Xgl -- Linux gets a 3D desktop

With a severe bout of M$ Vista PR Diarrhea about to deluge the airways its good to see Linux can compete on the glitz front. I think it will take some time to sort how much of this is actually useful though.

To compete on an equal footing with Windows, Linux must have it's own 'native' apps. Emulations just don't cut it. I've always thought of wine as a stopgap and certainly not any long term solution to anything. Whether or not you're a gamer, If this is what gets Linux a decent native gaming environment, Xgl is a very important step forward for the Linux desktop.

I concur with you richo123. I am also wondering how much of this eye-candy will turn out to be useful. I thought the same thing about Sun's Project Looking Glass: neat stuff, but will I use it? 3D Desktops seem to be more of a "cart before the horse" to me. No one yet has offered any real, tangible reason they're preferable to a traditional desktop interface.

I look forward to someone surprising me though. ;)

The eye candy is important, trust me. People will want to use what they enjoy using. it's human nature.