Compiz on a Intel 945GM

When I tested Feisty, I did not think much of the 3D desktop effects: OK, the windows got all soft when you moved them around and it was fun to look at but, really, who cares?

I had a bit of free time this week-end and I started trying to upgrade my Edgy install on my laptop. Ubuntu is becoming my main OS on that machine and I am booting in Windows less and less… And to think I thought I’d have to wait for Feisty for that to happen!

Anyway, I first tried Beryl and gave up when faced with the very complex install instructions. I then turned my attention to Compiz, which was fairly simple to install. By the way, I do recommend 915resolution if you have one of the supported Intel graphic cards: it is a really nice hack and perfectly safe as far as I can tell! It made theCompiz install a lot easier and prettier to look at (sharper fonts, etc.).

Then a new session and the fireworks started: wiggling windows, but also tranparency, a lot of shortcuts for rearranging windows, thus many, many windows open without any performance impact nor getting lost at any time. It is so good I could ditch my desktop PC with its gigantic screen for 100% laptop-based computing, which I have never been able to achieve in 10 years on Windows.

Overall, I think Compiz ia a *great* piece of software not just for the eye-candy but because it gives a huge boost to the average user’s productivity. Being able to maneuver easily between lots of windows and several work spaces (now 4) means the interface does not stand between me and my work but feels a lot more intuitive and fluid.

Overall, it is pretty addictive (not all of my other machines support it and it shows) and, yes, it does impress even the most jaded users!