Metacity as a compositing manager

[Joe Terranova]

>> As it is, compiz is tried, and Ubuntu falls back on Metacity if it
>> doesn't work. So if they don't have the "hardware", they'll use
>> Metacity.

> That's good, but why even include compiz in the first place? Doesn't it just
> take up extra space that could be used for something more useful (isn't
> there a problem with keeping Ubuntu small enough to fit onto a CD?)

Compiz doesn't actually take up very much space from what it looks.
>From a cursory look at package sizes, a few megs.

I agree that Compiz is useless. But it does turn heads. When I do
presentations, I always show it. It looks cool. I agree with
Shuttleworth that Linux needs to be gorgeous [1]. Ubuntu needs the
cool factor in order to compete with other OSes. Is it vain? Silly?
Useless? yes. But I've gotten people to try Ubuntu by showing them
compiz.

On the other hand, I'd be for letting people choose whether to enable
compiz on install, instead of waiting until they startup the machine
and go to appearance. Novice users might never know there's a way to
turn off the fancy effects.

Joe Terranova

[1] http://linux.slashdot.org/linux/06/10/30/1744232.shtml