If, like me, you never use button mode you can set the location to text mode permenantly via the gconf editor. The easiest way to do this is to ALT+F2, type in gconf-editor and hit Run.In the configuration editor go to apps > nautilus > preferences then tick check always_use_locaion_entry. With that checked you’ll permenantly have the text based location bar.
via Text-based location address bar Ubuntu Lucid Lynx | Daniel Gibbs Journal.