Compiz

Compiz is a desktop composting application for Linux. Can make it look very much like Vista, and more! It uses OpenGL to render 3D effects for your windows and workspaces, leaving the CPU free to do it’s work, unlike XP, which uses the CPU for fade effects. Try video transcoding and opening the ‘Start’ menu at the same time, and you’ll see what I mean.

Let me give you some screenshots so you can decide whether you want it or not.

 

The Desktop Cube

Adds a new ‘dimension’ to windows! Get it?

 

 

 

The Expo Plugin

To hell with Flip3D!

 

 

 

The Fire Plugin

Flashy!

 

Rain and Ripples

Kinda beautiful, shimmers over other windows

 

But, installing Compiz (or CompizFusion, as it is now called), is not that easy. CompizFusion is the result of the combination of Compiz and Beryl, which is a branch-off of Compiz (you know OSS!). Anyway, this is a good walkthrough for installing Compiz. At the end, though, you’ll have to edit the startup files to include ‘compiz –replace’ among the startup execution commands. In Ubuntu 7.04, you can directly add an entry by going to System –> Preferences –> Sessions. Once here click on ‘Add’, give it any name, and enter ‘compiz –replace’, in the command field. Log out. Log in. Voila.