A windows shell alternative

[davim]

Cairo is a revolutionary desktop environment for Windows....

Its a very interesting environment, I would like to see some of this concepts ported to Linux!

http://cairoshell.com/
http://cairoshell.com/features/
http://www.cairoshell.com/wp-content/themes/cairo/downloadsmain.php?go=details&id=27

[Deciare]

Start-Bar
Easily access all your files and applications with Cairo's revolutionary Start replacement.
What's that supposed to mean? Is it something like KDE4's K-menu, which includes a built-in search field?

File Explorer
Easily find files and folders. Preview documents, music, or images with one click.
KDE's file managers let me preview documents, music, or images without needing to click. ;)

Launcher
Cairo makes it easy to launch applications you use frequently while hiding ones you don't.
Eek, I didn't like Microsoft's dynamic menus at all. I want to see every option. Just because I haven't used a feature yet doesn't mean I won't.

Dynamic Desktop
Browse files and folder right from your desktop. Easily move back and forth between locations.
I generally dislike using maximised or full-screen windows since they hide what's going on in every other window. A full-screen window that gets hidden by other windows is almost dramatic irony. XD

I suppose this could be okay if done properly... Like dynamically creating a new viewport if one more windows are opened over the desktop while browsing a folder. That way, you could associate different sets of tasks with different groups of files. Ideally, then, you'd be able to group multiple sets of files onto the same desktop, too.

File and Application Grouping
Group file types into virtual file stacks to easily locate files. Group applications together to easily switch between tasks.
I actually like this. Hierarchical structures are so not helpful for actually finding stuff, especially when your file hierarchy is as messy as mine. :p Being able to easily organise the same files into multiple locations, without having to mess with symlinks, tags, search folders or that other auxiliary indirectness, would be nice.

I quite like the way hardlinks work; the same file can exist in multiple locations simultaneously, and is removed from the filesystem when the last reference is removed.

[delfick]

I've known about this for quite some time. It looks cool :D

it'll be interesting to try out when they get to release point.

[some-guy]

some of those would probably be better as screenlets(like the panel) than part of compiz :D

[shafin]

some of those would probably be better as screenlets(like the panel) than part of compiz :D
Yeah,the panel as a screenlet would be a killer step. That way,screenlet can retain a big functionality of plasma.

Also, desk icons as screenlets would be another welcome addition.