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[[Image:ubuntu_11_live_classic.jpg|The classic GNOME desktop running on Ubuntu 11]]
In order to experience many of the benefits of the Unity desktop environment on systems lacking appropriate display hardware, it is possible to install the Unity 2D desktop. Unity 2D provides much of the same functionality as Unity but without some of the more advanced visual effects. Details on and how to test your system for compatibility with Unity and installing the Unity 2D environment are covered in the chapter entitled [[Performing a Clean Ubuntu 11.04 Installation]].
There are a few minor downsides to using the live image booted from a CDROM as opposed to a USB flash drive. The first is that performance will be slow if using a CDROM. This is because Ubuntu needs to load software from the CD drive which is orders of magnitude slower than a hard disk drive (though the USB flash drive option should be fast). Secondly, any files you may create or any changes you make to the system during a live session will be lost when the system shuts down or reboots. One advantage of this, however, is that you also can't break anything, so feel free to experiment as much as you like.
