It’s been a longtime since I decided to use Xgl / Compiz as the default composite window manager for my GNOME Desktop. I tried it out just after David Reveman’s talk at GUADEC 6 (in Stuttgart, Germany).
When I installed it for the first time (about one year ago), I thought to myself, what a cool piece of software I just installed !
Although at that time, I had to get the code from CVS and it was a bit unstable, it worked very good, especially the 3D cube which is my favorite compiz plug-in. Now, since I can update it through Portage (from Gentoo Foundation’s mirrors), I think I will forget 2D window managers for a while (maybe forever).

After a longtime using Xgl / compiz, I find it so weird to use a desktop with a non-composite window manager, I feel something is missing or that I’m using embedded software. I really need to see a 3D cube for desktop switching as well as wobbling windows with transparency while using my laptop computer. I’ve been trying out many GL effects (plug-ins using glx extensions) on my GNOME Desktop with compiz, beryl (compiz-based project) and metacity with composite manager (updated version). They all work perfectly with Xorg / Xgl (I’ve never used them with AIGLX).
GNOME Desktop with Xgl / compiz as composite window manager.