Why Does Ubuntu have this in two places?

[TAspr]

At the top, it has a "shortcuts" version to the apps, but also on the launcher, it has an "applications" link. Both show the same thing. Is there a way to get rid of the top one?

[Mark_in_Hollywood]

If you mean the tiny icons in what in Ubuntu & Linux is called the "Panel" then yes.

Put your mouse on the icon you want removed, right click and select "remove from panel".

You can remove the panel as well, but I'm not the person to post about that.

[kaldor]

If talking about the new Unity UI, no.