The title of the article seems familiar to you? Naturally it would, when you read something like this. But I do state the corresponding sentence isn't even grammatically correct, thereby making it difficult for me to parody. I am sure that Linux is not close to extinction but is rather gaining momentum or at least holding its ground.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-03-12
"Well, Windows Vista has mastered some hurdles that aren't solved in X yet. For example, having direct rendered GL applications inside XGL/AIGLX"
Ok just had a go in a AIGLX enviroment GL works great. Thats simply not true.
"Also, video acceleration within the GL accel. X server doesn't work stable / reliable yet."
So your arguing that its behind windows because of stability.
"Video cards that support Direct3D 10 will cache fonts in video memory and perform all ClearType text rendering in hardware."
Thats a difference that Aero has to AIGLX. It doesn't *seem* something thats required for a 3D desktop. It sounds like I need an expensive card, and it is only a small part of a large implementation.
What I don't get is. I have a cheap card that will not support DX10 it runs better effects than Aero, makes better use of the desktop space. I'm starting to believe that that Linux's implementation is superior. I actually see surprisingly little discussion either way.
Member since:2006-01-16
There is GL and there is GL. If you want to have OpenGL 2.0(!) and extensions, for example shader programs, the answer is tricky or simply "No". This is a fact and you can do research on it. If you want to have OpenGL 1.4 only, the answer is "Yes", but even Quake3 (as released in '99) will produce wrong graphics (only visible on certain surfaces)!
About video acceleration. Sure, it's definitely behind because of - but not only because of - lack in stability. But what I explicitely ment with video accel. was that it only works (fast enough) with some video cards, not others, and so on. For example, on my system, I have to use mplayer -o gl2 and still can get performance problems.
You're right in that freeing the CPU from doing font rasterization is not "required". But it's clearly superiour to only do blitting and scaling on the GPU. And it's difficult and tricky. So it's a definite technology advantage. It's a big step forward, if the main goal is (and it should be) to get as most graphics processing as possible away from the CPU onto the mostly unused GPU.
You're completely right about the advantage of XGL/AIGLX on "legacy" hardware. It works great even on poor powered, integrated or old graphics chips.
Partly this is due to the fact that it doesn't go as far as Vistas techniques, and in Vista their seems to be no effort to make it scalable at all.
Partly this could be politics, or whatever. The whole point is, Vista gets more stuff done in this sector in a more stable and clean way. The reasons for that are easy, and I assume most Xorg developer know them very well. Still, if Xorg stays on it's actual pace, it should catch up very fast.
Member since:
2006-01-16
Well, I said it _was_ stuck. You're right, since the fork of Xorg, this is history
Well, Windows Vista has mastered some hurdles that aren't solved in X yet. For example, having direct rendered GL applications inside XGL/AIGLX. Or at least, if rendered indirectly, have them access OGL 2.0 + Extensions and not only the GL 1.4 subset.
Also, video acceleration within the GL accel. X server doesn't work stable / reliable yet.
What I also pointed out already, are further advanced shaders, for example for font rendering:
"Video cards that support Direct3D 10 will cache fonts in video memory and perform all ClearType text rendering in hardware."
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_Vista
One big problem of Xorg are still video drivers, esp. the closed source ones. Major changes in the drivers or their APIs aren't easily done as ATI, but also nVIDIA take long to support them, if at all. Contrary, Microsoft just told video card vendors that a new API for allowing direct GL rendering is needed - and they implemented it ready for release.