Some ideas...

1. Use Google.co.uk - it has the old UI at the moment

2. Write your own optimized front-end web page and put it wherever you want and have it submit to Google (simple and effective)

3. Use GreaseMonkey to change the layout

[)amien

I wonder if they are testing something.  The original layout is still there for me.  

You can also just set your preferences for 100 results.

www.google.com/preferences

If you're logged into a Google account, it saves it to your profile.  If not, it saves it as long as you keep the cookie.

hmm, I just type in the results, hit tab once and it is on the # of results drop down, seems easier now than what you are saying. I am using firefox

Tip from a SlickRun junkie:

Here is how I do all of my googling:

Win + Q > "g joeydotnet"

This automatically opens up a new FF tab for me with the results.

Why is this powerful?  'Cause my "g" slickrun keyword is set up as follows...

URL: www.google.com/search$W$&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&ft=i&num=100&lr=&as_filetype=&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

1. Notice the $W$ which plugs in whatever you type after the "g"

2. Notice the num=100 which gives me back the first 100 results

Anyway, I find this much faster than opening the browser, tabbing to the google toolbar and searching.

Couldn't help laugh a bit about this:

"....hit tab, arrow down to 100 and then hit enter.  I could do all of this without the need for a keyboard."

Fancy stuff having Tab, Arrow down and Enter but not on your keyboard, is it a new type of mouse :-)

@Derik, read Jakob's comment again. This time slowly and calm. I was about to make the same comment myself ;)