The days of slow and ugly desktop interfaces are numbered.

NT · April 07, 2006, 08:26:07 PM

Some of you folks may have heard of a new OpenGL-accelerated desktop by the name of Xgl. If you haven't seen what Xgl can do, check out these videos:

http://cache.novell.com/cached/xglrelease/transparency.mpg
http://cache.novell.com/cached/xglrelease/zoom-windows.mpg
http://cache.novell.com/cached/xglrelease/desktoporg.mpg
http://cache.novell.com/cached/xglrelease/desktopspin.mpg

This is bleeding-edge stuff, but finally there are a couple Linux distributions that include it by default. Kororaa is one of them. They have a live CD that will allow you to try out this new technology without installing anything and messing with your hard drive. I am running the live CD right now, and the effects are pretty incredible considering this is a 2002-vintage laptop with crappy Intel 855GM video.

bitblt · April 08, 2006, 12:33:18 AM

Very cool stuff. Smells like Longhorn Areo (3D desktop) technology. Microsoft is so going to hijack some of those ideas.

bitblt · April 08, 2006, 03:21:21 AM

I fond some links about the Longhorn 3D desktop . . .

http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=114694&pvrid=5

ftp://ftp.extremetech.com/pub/extremetech/news/winhec/WaveWindows.wmv

ftp://ftp.extremetech.com/pub/extremetech/news/winhec/StarWars.wmv

ftp://ftp.extremetech.com/pub/extremetech/news/winhec/dizzy.wmv

strells · April 08, 2006, 04:32:16 AM

To paraphrase an old David Spade bit:

"Yeah, yeah, that's pretty cool. However, I think I've seen that before...when it was called Mac OS X!"

There's nothing new to see here. Though I haven't seen a multiple desktop cube program (the cube effect is used when switching users in a multi-user environment in OS X), I'm sure it would be simple to make. Everything else, the transparency, the "desktop organization" (aka Expose) already exists in the OpenGL-powered OS X.

It's interesting to see that Novell is trying to catch up to Apple along with Microsoft.

Steve

socket · April 08, 2006, 09:49:18 PM

I tried Kororaa and it really impressed me. Honestly much more than OSX... give it a try. Really.

hijoputismo · April 09, 2006, 01:00:28 AM

hey we don't have that desktop spin thingie in os x!
that and the transparent effect look like the least useful ones showed, anyway.
it's great that linux gets all this eye candy, hope it some day helps prevent pc owners from using windows.

NT · April 09, 2006, 08:45:31 PM

Quote from: "strells"To paraphrase an old David Spade bit:

"Yeah, yeah, that's pretty cool. However, I think I've seen that before...when it was called Mac OS X!"

There's nothing new to see here. Though I haven't seen a multiple desktop cube program (the cube effect is used when switching users in a multi-user environment in OS X), I'm sure it would be simple to make. Everything else, the transparency, the "desktop organization" (aka Expose) already exists in the OpenGL-powered OS X.

It's interesting to see that Novell is trying to catch up to Apple along with Microsoft.

Steve

It's innovative because I don't have to shell out thousands of dollars to buy a Mac for it, or get lucky and have compatible x86 hardware.

MAD2X · April 09, 2006, 09:41:40 PM

I cant wait to try this out, I downloaded the CD installer image, but I dont have any CD-R's left, only some DVD-R's and Nero wont let me burn the image on a DVD.

Is there a way to get this to burn on the DVD? To think of it I guess I could mount the image and then try to copy the content to DVD, do you think that would work?

bitblt · April 09, 2006, 11:39:00 PM

Yep, a DVD-RW worked great with my computer using Roxio 8. Kororaa booted up with sound, video, networking, and everything working. Pretty impressive this stuff works with my home built PC without having to tweak anything. Way better looking than Mandrake.

jmr · April 12, 2006, 12:03:30 PM

i had suse 10.1 beta set up with xgl & made myself fell sick messing about with the wobbly window bit so im staying away from this one
but they do look nice but ill stick with xandros 3 for the time being

bitblt · April 13, 2006, 06:40:11 AM

Questions for the Linux experts:

Is there a 64bit version of Kororra, or some other xgl ready 64bit Linux, and is there a good "Virtual PC" thingy. :lol:

rocky · April 29, 2006, 10:33:02 AM

Is their a way to get this to install on your computer instead of a live CD?

jmr · April 29, 2006, 11:06:28 AM

load it up first in live mode then on the desktop theres a install to harddrive logo click that
you will need the package CD as well as the live CD http://kororaa.org/static.php?page=static060311-165115