Slashdot Mirror


Compiz Gets Thumbs-Up for Gutsy Gibbon

Da Chronic writes "After a vigorous debate at the last Ubuntu Technical Board meeting, the board decided to ship Ubuntu 7.10 with Compiz enabled by default. The decision was made despite the fact that Compiz still has some significant issues relating to drivers and Xorg. 'For instance, there are some problems — like accelerated video playback issues with Intel drivers — that can only be resolved by using the EXA accelerated rendering framework which is still not ready yet. When asked why Intel isn't addressing the driver issue, technical board member Mathew Garrett explained that "Intel are working on the basis that composited desktops won't be ready for rolling out until EXA is stable enough anyway, so it's not a concern [for them].' In the end, all but one member voted to include Compiz in Gutsy."

12 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. Bloat++ by zblach · · Score: 5, Insightful

    guh. Why not make a package w/ auto-configurable scripts available for install? Put a box in adept, or something "Click here for flashy graphics!!11". I run Kubuntu because I like having a *nix compatible desktop, not because I want another toy. I understand that some people are turned to linux for stability, and some for flashy graphics, but why include by default? Aero competition? Hope it's easily (and completely) removable. -z

    --
    # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i sheep | wc -l i can't sleep.
  2. Re:What's worrying me... by everphilski · · Score: 5, Funny

    What name will they use for the release that comes after the "zesty zebra" release?!?

    anonymous anorexic anacondas

  3. Re:I don't get it by SlashdotOgre · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been running Compiz in its various forms (compiz-quinnstorm, beryl, now compiz-fusion) on Gentoo since around March of 2006, and while I can see where you're coming from I have found some of its features actually useful. The ones I particularly like are: the expose clone (google 'expose mac to see what I'm referring to), the live alt-tabs (you see what's running in the alt-tab windows), it allows for extensive key bindings (I know you can use other programs like xbindkeys, but it at least beats Metacity's binding capability), and transparency (compiz isn't required to do this, but it makes it a lot easier than other WM's -- basically it's designed with that in mind).

    Most of the eye candy doesn't eat too much CPU, and it all easily be enabled and disabled from it's control panel (compiz-fusion uses ccsm which works great, beryl-settings-manager was also pretty good). I was also impressed by beryl-manager (now fusion-icon) which made switching windows and decoration managers easier than ever.

    --
    Sadly, PS/2 was yet another victim of USB, which doesn't care what you plug into it, the electrical slut.
  4. General public by general_public · · Score: 5, Funny

    general public is not going to buy into this.

    Actually I love Ubuntu and am looking forward to upgrading to Gutsy when it comes out.

    --
    Ye olde Webmaster Forums - since 1998!
  5. Re:Compiz is...? by Adult+film+producer · · Score: 5, Informative

    here, watch it.. better than any wordy description.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w

  6. Re:I don't get it by Nutty_Irishman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I originally thought the same thing with Beryl (the breakoff from Compiz, which is now remerging into compiz-fusion), and thought, "hey it looks nice, but that's about it". I left it installed on my machine as it was pretty stable and didn't see a need to remove it. After a while I started rearranging and managing my desktop-- all development work in one window, terminal windows in another, email/web browser in another, and the last for visualization apps (imageJ, matlab, etc.). It wasn't until I had all four desktops being active used that I realized how much easier it was to multitask with a more sophisticated windows manager. I could actively switch between desktops fast, drag and drop items from one desktop to the other, separate global and local task switchers-- all much faster and with less downtime than before. Now I find it rather limiting to use a linux box that doesn't have it installed.

    The only thing really holding it back is the stability issues (my desktop has no problems, but my laptop crashes at least once a day with it enabled). It doesn't hurt to install it and give it a try-- if you don't find it useful at first but it runs stable, then leave it installed-- you might come back and find it useful someday.

  7. Re:Compiz is...? by El+Lobo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Compiz is the thing that MS gets criticized to death when they dare to use it in their OS (called sometimes bloat, or stupid effects, shit, etc), and that is critically aclaimed when Apple, some Linuzzz distro or use it in their distributions.

    --
    It's time to realise that Abble's products are the biggest abomination these days. Just say NO to the dumb iAbble way!!
  8. View from the bottom by fishthegeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I teach at a technical high school, and I use Ubuntu, Vista, XP, and OS X in the course for integration lessons. The kids Ooooh at Vista and OS X but when they discover that Ubuntu can do compositing in a flashier way (with Compiz Fusion) than either of the other two platforms and that it is free they immediately ask for one of the Ship it CDs that I happen to keep around.

    I'm not saying that I evangelize Linux but since it is free, and I do teach it I find it very convenient to be able to just furnish them a copy on the spot. Flashy sells. It sells cars, bombers and hookers why not use it to sell an OS? Before anyone posts a response about bloat please remember that these are primarily 15 year old kids and the concepts of bloat are just academic to them. They won't care about bloat until they are running their own network.

    --
    load "$",8,1
    1. Re:View from the bottom by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny

      They won't care about bloat until they are running their own network.

      Or until they find it in one of the hookers you mentioned.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  9. Re:This is just typical stupid Canonical thinking by diegocgteleline.es · · Score: 5, Informative

    Compiz disables automatically in computers that doesn't have enought horsepower to run it.

  10. PureEyeSugar by Nosklo · · Score: 5, Funny

    OOOOOHHH!!! My Eyes! They have Diabetis now! Too much candy!!

    --
    find -name "*base*" -exec chown us {} \; ; ln -s /dev/zero /dev/chance ; make time
  11. Re:and Compiz is what again? by pebs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look at how long the submission is. Why would you make it even longer by including a definition of what a relatively popular software component is? You might as well include definition for Ubuntu, Gutsy, and Xorg while you're at it.

    Keep up with the times or use Google/Wikipedia when you don't know what something is (like you just did).

    --
    #!/