Try out Linux XGL Desktop
I chucked a post together on the old winningstyle forums about the coolest linux 3D’esque desktop being developed by Novell. - If your not up to speed on AIGL/Xgl then you need to go and check these vids out:
watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lawkc3jH3ws
and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OigsuzpoVs
Its very slick boys. Anyway you can now check it out for yourself without actually installing linux on your system. There is a linux distribution named Kororaa that have got a Live CD available to download complete with XGL pre-installed. You all need to get your asses a copy from here:
http://kororaa.org/static.php?page=livecd
Its a live CD so it will boot into the linux os without messing with your hard disk. Obviously its little slower than if you actually install the OS to disk but you get to check out this cool desktop.
I was mesmerized (okay, maybe not mesmerized) just dragging a window around the desktops. When you drag your mouse over the menus, they kinda just pop out at you.. Try maximising the window and watch the corners of the window pin themselves to the corners of the desktop..
What is awesome is spinning the cube to get to another desktop.. The key combo for that is CTRL + ALT plus the right or left arrow key. (Also you can drag a window around the corner of the screen just by dragging it off screeen). When you log into the desktop there is a text file which documents all the key presses for the different features. XGL is still in beta so this is not the final version but its a good way to dip your toe in.
Its all eye-candy, but its schweeet..
As a side note you can also download a live cd version of Ubuntu to play with and test drive. Ubuntu is the linux os of choice at the moment so its worth a download. Again the Ubuntu live cd is only a CD image and you can grab it from here: http://www.ubuntu.com/
As much as i think this 3d desktop is the bees-knees i am totally lost in the linux universe.. I remember using unix and linux at University but i find myself at a loss whilst trying to navigate my way around linux. Is this enough for me to swap from the Microsoft camp? hmm, i dont think so, but what i am doing is setting up my second pc to run Ubuntu and see how i fair. I’ll report back after a month or so with how i get on.
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I downloaded Kororaa and burned last night, unfortunately it doesn’t include the 3d drivers for my graphics card, so I can’t use the advanced spinnyness feature.
I have toyed with a self booting Suse Linux before, and had a quick play with Ubuntu (on the xbox, I think), but I got very confused very quickly.
I guess these days I am at a stage where I could, if I wanted, replace Windows, as I don’t use any of the bespoke Windows software I used to use, I don’t play games, etc, and a lot of the apps I DO use (Filezilla, Firefox), are available for Linux too.
but I don’t think I would. not just now, anyway. I don’t have time to dabble like I used to. I do love the ideas of a free alternative to Windows, and Linux is kickin ass at the moment, but I dunno. I’m gutless I suppose. Its not just the new operating system, but getting used to the whole Linux scene in its entirity, at the moment, if I need to do something I don’t do often, I generally have an idea of the app I need, or at least, where to find out what I need and where I can get it. with Linux I would loose that ability.
Oh, and the whole reason I didn’t convert 3 years ago when I last dabbled, was because I have 300gb worth of data on an NTSC drive, which Linux will not read.
ahh mate!! gutter man. Thats a shame because its amazing how responsive everything is, even on my old pc.
Anyway check this.. Ive now installed Vista on my old PC to see how it runs/looks. It all looks very good so far. Now check this, my Vista rating for my old PC is a 1.0 out of 5.0!! The lowest of the low.. This means that the Areo graphics are turned off, and im not seeing any eye candy but interestingly the system is running as fast as XP would be running on the same hardware.. Its very responsive.. Anyway i think i might write a post detailing my findings and thoughts of vista..
I had another play with this boot CD last night. Basically, I’m having trouble gettting my GP2X working with SD Cards (tried 4 so far, no luck yet- but have a Kingston one on order). I thought I’d try and format them with EXT2 to see how it goes.. and, well.. Wow. I love Linux! Its a shame I can’t get the 3D stuff to work, and I was having a few problems finding my way around, but I found Kororaa by far, the friendliest incarnation yet. I am actually considering sticking it on a test PC for a play around (again).
Obviously, |’ll need a KVM switch, more memory, a new HDD…. *heads off to ebay whilst GP2X gathers dust*
mate i have been thinking about a KVM switch myself, as ive been farting about with the leads for my second system.. Dude Ubuntu as far as user friendly goes Ubuntu is supposed to be up there with the best of em.
Hows eveything going with the SD cards? have you had any joy getting them to format correctly??