articles.techrepublic.com.com — Windows Vista provides a host of new features, but the first thing that jumps out is the slick, sleek Aero interface. Here's a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the new interface and what's required to get the most out of it.
Aug 22, 2006 View in Crawl 4
tyraxAug 22, 2006
Glass effect isn't functional per say, it does put the focus on the center of the window, but I think that it looks nice. It doesn't take a huge performance hit because its rendered on the video card gpu. And it expands on the 'Windows' metaphor since your windows are panes of glass. If you don't like the transparency, there is a setting for opacity.
bradkovachAug 22, 2006
I just washed Windows in the hot, summer sun, and then, Glass cracked. Damn.
kerrleAug 22, 2006
@AirRaven: No, Compiz is significantly less resource intensive. Aero Glass requires a card with pixel shader (DX9) support, or it won't run. This is apparently because of the way it does it's blur effect.Compiz has plugins that can take advantage of pixel shader support to do blurring and other effects if your card has programmable shader support, but they generally provide fallback methods for older cards, and can be disabled entirely if the user chooses, without affecting any of the other cool things Compiz can do.
mingistechAug 23, 2006
it's aqua's ugly stepchild!
estvirAug 23, 2006
inkswamp, I remember the days when people actually READ your comments in their entirety instead of skipping parts and than running off to makea reply, like you've done.So, no, I don't assume that any criticism of Aero is because of lack of respect/whatever, why the hell do you think I added the part about "constructive criticism" and so on in my original post ?Please, read people's posts, it will help, a lot.Your criticism is quite clueless anyway, like with most people, but you aren't a designer nor have any knowledge besides your own assumptions/opinions.There is A LOT more to the new GUI than 'effects' (Of which there are very, very few, especially so compared to XGL/Compiz) and transparency is used [mostly] in app toolbars/headers.Anyway, considering you didn't take the time to read my post properly, I won't bother to reply to yours in it's entirety and instead I'll direct you to take a look at some of the interviews/blogs/info provided by designers working on Aero and so on, like Jenny Lam and others.I'm not complaining, there is a difference to complaining and making a statement, and thank goodness there is or the world would be absolutely fill of condascending people.
redaAug 23, 2006
"My guess would be that a few months after it's out there will be a couple of hacks to make ubuntu or suse or fedora with xgl/compiz look just like vista."It's already there, and it's not called hacks it's called themes.And yes they DO look the same
tobiaslyAug 23, 2006
Dude, that's THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE'S PERSONAL WEBSITE! She is actually PROUD of that piece of s**t and wanted to show it off to the world!
bdudeAug 23, 2006
hehe I get it
Closed AccountAug 23, 2006
why do all threads regarding microsoft get hijacked by MAC or LINUX fanboys?
stanleyfreshAug 23, 2006
Y'know, it's only a matter of time before we notice a screenshot of blurred porn behind the glass window.