With netbook-launcher:
** (process:3081): DEBUG: OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel? GM45 Express Chipset GEM 20100330 DEVELOPMENT x86/MMX/SSE2
(netbook-launcher:3081): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Low graphics mode: True
(netbook-launcher:3081): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Font dpi: 96.000000
(netbook-launcher:3081): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Font changed: Sans 10
(netbook-launcher:3081): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Connecting to ConsoleKit for suspend/resume restarting
(netbook-launcher:3081): liblauncher-DEBUG: launcher-menu.c:361
ORPHAN: Ubuntu Software Center
(netbook-launcher:3081): liblauncher-DEBUG: Workarea: (0, 24) (0, 23)
** (netbook-launcher:3081): DEBUG: Not loading modules: Error opening directory '/usr/lib/netbook-launcher/plugins': No such file or directory
With sudo netbook-Launcher:
** (process:3599): DEBUG: OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel? GM45 Express Chipset GEM 20100330 DEVELOPMENT x86/MMX/SSE2
** (netbook-launcher:3599): DEBUG: Created local applications directory at /root/.local/share/applications
** (netbook-launcher:3599): DEBUG: Created local applications directory at /root/.config/netbook-launcher/cache
** (netbook-launcher:3599): DEBUG: Created local icons directory at /root/.config/netbook-launcher/icons
(netbook-launcher:3599): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Low graphics mode: False
(netbook-launcher:3599): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Font dpi: 96.000000
(netbook-launcher:3599): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Font changed: Sans 10
(netbook-launcher:3599): libnetbook-launcher-DEBUG: CONFIG: Connecting to ConsoleKit for suspend/resume restarting
(netbook-launcher:3599): liblauncher-DEBUG: launcher-menu.c:361
ORPHAN: Ubuntu Software Center
(netbook-launcher:3599): liblauncher-DEBUG: Workarea: (0, 24) (0, 23)
** (netbook-launcher:3599): DEBUG: Not loading modules: Error opening directory '/usr/lib/netbook-launcher/plugins': No such file or directory
Thanks for your interest in Ubuntu and help to make it better.
Can you please try to launch gnome-shell or other clutter-based application (gnome-shell --replace in a GNOME session) to confirm that the issue comes from clutter and not netbook-launcher?