Is it possible to make Cinnamon look like GNOME 2?

[Kyowash]

I would like to make Cinnamon look like GNOME 2 / MATE, having two panels and the "Applications", "Places" and "System" menus. Like this:


I know the best way would be to install MATE, but I don't want to reinstall Mint again just in case I don't get used to the change I can revert it easily. I also know there's a way to add more panels and to move the icons, but I'm not familiar with the panel editor and how to have three separated menus. Is it possible?
Here's my system information:

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System:    Host: linux-mint Kernel: 4.4.0-139-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   Mobo: Gigabyte model: H81M-S2H v: x.x
           Bios: American Megatrends v: F2 date: 08/11/2015
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i5-4460 (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 25542
           clock speeds: max: 3400 MHz 1: 1898 MHz 2: 1987 MHz 3: 1811 MHz
           4: 1833 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Card-2: NVIDIA GF119 [GeForce GT 610] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nvidia,intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1366x768@59.79hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 610/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Card-3 NVIDIA GF119 HDMI Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-139-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 2000.4GB (6.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_DT01ACA1 size: 1000.2GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST1000DM003 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 914G used: 123G (15%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb5
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.06GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb1
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C gpu: 0.0:47C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 200 Uptime: 56 min Memory: 1227.0/7882.2MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 

Thanks in advance.

[smurphos]

Sort of...

Adding the top panel. Right click on an existing panel and select Modify panels > Add panel or open Panels in the menu and select Add panel > to add a 2nd panel. The GUI will ask you how where to place it.

For a places menu you can use https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/128 (download via the Applets settings module) or https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/5 or https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/52 and optionally hide places in the configuration options of the menu applet (right click on the applet and click configure to access).

This might work to create a sort of systems menu applet - https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/applets/view/113 - But you won't be able to hide the Administration / Preferences sections from the main menu. Of course you could use this applet to make a custom menu for applications as well and remove the main menu entirely. Unfortunately it's not very user friendly.

[gm10]

You can also

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apt install mint-meta-mate

and switch to MATE at the login screen, no need to reinstall.

PS: To get the layout you want, run

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apt install mate-tweak

then run MATE Tweak from the menu and select the pre-defined GNOME 2 panel layout. After that right-click your panel and select to reset it.

[Kyowash]

You can also

Code: Select all

apt install mint-meta-mate

and switch to MATE at the login screen, no need to reinstall.

PS: To get the layout you want, run

Code: Select all

apt install mate-tweak

then run MATE Tweak from the menu and select the pre-defined GNOME 2 panel layout. After that right-click your panel and select to reset it.

Well, I always thought that mixing desktop environments is a bad practice. Pjotr's site says:

Using different desktops on the same system, can lead to strange problems and errors. Installing another desktop can change system files and dependencies, alter default system and application settings and create incompatibilities.

[gm10]

It works well enough, although a clean MATE install would indeed be best, but you ruled that out. You can remove CInnamon once you're happy with MATE. Or you stick to Cinnamon and try ti emulate MATE as per smurphos' suggestions. Up to you.

[gjs]

You can also

Code: Select all

apt install mint-meta-mate

and switch to MATE at the login screen, no need to reinstall.

PS: To get the layout you want, run

Code: Select all

apt install mate-tweak

then run MATE Tweak from the menu and select the pre-defined GNOME 2 panel layout. After that right-click your panel and select to reset it.

Thanks! This was exactly what I needed. Would have been nice to find this information on the main mint site though.