Project Looking Glass - anyone try it?

[kenji mapes]

I use Spaces with Windows, starting to use Gentoo Linux, and am looking forward to Vista, but thought this looked cool especially since it is Java based.

Plus you can add to the content which is a challenge to a neophyte Java programmer such as myself.

Has anyone looked into it, played with it, or otherwise? I have tried to install it unsuccesssfully thus far.

It looks like an interesting and compelling technology.

For those that do not know, here's a link

Just wanted to see your guy's input.............
[ August 17, 2005: Message edited by: kenji mapes ]

[Joe Ess]

I am indifferent to 3d desktops. Years ago, when virtual reality was a new buzzword, my boss was going on about how the 3d desktop would be the Next Big Thing. I looked at his real-world desktop, feet deep in magazines, reports, boxes and so on and realized that there's something to be said for having one less dimension to clutter up.

[Rick Beaver]

I played with it a couple of years ago when I worked at Sun and loved the idea. This open version doesn't seem as slick for some reason and seems to be missing some of my favourite features (rotating a window to make notes being one of them). I liked it more when it was just someone's pet project to test out their new laptop.

Perhaps exposure to OS X has tainted the eye candy for me - especially with the fruity delights of the animation in Dashboard.

[kenji mapes]

Thanks for your feedback. I was thinking that it would be the future, only that it was a long time it maturing.

I still feel it has immense potential for widespread use and utility. However, you do bring up an excellent point about clutter. PCs and Macs are complicated enough for people in general, and I think in today's hectic world simplification is key.

If some type of balance can be struck with a 3D environment, it is possible to mesh both simplicity and elegance into it.

[Rick O'Shay]

In some sense crashingly obvious: got three dimensions? Use 'em! The problem was a critical mass of capable hardware that OS vendors needed before turning 3D loose as a standard interface. Tree controls and tabs only get you so far.