There's this video on YouTube. It's all about the new "eye candy" in Windows and Ubuntu. In the first part of the video, the unseen demonstrator shows-off Windows Vista Aero, including some of the more talked-about UI effects (Flip3D, live Task Bar thumbnails, etc.). In the second part, they show Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled. The demonstrator shows how the "Compiz-ified" Ubuntu windows warp and bend; how th There’s this video on YouTube. It’s all about the new “eye candy” in Windows and Ubuntu. In the first part of the video, the unseen demonstrator shows-off Windows Vista Aero, including some of the more talked-about UI effects (Flip3D, live Task Bar thumbnails, etc.). In the second part, they show Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled. The demonstrator shows how the “Compiz-ified” Ubuntu windows warp and bend; how they can be stretched and deformed; how they can be configured to seemingly “burn-up” in a in a flash of virtual smoke and fire.The whole demo takes place against the backdrop of a pulsing bit of techno beat (“Lyrical Gangsta?”), making for a decidedly surreal experience. It’s Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled – a.k.a. Linux on crack.Of course, like most attempts by the Linux community to parrot Windows Vista, the aforementioned “eye candy showdown” misses the forest for the trees. Yes, Vista includes some new UI effects and animations. However, unlike Linux and the whole Compiz Fusion head trip, the effects in Vista serve a practical purpose: To clarify the basic functions of the user interface. Moreover, the effects themselves are the product of many months of research and usability studies about how users interact with GUIs in a production environment. For example: When minimizing/maximizing windows, Vista highlights the process by creating a “reduction” animation effect that naturally leads the eye towards the Task Bar. When you move the pointer over the application’s Task Bar button, a live thumbnail reveals the contents of the minimized window. Likewise, when you move the pointer over a particular window control (scrollbars, minimize/maximize/close buttons), the underlying elements fade into focus. It’s all very logical and serves to confirm the user’s actions and intentions as they navigate the UI.Bottom Line: Is Vista Aero “eye candy?” Yes, but with a purpose: To make the user interface easier to understand and navigate. By contrast, Compiz Fusion is nothing more than a me-too attempt to make Linux look prettier than it really is. And don’t get me started on the whole 3D cube thingy. Just load up the first half of the YouTube video, substitute some acid for the crack, and you’ll get the same effect. Next Up: Life in Ubuntu xorg purgatory. Software DevelopmentSmall and Medium Business