DoctorWho,
если вы хотите простого решения - хотя бы временно: используйте lxpanel - она конфигурируется "графически" и много не потянет. еще, как вариант, панель тинт и рядом lxpanel (уменьшенная до значка меню, и естественно все кроме меню убрать).
Пробовать другие панели.
Вот вам для затравки мой конфиг tint2
# Tint2 config file
# Generated by tintwizard (http://code.google.com/p/tintwizard/)
# For information on manually configuring tint2 see http://code.google.com/p/tint2/wiki/Configure
# To use this as default tint2 config: save as $HOME/.config/tint2/tint2rc
# Background definitions
# ID 1
rounded = 2
border_width = 3
background_color = #FFFFFF 0
border_color = #FFFd00 80
# ID 2
rounded = 2
border_width = 3
background_color = #808080 80
border_color = #808080 80
# ID 3
rounded = 2
border_width = 3
background_color = #FFFFFF 0
border_color = #C523CE 60
# ID 4
rounded = 3
border_width = 1
background_color = #3C3C3C 40
border_color = #FFFFFF 20
# ID 5
rounded = 0
border_width = 1
background_color = #3C3C3C 100
border_color = #3C3C3C 100
# Panel
panel_monitor = all
panel_position = bottom center horizontal
panel_size = 98% 36
panel_margin = 0 0
panel_padding = 2 2 3
panel_dock = 0
wm_menu = 1
panel_layer = top
panel_background_id = 0
panel_items = LTSBC
# Panel Autohide
autohide = 0
autohide_show_timeout = 0.0
autohide_hide_timeout = 0.0
autohide_height = 2
strut_policy = follow_size
# Taskbar
taskbar_mode = multi_desktop
taskbar_padding = 0 0 0
taskbar_background_id = 1
taskbar_active_background_id = 4
# Tasks
urgent_nb_of_blink = 7
task_icon = 1
task_text = 0
task_centered = 0
task_maximum_size = 34 34
task_padding = 2 2
task_background_id = 4
task_active_background_id = 1
task_urgent_background_id = 1
task_iconified_background_id = 0
# Task Icons
task_icon_asb = 36 0 0
task_active_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_urgent_icon_asb = 100 0 0
task_iconified_icon_asb = 36 0 0
# Fonts
task_font = Sans 10
task_font_color = #FFFFFF 60
task_active_font_color = #FFFFFF 80
task_urgent_font_color = #FFFFFF 100
task_iconified_font_color = #FFFFFF 100
font_shadow = 0
# System Tray
systray = 1
systray_padding = 4 4 3
systray_sort = ascending
systray_background_id = 1
systray_icon_size = 0
systray_icon_asb = 80 0 0
# Launcher
launcher_icon_theme = lubuntu
launcher_padding = 4 2 2
launcher_background_id = 1
launcher_icon_size = 24
launcher_item_app = /usr/share/applications/chromium-browser.desktop
launcher_item_app = /usr/share/applications/lxterminal.desktop
launcher_item_app = /usr/share/applications/pidgin.desktop
launcher_item_app = /usr/share/applications/libreoffice.desktop
launcher_item_app = /usr/share/applications/pcmanfm.desktop
# Clock
time1_format = %H:%M %a %d
time1_font = Sans 16
#time2_format = %a %d %b %Y
#time2_font = Sans 10
clock_font_color = #FFFd00 70
clock_padding = 0 0
clock_background_id = 1
# Tooltips
tooltip = 1
tooltip_padding = 2 2
tooltip_show_timeout = 0.3
tooltip_hide_timeout = 0.3
tooltip_background_id = 5
tooltip_font = Sans 8
tooltip_font_color = #E6E6E6 100
# Mouse
mouse_middle = close
mouse_right = menu
mouse_scroll_up = toggle
mouse_scroll_down = iconify
# End of config
Лаунчеры будут работать только при наличии установленных - lxterminal, chromium, pidgin, libreoffice, pcmanfm
конфиг в скрытой папке ~/.config/tint2/tint2rc