Comment 2 for bug 733448

This is even more confusing when you use only slide effect (no fade): the launcher goes in and out depending on where I put the cursor, and the behavior is very unintuitive. I think simplicity should help here: when you hover the ubuntu button (or the rectangular area around it), then the launcher should entirely pop and stay still until the cursor exits that area and the launcher itself. To reconcile with accidental showing of the launcher (e.g. when trying to close a maximized window), there should be no delay before hiding, so that everything is much snappier and natural.