Mac OS X. To "move" an applet, first check that it is not "locked" to it's position. This can be done by right clicking on the applet and ensuring that the "Lock to Panel" checkbox is unchecked.

There are two ways to actually position an unlocked applet. The first is to use the same right-click menu and choose "Move". The mouse cursor will change to indicate that you are now to move your mouse to the desired position for the applet. Move your mouse to where you want the applet located, and then click the left mouse button to place it. The second way to perform the move is to drag and drop with with the middle mouse button (on many modern mice, this means pressing the scroll wheel in, down towards the surface).

Note that applets can be moved from one panel to another. Just move your mouse to the other panel during the move operation.
Create or destroy entire panels: Entire panels can be removed altogether. Just right click on an empty part of the panel and choose "Delete this panel". Likewise, from the same menu, a new panel can be created by choosing the "New Panel" option in the same menu.
Moving a panel: An entire panel itself can be moved to different corners of the screen (or on to a different screen if you have a multiple screen configuration). Just use the left mouse button to drag and drop a panel to a new position (start the drag in an empty part of the panel).
Advanced options: Each panel can has more advanced settings which can be accessed by right clicking on an empty space in the panel, and choosing "Properties".