- Posted by reggie on September 19, 2006
I normally run Windows Vista RC1 x64 but recently decided it was time for my semi-annual Linux test. This is where I install the latest released version of a popular Linux distro and attempt to use it for as long as I can stand. The idea of a free (as in speech) desktop is appealing but it's a non-starter if it holds me back in any way. Remember I said that I normally run Windows so I am referring to holding me back in any way that I'm not used to.
Anyway, the candidate was Ubuntu 6.06 and I only used it for a few hours. Two of those hours were spent trying to get my dual-screen setup working. Another hour was spent getting Skype to work (it did work but I had to google for several posts and then force install some packages). Evolution crashed every time it exited. My USB headphone worked but only after I logged out and back in. Even then I could not get my main speakers and the USB headphones to work at the same time. I was not able to play any of my ripped music, which is encoded to either MP3 or WMA (yes I know there are solutions for this but by this time I had lost interest).
Lately we've heard alot about XGL and all of it's eye candy. Larry recently blogged on this and posted a link to the shell team's blog. This post specifically talks about there not being "floppy" windows in Vista. While including links to some cool demos from 2003, the gist of the post is that while wobbling your windows is technically possible, it might not be the right thing for the shipping product. The point is made that Microsoft has issues to consider that a Linux vendor can't possibly imagine. The videos in the link clearly show that technically Microsoft has everything they need to shake, rattle, and roll Windows anyway you want. I also think Larry is right that we will likely see DWM hacks for Vista that add wobbly windows and all sorts of other goodies.
ESR recently suggested that the Linux community needs to make compromises in order to more directly challlenge the Microsoft monopoly. He's right. The gap is widening and wobbly windows is not nearly enough to close it.