[SATLUG] Beryl - what does it get you?

[ed]

Daniel J. Givens wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:08:09 -0500, ed <etillman93 at peoplepc.com> wrote:
>   
>> It looks real pretty; kinda even mimics Macroshaft Windoze Siesta.
>> Question?  Why?  What _/does/_  it get you?
>>
>> I came to Linux to escape resource-hogging eye-candy for its own
>> benefit.  This seems a step backward in the process...
>>     
>
> After much internal debate, I am now deciding to jump into this
> conversation. Ed, my comments are not directed explicitly at you, but more
> at the general crowd.
>
> Remember, everyone has different opinions as to what they want in their
> computer experience. I understand the want for streamlined experience with
> your applications using as few resources as possible. I personally like to
> put my system to full use, but also can't stand apps that hog resources.
> Beryl/Compiz put a very little extra load on a system over what 
>
> Why I use Beryl on my systems:
>
> 1. Translucent Windows - I like that I can hover my mouse on a window below
> another window and have the top window go partially translucent. I don't
> have to select the bottom window to see what's in there saving me at least
> two mouse clicks.
>
> 2. Cube Desktop - Before Compiz/Beryl, I never used the multiple desktop
> features in any window manager. By giving it a spatial representation, I
> find myself using more workspaces. Even now, I have a hard time getting
> myself to use multiple desktops if the system isn't running Beryl/Compiz.
> Maybe that's just me, but at least one other person I know says the same
> thing. Now, I have 6 workspaces and use all of them when I'm working on
> code. Oh yeah, I have dual monitors, so you can imagine just how many apps
> I've got going at one time. Most of the time, I have at least three in use;
> one for email and browser, one for two fullscreen terms, and one for a
> couple file managers. I go up to six when I give my IDE its own workspace,
> testing browsers on another workspace, and misc. stuff on the last.
>
> 3. Scale Effect - I use this effect constantly. I don't really need a pager
> anymore because if I need to change windows, depending on the corner of the
> screen I move my mouse to determines what scope of windows I have available
> to choose from. For me, top right shows all windows on all desktops and
> bottom right shows all windows on the current desktop. In Compiz Fusion,
> there is an effect that similarly shows all of your workspaces on the
> screen at once allowing you to change to any one by clicking on it.
>
> 4. Better utilization of my video card/processor - I find that by
> offloading the video processing to my video card (Nvidia 7800GS), I have
> more processing power available for consumption. All in all, my system
> feels snappier with Beryl than using Metacity with my gnome setup.
>
> There are more reasons, but it all comes down to this. I have my desktop
> experience working the way I want it to. I feel like something is missing
> when I'm on a system with a GUI not running Beryl/Compiz. I manage plenty
> of servers via terms and feel at home there, but I like what I have
> available in my setup. 
>
> That leads to the biggest point of them all. I use it because I like it.
> You (the collective you) run what you run because you like it. Ed, while
> you may see these developments as a step back, they have been developed by
> people who see uses for them. They have become very popular and that would
> seem to suggest that they aren't some terrible move in the wrong direction.
> No one is going to take away your fluxbox, blackbox, what have you. There
> will always be a need for light weight desktop environments. If you don't
> want to run Beryl/Compiz, then don't. Don't look down your nose (collective
> noses) on those of us who do and think you're somehow more l33t because you
> use FVWM only to arrange a bunch of xterms and nothing else. It's that
> attitude that turns people away from the open source world and holds up
> forward progress.
>
> /rant
>
> I love you guys! I really enjoy this list, so no hard feelings! 
>
> ~Daniel
>
>   
After many years as a BBS sysop (long past, mind you), I've developed a 
pretty thick skin for criticism. No insult taken, none offered, and I 
don't look down my nose at anyone.  Apologies if I seemed that way.  I'm 
just curious though, with all the flavors and sub-flavors of Linux 
running around out there, why people use what they use.  I also seek 
guidance on a number of issues, and knowing where a user's coming from 
helps place their advice in context. Hope this helps...

Cheers!

Ed