4 ms·

What will make this truly interesting is if 3rd party game developers follow in Valve's footsteps and start porting their games as well. Because that will hopef

What will make this truly interesting is if 3rd party game developers follow in Valve's footsteps and start porting their games as well. Because that will hopefully then lead to more attention from graphics card driver makers, solving one of Linux's last remaining weaknesses compared to Windows. With Microsoft following Apple into the post-PC era (or "PC Plus", as MS COO Kevin Turner likes to call it), Linux will be the last major OS with a traditional desktop metaphor as its dominant UI. Despite all the statements that the PC is dead, I think it will still have widespread uses, at least until brain-computer interfaces become a reality, because touchscreens simply cannot replace keyboards/mice in a large number of contexts.

Produce 14y ago
>at least until brain-computer interfaces become a reality A little late to the party. Sent from my iBrain.
DeepDuh 14y ago
Wait, OSX is loosing its desktop metaphor? Did I miss something? And since when is the desktop metaphor essential to mouse / keyboard control?
- mitchty 14y ago
  Having used Mountain Lion, I'd argue its more bringing mobile innovations and things that are successful there to the desktop. To be honest the desktop hasn't fundamentally changed much for a long time so its nice to see something new and being tried. That said, I'm not the biggest of fans.
  - DannoHung 14y ago
    I know it doesn't work well for multi-displays, but I freakin' love Command Center on my laptop when I'm not near an auxiliary monitor... so they got something a little right at least.
    - mitchty 14y ago
      It is nice, and I'll admit, full screen applications with command center are quite nice. Its great having a full screen terminal with tmux running, chrome, xcode, etc... I agree its one thing done right. And then there is Finder... but at least I have the shell, if only I could keep Finder dead or at least not visually running I'd be happier.
      - minikomi 14y ago
        From a brief stint using Xmonad, I just wish there was a way to switch between full screened apps without the animation.. If you assign a key and switch rapidly between say, a browser and a terminal, it can get a bit much sliding back and forth..
jorts 14y ago
I like the phrase "PC Plus." It's exactly my experience. I use my desktop and laptop for most things, but for consuming content when a small form factor works my tablet is great.
yuhong 14y ago
Even on Linux, Ubuntu is moving toward Unity and Gnome3.
- gcb 14y ago
  That's why users are flocking to xfce. You have the ability to make choices with Linux. Despite what Ubuntu wants you to believe. Shocking, i know. Choices. Who would have thought.
kayoone 14y ago
The Unity Game Engine (unity3d.com) which is very popular will also feature a Linux deployment option from Version 4 on out! Seems like theres alot of movement in the Linux gaming space at the moment, which of course is superb.
rapind 14y ago
I think of Linux as more of a black-box (runs your router, embedded) or server (headless) UI. I've never referred to Linux's desktop as it's dominant UI.

Produce 14y ago

>at least until brain-computer interfaces become a reality A little late to the party. Sent from my iBrain.

DeepDuh 14y ago

Wait, OSX is loosing its desktop metaphor? Did I miss something? And since when is the desktop metaphor essential to mouse / keyboard control?

mitchty 14y ago
Having used Mountain Lion, I'd argue its more bringing mobile innovations and things that are successful there to the desktop. To be honest the desktop hasn't fundamentally changed much for a long time so its nice to see something new and being tried. That said, I'm not the biggest of fans.
- DannoHung 14y ago
  I know it doesn't work well for multi-displays, but I freakin' love Command Center on my laptop when I'm not near an auxiliary monitor... so they got something a little right at least.
  - mitchty 14y ago
    It is nice, and I'll admit, full screen applications with command center are quite nice. Its great having a full screen terminal with tmux running, chrome, xcode, etc... I agree its one thing done right. And then there is Finder... but at least I have the shell, if only I could keep Finder dead or at least not visually running I'd be happier.
    - minikomi 14y ago
      From a brief stint using Xmonad, I just wish there was a way to switch between full screened apps without the animation.. If you assign a key and switch rapidly between say, a browser and a terminal, it can get a bit much sliding back and forth..

jorts 14y ago

I like the phrase "PC Plus." It's exactly my experience. I use my desktop and laptop for most things, but for consuming content when a small form factor works my tablet is great.

yuhong 14y ago

Even on Linux, Ubuntu is moving toward Unity and Gnome3.

gcb 14y ago
That's why users are flocking to xfce. You have the ability to make choices with Linux. Despite what Ubuntu wants you to believe. Shocking, i know. Choices. Who would have thought.

kayoone 14y ago

The Unity Game Engine (unity3d.com) which is very popular will also feature a Linux deployment option from Version 4 on out! Seems like theres alot of movement in the Linux gaming space at the moment, which of course is superb.

rapind 14y ago

I think of Linux as more of a black-box (runs your router, embedded) or server (headless) UI. I've never referred to Linux's desktop as it's dominant UI.