Updates - go to [ System / Administration / Update Manager ] and
click on the [Settings] button. In there, you'll see several tabs.

Under 'Ubuntu Software' check the top 4 items.

Under 'Other Software' check the top one, Lucid Partner if using 10.04
or whatever is relevant to the Ubuntu version being used.

Under 'Updates' check top two in Ubuntu Updates, select check for
updates daily, select 'LTS only' in Release Upgrade.

Then click on 'Close' and the repositories will be refreshed / give
you what updates you currently need and do the same every day from now
on.

Re: Unity - having used it a little I like the simplicity and the very
good search function but it's not as flexible as I'd like. Apparently
this is being resolved in 11.10 so we'll see what happens there. As
has been mentioned, you can always elect to use the standard Gnome GUI
in 11.04 - though I understand that isn't going to be the case with
11.10, again remains to be seen what the overall look will be when
11.10 arrives. In the meantime there's nothing wrong with staying with
10.04LTS - that's what these long term support releases are for, you
don't *have* to be cutting edge if you don't want to be :-)

Re: Wanting to use the PC as *you* want - Ubuntu is very configurable
though that's taken a back seat with 11.04 whilst the Unity GUI is
honed. Again, stick with 10.04LTS for now if you want flexibility in
how your Ubuntu works.

PS - I see no reason that the good points of other OS's cannot be
incorporated and don't look on that as 'selling out'. If it helps
otherwise reluctant users to take the plunge and try Ubuntu then all
the better in the long run, and I suspect that's the reason for the
Unity direction being taken. Currently this has upset the advanced
user as it restricts them but as has been mentioned, that is being
addressed so it's case of wait and see what Mr Shuttleworth has up his
sleeve