Enlightenment and XGL
Novell has made available the source for XGL, an X-server architecture for Linux. It’s to Linux what Quartz Extreme is to OSX. Although its status is still in early development, it has raised my expectations for the desktop interface in Linux machines.
XGL: switching desktops with Compiz and the rotate plugin
For the multitude of window managers available(KDE, Gnome, Metacity, et al), none has really made an impression for being visually arresting and attuned to the user. KDE, the one I’m using now, is functional but looks a little too similar to the Windows interface.
All save one, Enlightenment.
Enlightenment DR17
Currently, DR17 is under heavy development but it looks very promising at this early stage. Interestingly, both XGL and Enlightment DR17 seem to borrow design inspiration from OSX. It remains to be seen whether all ease of use will match up with all that eye candy. But for now at least, the state of the Linux desktop looks very good indeed.