Developer Forum

Videos here:

http://www.yqcomputer.com/

Poll:

http://www.yqcomputer.com/

A whopping 86% of all users voted Linux.

Linux is the only one that is not vapourware, even though Compiz/XGL is still
subjected to ongoing tests.

"Linux Wins" ... yes it does.

Vista demo: clunky, tired, busy, uninspiring, not very snappy.
Mac demo: very responsive, clean, slick, a bit too clinical.
Linux demo: stunning GFX, too much blue, did I mention stunning GFX?

I'd have chosen a more subtle desktop scheme, but other than that ...
yup, that is pretty much the future of Desktop computing, and you won't
need Cray supercomputers to do it either ... unless you want Vista of
course.

--
K.
http://www.yqcomputer.com/ - Slated, Rated & Blogged
This message has not been photoshopped in any way.

Fedora Core release 5 (Bordeaux) on sky, running kernel 2.6.16-1.2133_FC5
11:25:03 up 54 days, 11:41, 3 users, load average: 0.54, 0.65, 0.66

__/ [ [H]omer ] on Friday 11 August 2006 11:26 \__



"Cray", you say? I read the following half an hour ago <
http://www.yqcomputer.com/ , Cray to use Opterons
for world's fastest computers >. I tried to find out what O/S they will
deploy on that array of Opteron nodes. It's probably Linux, just like in
IBM's Blue Gene, as well as about 80% of the world's strongest computers.

All these world records that Linux proudly holds make its competitors look
miniscule. This must be the reason why Microsoft attempts to shove its HPC
product as hard as it tried/s to push its servers to Web hosts and systems
administrators. The GoDaddy parked domain story springs to mind. I have
evidence to suggest that in both cases there's financial incentive and
rewards (e.g. in the form of 'free' hardware).

I wouldn't necessarily agree. From what I saw, it's pretty attractive. No
use us pretending it isn't. Lots of users are going to like it.


There wasn't really much to see, compared to both Windows and Linux, which
made a genuine comparison a bit difficult, IMO. It didn't look very
interesting.


The Linux demo was indeed very good. Some of the effects aren't of any
great practical value (the raindrop stuff, for instance) but it looks
terrific. As people move more and more towards using computers as home
entertainment hubs, this kind of effect will begin to come into its own.


Not even then. It does the Linux advocacy no good saying things like this,
IMO, because in the end it'll just be proved wrong. Vista *will* need more
power for its Aero Glass stuff, but not so much as that, not even near
it. Most people are likely to buy it new with an upgraded PC.

Do I think Linux effects are better? Yes. Do I think Vista's effects are
ugly/clunky/etc? Not really. Some of it looks cool. Would it make me rush
out and buy a new Vista-capable PC? No, I like Linux better.

--
Kier

I realise that (in all three) you can customise the colours etc., but
those huge popup mini-representations of the windows ... and that
Start Bar with the user avitar (puppy dog or whatever) ... and the
whole "Media Center" presentation of everything .... uuuurgh! No
thanks. It's not an OS, it's an OSD for a DVD Player. And that's
*before* you start looking at the garbage underneath. Yuk.



I was projecting a bit, from the WWDC 2006 that I saw yesterday.


The demos at WWDC 2006 were impressive, especially the "Spaces" and
"Time Machine" demos. Of course it's all unnecessary eye-candy ... in
all three cases, but that is the point, after all.





I'm just going by experience of previous releases, and beta reports
from bloggers. Personally I don't care. I will never own or use (for
myself) Vista, or any subsequent Microsoft OS. Let's just say I'm not
as optimistic as Microsoft about Vista's capabilities or requirements.

--
K.
http://www.yqcomputer.com/ - Slated, Rated & Blogged
This message has not been photoshopped in any way.

Fedora Core release 5 (Bordeaux) on sky, running kernel 2.6.16-1.2133_FC5
14:56:34 up 54 days, 15:13, 2 users, load average: 0.32, 0.35, 0.48

The start bar thing I didn't like a great deal, I admit (though the
avitar, well, that can be changed easily not doubt, so I wouldn't
complain of it), but I kind of like the Media Centre stuff. It all no
doubt looks better on a large LCD monitor which is what it's designed for.
With PCs becoming more media-centred, it makes sense. It all depends what
you want to do, I suppose.


Of course. Some users will never have much time for it, and that's
perfectly understandable. My brother got himself a really big monitor
recently; the effects of all three OSen would probably look impressive on
it, but I doubt he would bother, it's just not important to him. Now, me,
if I had the kit and a bit of time to set it up I would definitely have
XGL going.


That's fair enough.

--
Kier

Poor comparison. Go to Microsofts Vista web site and watch what the new API
can do.

Basically you an map any window onto any 3d mesh in real time and animate
the mesh in real time.

Is this a good thing? Not really, it's pretty irrelevant.

I am <NOT> shocked that there are such a limited number of useful 3d viewing
renditions available in 3d environments. The most popular are the project
on a cylinder as if viewing from the inside, and as if viewing from the
outside.

Whoop de doo....

3d will add little if no real benefit to the desktop, but it will will make
the desktop look slicker, somewhat more fun, and the cost will be
essentially nothing (for the animation) because of the accelerated video.
However, there is a whole new layer of inefficency added due to the
complexity of hit testing in such environments, as well as difficulties in
masking etc. Hit testing in a 3d environment for example may use and does
use in the case of vista, ray casting to figure out what object you are
clicking on.

Undoubtedly Linux is doing much the same thing.

Very *** .....

It would make more sense to use the Z-Buffer on video cards to improve the
efficiency with which the current GUI clips objects and writes to the
screen. This can be accomplished by assigning to each window a separate
video plane and then using a pixel test routine to read back the zbuffer
value to do hit testing.