you can just install gnome-do on Xubuntu and you'll have the same search based workflow in the interface you're used to and the Ubuntu base below.

I TRIED to like Ubuntu's Unity, but the fact that I can't either: (a) right click things like panels and choose 'configure' or 'properties' and adjust everything to my liking [the Windows way, that I still prefer] or (b) have a goddamn' config/settings center where I can actually adjust the UI settings I care of [the KDE and Xfce way that works...] ...I mean, I still don't know how to disable window grouping for the damn "taskbar"