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All new Compiz Fusion Window Switcher: Stackswitch! watch!

fusioncast.blogspot.com — An episode of FusionCast where we look at an entirely new plugin, Stackswitch, made by Onestone. Excellently designed plugin! Enjoy!

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  • ptFoe, on 06/19/2008, -8/+65Sweet hopefully this will reach the digg front page before Microsoft decides to apply for a patent in Texas.
    • jupr05, on 06/20/2008, -2/+23Microsoft couldn't even get Aero to do something cool
  • Vinvin, on 06/19/2008, -1/+16Nice! :)
    • Schmich, on 06/21/2008, -0/+2Yeh would also be nice if a new type of input could come along as things like these get more adopted in the computer world (something to add to the keyboard/mouse). As much as the mouse is like a part of the body for the average digger it would be nice to get some type of input like in Minority Report. Touchscreen is too expensive and you have to move the hand so far so that the mouse is actually faster.

      As soon as you work with multiple windows and don't have a very large screen(s) place you're slowed by quite a lot. Even though I would say I'm good at multi-tasking I know there are better ways to do it. The type of software/plugin we see here along with another type of input would be awesome. Before, you had to wait for the hardware as it was so slow. Today you have to wait due to multi-tasking being limited with just the mouse and keyboard. Software is getting more user-friendly andd faster to use but inputs are still the same. Your thoughts on what needs to be done (when using the computer) are there a long time before they are actually 'executed'.
  • DreadKnight, on 06/19/2008, -1/+16I wish for a kwin-kde4 plugin like this :-)
    Would definitely use it as default!

    Hope you can use mouse to select window when in alt-tab as well. I feel like it sort of conflicts/overlaps with the avant window navigator; would be cool to have this activated from a hot spot on the screen (like a corner or edge of a certain desktop/monitor).


    Cheers! :-)
    • gavintlgold, on 06/19/2008, -0/+5There are hotspots, as usual, but they only involve clicking. The mouse feature is not there (yet). I'm sure it will be added eventually.
    • YourDoom123, on 06/20/2008, -2/+1lol the plugin your describing already exists, and has existed for a really long time: scale. The only thing it's missing is that alt-tab doesn't cycle through the available windows (which is what this plugin does).
      • nmnnotmyname, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1Scale does not do the same thing as stackswitch. Pay closer attention to the way Stackswitch works.
  • gavintlgold, on 06/19/2008, -0/+10I'd actually like to see some more stuff, such as allowing more window overlap and grouping windows from the same application. Maybe even application selecting instead of just windows (I'm thinking of GIMP here)
    • Shootfast, on 06/20/2008, -0/+5There's a window grouping plugin already that works well with GIMP
      • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1I know that, but I meant for selecting... though I suppose they would work hand in hand.
    • super_spyder, on 06/20/2008, -0/+7I just wish windows/lunux allowed you to either switch windows with in one program, or programs like how apple does it. command+tab changes programs on the mac, while command+~ changes windows in that one program.
      • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1Yeah, i guess it all has to do with the mentality. On a Mac, it's one menubar per application (stays on top). Same with the Dock. On Linux, it's with any window the developer wants. So in the end, it seems to always be window-based rather than app based. I do like the way Apple does it with apps though. I don't always want to switch between lots of windows of one app. Sometimes, going from Gimp to Firefox is all I want, not from gimpwindow1 to gimpwindow2 to gimpwindow3 to firefox.
      • mossblaser, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1fvwm can do this (has been able to since the dawn of time...)

        I wouldn't be surprised if kwin didn't have support for it either.
  • KevinJim, on 06/20/2008, -3/+13This is what Linus is about, innovation ! But I'm not sure if you can use compiz with the latest KDE release ( we haven our Kwin Desktop effects but it would be sweet to have those too ).
    • sirhomer, on 06/20/2008, -0/+5You can use Compiz Fusion with KDE. It's not even difficult. Compiz isn't really Gnome specific.
    • jadrian, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3Yeap, like sirhomer said , you can use it. But will it's a pretty good composite manager, you'll notice the its window managing capabilities are miles behind KWin, so you might not be so impressed with it in practice.
  • trmanco, on 06/20/2008, -2/+7I just fell in love with this new plugin :)
  • Stonekeeper, on 06/20/2008, -0/+8It would be awesome to be able to select the window with the mouse too
    • Origin415, on 06/20/2008, -4/+3That is called expo. It spreads all the windows out, its been in compiz for a while and osx for longer.
      • thecheatah, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3You cant select a window with expo. Its for selecting desktops.
      • armo, on 06/20/2008, -0/+2I'm sure he meant scale, it's easy to get them confused as scale is called expose on mac.
        • Stonekeeper, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1So why restrict this plugin to awkward navigation? I don't get it. Surely both would be better?
  • highlymodified, on 06/20/2008, -1/+45It's like the game Guess Who with your windows!
    ...and without the token black dude :(
    • cheeseplease, on 06/20/2008, -0/+8Is he black?

      Yes.

      Alllriiiight ANDY!
  • mrblue182, on 06/20/2008, -2/+18wow... that eyecandy actually looks really useful.
    • rebug, on 06/20/2008, -6/+4That's how they get you. It *looks* useful.


      • thecheatah, on 06/20/2008, -2/+5I think my productivity depends on compiz.
        • Amiga500, on 06/22/2008, -1/+1Except that studies have shown the more you try to multi task as a person, the worse your own performance becomes. You do better when you only work on a small number of tasks at once, regardless of how large your balls feel working with 20 open windows.
  • SEANWOOKIE, on 06/20/2008, -18/+6I liked it better when it was called Exposé.
    • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -2/+6Actually, there is an expose-like plugin already, called Scale. This is an improvement.
  • Jeffler, on 06/20/2008, -15/+4Compiz is in ur computarz, stackin ur warez..
  • pickles46, on 06/20/2008, -1/+16compiz never ceases to amaze me.
  • hexydes, on 06/20/2008, -8/+48This is the type of stuff Microsoft should be doing...and they just aren't. That's what happens when you become so large and all-powerful; you're afraid to try anything new. What they *REALLY* should do is start an entire "experimental" branch of Windows; no more secretive "We're quietly working on an all new Windows X!". Screw that. Make it a public program, anyone can download the experimental OS. Build it completely from scratch, design it from the ground up. Let designers go crazy with usability and effects. Let your developers put in all sorts of tools that have never been thought of before. Roll it out into an ISO and let people install it. Release a new one every three months that people can just format and try. Once you get something that people agree is cool, move it back into the main Windows product branch. Eventually, you'll end up with something people actually like (read: not Vista).

    Of course, Microsoft is completely out of touch with reality at this point, so expect Windows 7: now with all new shiny start button!

    Good work Comiz Fusion team, like always. Great REAL innovation coming out of your efforts! =)
    • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -1/+14I completely agree with you.

      maybe MS should start reading what people write about them and their products, including end-users like you and me, not just reviews and articles.
      • EntropyFan, on 06/20/2008, -0/+6I believe they do listen.
        The problem MS has is scale. For every one person saying 'Wow, this is cool' or 'I would like to see this in the next release' there is one saying the complete opposite.

        Then there is even more of a divergence between business and consumer use and needs.

        You can't be all things to all people when you own so much of the market.
        • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1I guess you are right, most people either love/hate windows and MS.
        • hexydes, on 06/20/2008, -1/+4That's why you have public forums where people can talk about what they like and don't like. Even better, make the OS extendable so that developers can create cool tools. If the tool gets popular enough, just roll it into the next release.

          The next step would be to change their release schedule. Instead of releasing a completely new OS every five to six years, with small fixes along the way, release a mid-level upgrade once per year that includes all of the features that have been popular with the beta version of Windows. Charge $49.99 for it. Microsoft has been saying how they want to change Windows into a subscription-based model; that will never work, but this is about as close they can get to annual subscription upgrades. Then, the consumer wins (we get a better OS), and Microsoft wins (people like their product more, and they get more money).

          Or just keep piling crap onto your legacy-based system until it eventually becomes so bogged down that it collapses under its own weight. Whatever works for you, Microsoft.
    • Wolfspirittt, on 06/20/2008, -2/+12That would be called open source. Though I am an avid open source supporter.. I doubt Microsoft will ever completely switch to this model of software engineering. Sad but true. Which is why Linux and other open source projects rock. Eventually it will catch up to them. I think they felt the heat a little with Vista finally.
      • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+7hexydes didn't mean open source on this. he meant to make the developing versions public, with lots of free tools for developers and partners, never publishing the source and keeping it only to MS developers. when they feel the feedback is good enough on the public demos, move that stuff onto the paid OS.
        • hexydes, on 06/20/2008, -0/+4Exactly right boobsbr, except also including that the beta version is FREE. Hell, put it out as a torrent to save yourself bandwidth and win favor with the people most likely to use the beta, pirates.

          Microsoft has proven that it has no idea how to design a modern OS that people LIKE to use. Additionally, they're so worried about pissing people off by removing legacy support that they have to support technology from over a decade ago. This is the perfect way to force people to let go of older technology, in exchange for a more modern OS.
    • HaMMeReD, on 06/20/2008, -3/+2Microsoft would never open-source windows or start a new open source windows.

      But there is already what you said, search for ReactOS, It's the open source and free windows. (And yes it is binary compatible to a extent).

      Also, don't forget there is LINUX, which kinda obsoletes the need for another new windows.
    • computershack, on 06/20/2008, -5/+1"This is the type of stuff Microsoft should be doing..."
      Funny coming from the Linux brigade who shouted the loudest about how pointless Aero is on Vista.

      HYPOCRITES.
      • Zounas, on 06/20/2008, -1/+6Well it is pointless compared to this, isn't it?
      • mvent2, on 06/21/2008, -1/+3What kind of innovations came out of Aero?
      • neko, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1Aero brings you Flip3D, a switcher which is certainly pretty but only shows you the currently selected window plus a sliver of the top and left edges of the next windows.

        Day to day, I find myself using the Compiz Scale plugin (Expose) when I'm just mousing around looking at what windows I have open. It lays everything out smoothly and neatly, and activating it with a screen corner makes things very slick.

        When I am in a situation where I want to quickly switch between two windows without leaving the keyboard, I use my default Alt-Tab switcher. As well as showing a filmstrip of windows, it also fades all non-selected windows into the background and pulls the selected window to the top. This is great for switching between my editor and my compile window.

        Finally, if I want to impress people with eyecandy, I use Super-Tab, which I have bound to the Coverflow switcher. Very very slick, and manages to show you the full area of three windows - previous, current, and next - which is two more than Flip3D offers.

        Compiz also doesn't require the hardware that Aero does, though it can certainly benefit from it. Compiz doesn't get switched off in Reduced Functionality Mode. Compiz doesn't require you to buy the Premium Home Ultimate Business version or other marketing *****.
    • tama00, on 06/21/2008, -1/+0You could of just said, 'Microsoft should copy open sources development model because its better'.
    • CCmachined, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Wrong.
      Microsoft can't change too much, because they'll break existing apps (see Vista)
      0wned!
  • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -1/+10cool song
  • MMaster23, on 06/20/2008, -13/+2"Yeah well Vista's Aero is super heavy and will eat your batteries"

    Try Compiz's heavy ass. "Linux is always so slim and tiny" .. not with Compiz it's not.
    This goes against everything Linux is or stands for... I really see no need for stuff like this.
    • herrshuster, on 06/20/2008, -0/+12you haven't actually used compiz, have you?
    • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+9neither do I, let's go back to the command line. /bin/bash FTW!

      now, seriously, Linux is about freedom for your computer, even using eyecandy. if you don't like Compiz, uninstall it.
    • Wolfspirittt, on 06/20/2008, -0/+9They also once said they didn't have a need for the mouse, or virtual desktops, or... etc. etc. Though I agree that compiz is pretty resource intensive at times (depending on what you have turned on) it's still a hell of a lot better on resources than Aero is. Try the spaces plugin sometime.. I guarantee you will find usefulness out of it.
      • SoftwareExplore, on 06/25/2008, -0/+0The neat thing with compiz is with every feature there is a way to turn it off if you don't need it/like it.
    • chewbie, on 06/20/2008, -2/+3then you can choose to not use it! that's the power of linux. Customizing it in every possible way you wish.
    • sqrt7744, on 06/20/2008, -0/+6Compiz is heavy? Odd, it runs on my 6 year old Toshiba laptop with no problems - Aero would *never* run on that machine.
  • Myztry, on 06/20/2008, -6/+2That's excellent.
    Someone needs to patent this to only allow free use for Operating Systems < 50% market share.
    The 'Master Thief" is going to want to 'innovate' on this!
    • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3I don't think Garrett is interested in this kind of stuff. He fancies other stuff, like gold, gems, magical artifacts and innovative arrows to use on the city guard.
      • Myztry, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1LOL. I was trying to play a twist of the Microsoft perception of the "Master Chief" (Which I know is actually just Bungie).
        More to the point, I wouldn't care if they copied ideas. Just that they didn't steal ideas and want the creators to rent them back.
  • bman85, on 06/20/2008, -19/+1Yeah this will be awesome for switching between the 4 useful programs that are made for Linux (Rolls eyes)
    • cheeseplease, on 06/20/2008, -1/+7I like it when people criticize linux here on digg as no one normally dares, but your statement is just pure *****. There's an incredible wealth of programs available for linux.
    • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -1/+6unsuccessful troll is unsuccessful.
    • bman85, on 06/20/2008, -6/+3There are programs I NEED every day, and i just cant use them on linux. These include Autocad, REVIT, Google Sketchup, And Adobe CS3.

      So I don't see how Linux could possibly be a successful solution for real professionals, unless your writing your own programs, or running HIGHLY specialized programs. Plus I like actually accomplishing work instead of trying to find workarounds to accomplish said work.

      If all you need to do can be done with linux, I guess go for it, but i just don't see the point, i use XP at work, and OSX at home, there is absolutely no reason for me to switch to linux and there probably never will be.
      • sjm20k, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3while i agree with the functionality sentiment, consider the pricetag/value to coders.
        • bman85, on 06/20/2008, -3/+1I can accept that it is maybe a good decision for some people, but for the vast majority or people, the ones that aren't hardcore nerds, linux doesn't have a place.
        • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+5@bman85

          for the people who need a computer for everyday use (the vast majority) the biggest distros are perfect. they don't need CS3, Autocad or any other stuff other than navigator, email, media player, office and games like freecell or solitaire. and above all, they're free to try, as many distros as you'd like.

          nobody is forcing anyone to switch, but we think it's good for the vast majority to know there's an alternative if they'd like.
      • boobsbr, on 06/20/2008, -0/+4just because you need software that is not compatible with linux it does't mean there aren't loads of usefull ones that do and work pretty nice.

        now that you tried to make a point you don't sound like a troll.
      • sqrt7744, on 06/20/2008, -0/+6Don't tell me what "Real Professionals" use. I'm a real professional, and I use Linux. My girlfriend is a real professional architect and she uses Linux (with some expensive CAD software, not autocad), and photoshop (via wine).
  • bobangitanov2, on 06/20/2008, -10/+1suck it apple iphod!
  • agenthamsta, on 06/20/2008, -0/+4This is a cool extra feature for those who enjoy the eye candy, or really overload their screen with open windows.
  • bullhead2007, on 06/20/2008, -4/+2Sweet! I bet something like this will make it into the next OSX and maybe Windows 8
    • WootZoot, on 06/20/2008, -4/+4OSX has already had this for years. its call Exposé.
      • bullhead2007, on 06/20/2008, -2/+4I meant this exact type of set up. It was a joke. I've been using Linux for years and it's a joke with me and some apple users I know. They talk about all these cool things OSX does when Jobs announces them and I have to inform them that Linux had been doing them for years.
    • HaMMeReD, on 06/20/2008, -1/+0Or maybe instead of downgrading to the next OSX or Windows, you could Upgrade to linux and get it NOW.
  • SSCrow, on 06/20/2008, -5/+13I'll stick with Alt Tab.
    • cheeseplease, on 06/20/2008, -2/+13I'm using the Compiz Fusion improved alt-tab.
    • silfiriel, on 06/20/2008, -1/+10while Alt+Tab is Ok, Super(Win)+Tab is awesome! At first it looked like unnecessary, now I always hit Super+Tab!
      • jsully, on 06/24/2008, -0/+1I'm with you, I find it to be more intuitive. I remapped it to Alt+Tab and turned off the default one.
  • Tyrghast, on 06/20/2008, -1/+2It's cool but I don't like really like it so much. I can't see myself using it that often.
  • digitalpencil, on 06/20/2008, -1/+3certainly looks cool, but not functional.. i don't understand the need to skew the windows down like that, it serves no purpose.. i'll stick with Kompose for now.
  • chamberlanderic, on 06/20/2008, -0/+2Cool, great, but i think it needs touch screen to reach its full potential, because the mouse just make this thing more complicate to use.
  • cheeseplease, on 06/20/2008, -2/+5What I'd like to see is Ubuntu (or any other distro) actually creating a really good implementation of compiz fusion. With that I mean just using plugins that really improve desktop efficiency, shortcut keys that make sense (only Super+letters for example), no unnecessary delays because of moving eye candy, etc. So far that hasn't been the case, at least not for Ubuntu.

    It is ofcouse very possible to configure this yourself, but consistency over different systems would be nice (shortcut keys especially).

    *By the way my comment box is jumping around wtf is up with that.*
    • B1663r, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3You have firefox 3.0 don't you?
      • cheeseplease, on 06/20/2008, -0/+2Yes I do...
        • Krissam, on 06/20/2008, -1/+2okay... i've seen quite a few people getting dugg down for strange stuff.. but diggign him down because he answers a question.. wtf is that about?
        • B1663r, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1Well I only asked the question because I had the same problem with firefox 3 but it went away when I rolled back to 2...

          There is an anxious silence here on digg about how buggy FF3 is. I guess the hive mind doesn't like people admiting there is problems.
    • neko, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1Ubuntu 7.10 did exactly that, as far as I'm concerned. Subtle fadein-fadeout effects, enhanced switcher, and use of a left-right desktop navigation plugin (don't know the name) rather than the cube.

      I would have liked a bind for the Scale plugin included by default, but the point is it worked, and was activated as soon as the nvidia driver was.
  • sjm20k, on 06/20/2008, -8/+3i'll be impressed when they pull something off that doesnt involve rendering windows to 2d polygons.
  • silfiriel, on 06/20/2008, -1/+4Ok, that looks great, now risking to turn out a total idiot, how can I install it? (on Ubuntu, I have compiz fusion)
    • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3Sadly, if you want to run this you'll need to compile compiz fusion from Git source code (correct me if I'm wrong, people). That's what I do for the video.
      • SoftwareExplore, on 06/25/2008, -0/+0You could possibly get a git plugin to work with a packaged fusion--I have before.
    • HaMMeReD, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1You could maybe switch to a git nightly build of compiz that'll have up to date plugins, but it'll be experimental and may cause problems with your distro. There are repos that contain nightly builds if you look for them.
  • rollerboy, on 06/20/2008, -1/+2I don't know how functional it is because I haven't used it, but I just don't like how it looks.
  • WootZoot, on 06/20/2008, -8/+3Odd, I thought Linux already had an expose clone...
    • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -0/+2Yes, they have Scale, but this is different from that. Notice the 3d.
      • WootZoot, on 06/20/2008, -0/+2yeah, about that: Wouldn't showing the screens at an angle like that make it much harder to tell what is actually on them?
        • linuxpenguin, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1How did you miss it. . . there's a box RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN with the name of the window in it.

          And actually, my guess is that at a slight angle it wouldn't (like they had it at first), and if you can't see it at the default angle then that's why you can change it.
  • Smurph0404, on 06/20/2008, -3/+2Does anyone know what that song is?
  • salomejones, on 06/20/2008, -3/+2How many ***** window switchers do you need? I mean I'm all for choice, but come on.
    • gavintlgold, on 06/20/2008, -0/+3You don't enable them all at once (you can't with default keybindings). Although you do have a point: there should be a grand unified Window Switcher plugin that integrates scale, staticswitcher, shift, stackswitch, and the old window switcher plugins. They're really taking up space being individual plugins.
  • tekproxy, on 06/20/2008, -2/+1Alt+Shift+Tab!!!
  • kinstray, on 06/20/2008, -2/+10Linux is gonna rule the world one day!
    • theblt, on 06/20/2008, -4/+2And when it does, you'll complain that it's _too_ open source.
    • Amiga500, on 06/22/2008, -2/+1You'll be long dead if that ever happened, hopefully.
  • pyrates, on 06/20/2008, -2/+4Does this provide any needed functionality? No. Is this purely eye candy? Yep. I fail to see the usefulness of this. Come up with something that is superior usability wise and has great eye candy. Until then I'll stick with the standard effects that compiz fusion comes with.
    • MaverickAlex, on 06/20/2008, -2/+6If your going to stick with the defaults, why are you complaining? Linux is all about choice.
    • linuxpenguin, on 06/21/2008, -1/+1Does it provide any functionality over what? Over Windows? Yes - it shows all your windows at the same time, so you can see exactly which one you want.

      And really, if you don't want it, then just don't install it. There's no point in arguing over the "usefulness" of Compiz - a lot of it's eye candy, and a lot of people like that. If you don't, then it's not for you - so just ignore it.
    • silfiriel, on 06/21/2008, -1/+1there's nothing standard about compiz fusion effects, they're all extraordinary
  • yogiincork, on 06/20/2008, -2/+2Alt+F4!
  • Galaxylander, on 06/20/2008, -8/+3It's like Expose on the Mac minus the ease and functionality with a little bit of eye candy.
    • ikkefc3, on 06/20/2008, -0/+4If you want "Expose," you could use compiz's scale plugin. It has more functionality than the mac version, but if you want to think different, take this plugin.
  • junkieSaysNO, on 06/20/2008, -0/+4that was good music... oh, and the plugin was cool too
  • jasonh1234, on 06/20/2008, -1/+1How hard would it be to port this kinda stuff to Mac?
    • MattBD, on 06/20/2008, -1/+1I'm sure it is possible to run X window managers on a Mac, so it might be possible to compile Compiz for it.
      • neko, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1Yeah but you'd need an X server with the composite extension, as well as the gl extensions.. and (I'm guessing) that the Mac X servers operate in a "rootless" mode where they let the Mac manage the windows.

        I could be completely off the mark. But I think the Mac's internal graphics (Carbon/Cocoa/Aqua/etc) are what drive the Mac desktop. X just shows up as an application.
  • teabagginz, on 06/20/2008, -1/+1i kinda wish more compiz-ish stuff made it to os x... not so much the animations (still cool though), but how you can customize the triggers to whatever you want.
    • mikecx, on 06/20/2008, -0/+1You can already change the key-bindings pretty easily on OSX though personally, I like knowing that if I use another users machine all the keyboard shortcuts i'm used to will work.
  • computershack, on 06/20/2008, -6/+1All the people who are going on about how Microsoft should do this are HYPOCRITES. All the people who bang on about how good this is are HYPOCRITES? Why? Because they're the very same people who were harping on about how bad Vista was because of all the pointless eye candy of the Aero interface which doesn't even come anywhere close to compiz-fusion thank god.
    • tama00, on 06/21/2008, -0/+0Your a hypocrite.
    • tech42er, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1The problem with Aero was that it sucked. IT made Vista incredibly slow and it did nothing. The problem I had with Aero wasn't that it was too much eye candy; it wasn't enough and it wasn't customizable.
    • linuxpenguin, on 06/21/2008, -0/+2The reason people harp on Vista's Aero interface is that there is no eye candy. Aside from some shiny-looking "Mac-ish" icons, there's transparency and a single 3D effect. That's not eye candy. . . yet at the same time, it requires more from your PC than the real eye candy.

      If you ask me, Vista looks no different than XP. The same stupid looking Fisher Price interface with the same stupid red button you can't get rid of, except OMG now the Start button is a blue circle, and all your titlebars and stuff are black. If you ask me XP Media Center looks better.

      But all in all I agree with you - Microsoft shouldn't do this. They already tried once and failed, instead they should focus on making some actual OS improvements.
      • Amiga500, on 06/22/2008, -2/+1No, with Aero they got it just right. It adds just enough of a new look and speeds up performance without changing the basics. It's the same reason the horn in your car is still on the steering wheel. Some things just work best the way they are. Most people don't (and shouldn't) keep greater than 10 windows open at once. Thus the need for a radically different switcher hasn't been great enough.

        If you're a *****, you can customize explorer quite a bit, in fact there are even alternatives like Lightstep. The issue is, most of them are quite unnecessary. As it turns out, if you're such a bulbous prick that you MUST change everything on the ***** screen, you probably shouldn't be using a computer in the first place. I.E. People still using Pine.
  • Sawta, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1It wasn't bad...but I still prefer a box ;)
  • blurrie, on 06/21/2008, -0/+2alright. linux noob time.
    would my macbook 2.0 ghz / 1gb / intel 950 gfx handle said compiz fusion?
    i don't want vista on my bootcamp partition. thinking of fux'ing w/ ubuntu if i can have some c.fusion.
    • linuxpenguin, on 06/21/2008, -0/+2I don't know much about the Intel graphics. . . from what I hear it should be good enough. Can it handle games? If so it ought to be able to run Compiz I think.
    • reddikilowatt, on 06/21/2008, -0/+2Try out the live CD:

      http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

      There are others, but I've found Ubuntu to be about the friendliest, both from an install and support standpoint.
      • ikkefc3, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1If you want this plugin, you have to compile the newest Compiz Fusion from GIT.
        Here is a guide: http://kavoor.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/compile-com ...

        And here is a howto for installing the plugin:
        Type in a terminal:
        git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/fusion/plugins/stackswitch
        then type:
        cd stackswitch
        then type:
        make
        then type
        make install

        Then activate the plugin in "Advanced Desktop Effects Settings." (Or press ALT+F2 and type ccsm)
    • naz37, on 06/21/2008, -0/+1I set up a Ubuntu 8.04 on a friends laptop with similar specs and the same grahpics card and all the compiz effects ran flawlessly out of the box. Your graphics card is more than enough to run compiz, as intel has fairly good drivers for there cards.
  • blurrie, on 06/22/2008, -0/+1thanks guys
  • CCmachined, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1before you cry "Alt+Tab in XP gives me the same functionality blah blah"; it doesnt. This gives you WINDOW PREVIEWS, and in a much cooler way.
    Linux: Free of Charge and Freedom of Choice.
  • CypherFTW, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1That is awesome. It never ceases to amaze me what people are coming up with for GNU/Linux. Even things which may seem like they no use at the moment may be useful later for an unknown issue. Though I don't know what that would be for the Fire Writing plug-in for Compiz. :P
  • UnConeD, on 10/09/2008, -0/+1Is it really necessary to let you adjust the 3D tilt, or provide 4 different options for where to position the window labels? Such cases should be resolved through usability testing, and the most successful option should just be picked. In this case, it seems rather logical to put the label on top of the window itself, because that's where the user will be looking anyway. Give users choice where it matters, and not just 'because'.

    Less airplane cockpit, more sane defaults please. Somehow, only Apple seems to understand this on the desktop. :/
  •  

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