XGL or Eat This, Vista

[RoyGBiv]

For those that don't read the Open Source forum as well.

I'll add to the original post, it runs very well on a mid-range graphics card like the GeForce 6600GT. ATI owners like myself will, naturally, have issues, but shockingly, ATI is actually working on the problems that have been reported so far.

WALTHAM, Mass.—07 Feb 2006—Novell today announced it has released significant enhancements to the Xgl (X over OpenGL) graphics subsystem, which will let developers create richer graphical experiences for Linux* desktop users. Xgl is new core rendering technology for the Linux desktop that takes advantage of now widely available accelerated 3D rendering hardware. These enhancements make Linux desktops more usable, increase end-user productivity and more firmly position Linux at the forefront of client computing technology.

“The release of Xgl and the accompanying 'Compiz' compositing/window manager puts Linux at the forefront of desktop graphics capabilities among all operating systems,” said Nat Friedman, Novell vice president of Linux desktop engineering. “Open source developers can now use their creativity to build new special effects and user interface paradigms as plug-ins to Xgl/Compiz. No other platform gives you this capability. Novell is a key contributor to the next generation of Linux platform innovation.”

Under the leadership of engineer David Reveman, Novell has sponsored the effort to develop the Xgl graphics subsystem to benefit both hardware vendors and software developers, and thus end users. Novell's release of Compiz enables developers to easily create graphical effects plug-ins which deliver rich visual effects, including transparency and advanced animation. For the first time, open source developers have the ability to easily add industry-standard effects like transparency and window animations to the Linux desktop, supported on the broadest possible set of hardware.

http://www.novell.com/news/press/item.jsp?contentid=10d970288b049010VgnVCM10000024f64189____

It's still very much in the testing phase, but it'll be available for use/testing in SUSE 10.1. It's already in the Betas for 10.1, but I don't recommend them except for very experienced users.

Videos and Screenshots:

http://www.novell.com/linux/xglrelease/