I've read a lot about Elementary OS. It seems like a potential alternative to Ubuntu and many other Linux desktop distros. It looks beautiful and works smoothly, many say so.
After having checked a lot of videos and screenshots of different versions of Elementary OS, I've noticed something unclear when it comes to window title bar buttons (Close, maximize/restore down and minimize). For example on Ubuntu, the buttons are simple and they are placed on the left, same goes for OS X. I would like to know whether it is possible to have those buttons in the latest version of Elementary OS (0.4.0 "Loki") work and look just at least like in Ubuntu 16.10? And what configuration options for these buttons exist in Elementary OS, if there are any themes and styles to choose between?
It looks odd in some screenshots where there is only "x" ("close window" I suppose) button on the left side of a window title bar and another button which looks like "maximize" is placed on the opposite side, all the way to the right side of the window title bar like in this screenshot: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T0vMLRwbxsA/VcPhaVq3vZI/AAAAAAAAKOA/tN_CGHG0MIg/s1600/email.png
I am not sure, but I think that I saw more OS X like window title bar buttons in older versions of Elementary OS (some screenshots on the net) or custom themes like http://gamblisfx.com/elementary-lion-1-1-theme-make-elementary-os-like-mac-os-x/ . No idea where "minimize" button exist in the latest version of Elementary OS. Using right mouse button on the window title bar and choosing "minimize" every time would be totally unpractical.
And what themes can possibly restore such simple close, maximize/restore down and minimize buttons from Ubuntu or OS X in Elementary OS?
NOTE: I am unable to install and test Elementary OS or any other operating system at the moment, so I decided to ask you this first. Sooner or later I am going to run it on a laptop.
I am basically looking for the right Linux distro which would be compatible with a large number of commonly used programs and also look/to make it look similar to older versions of Ubuntu before Unity and GNOME 3, something like OS X would be perfect. Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu, right? In my case wouldn't it be better to customize Ubuntu or any other well compatible Linux, Unix-like OS and make it look similar to OS X while keeping security, compatibility and functionality? Or will Elementary OS be enough?
Thank you very much for specific and detailed answers with explanation, any help and advice.