is aero glass worthwhile feature

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

SoCalFred wrote:

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

It is a visual style, and doesn't have any intrinsic purpose. A number of folks, myself included, note that the reversal of dark/light between the menu band and the title bar mean that it's actually harder to see and navigate between windows. In that case you need to turn off glass or tint it heavily.

I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

What benefit would you expect from glassed content?
JW wrote:

I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

While using Aero Glass is a matter of personal preference I found that updating to a video card that supported it made Vista faster overall even with it turned on. I upgraded from a Radeon 7000 to a Radeon 9550. I'm guessing,but it appears that using the Radeon 7000 took a bit of CPU overhead causing an overall slowdown even without Glass. Depending on your existing card and what you want to upgrade to your results will undoubtedly vary from mine.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"SoCalFred" wrote in message

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

During the mornings I have CNBC in a small TV window and the financial market statistics maximized in another and I often shift which one is on top in order to see if there are changes of importance or a TV interview of importance. With Glass content I could probably see enough of the content of either window to not have to switch just to see if there was something of more importance on the beneath window. Of couse maybe I am wrong in thinking I could do this but I wanted to try since I am switching far too often with un glassed content windows.
"Mike Williams" wrote in message

What benefit would you expect from glassed content?
JW wrote: I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

It's actually like looking through the shower door glass; there's something there, but there's no way to really make it out.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional! "JW" wrote in message

During the mornings I have CNBC in a small TV window and the financial market statistics maximized in another and I often shift which one is on top in order to see if there are changes of importance or a TV interview of importance. With Glass content I could probably see enough of the content of either window to not have to switch just to see if there was something of more importance on the beneath window. Of couse maybe I am wrong in thinking I could do this but I wanted to try since I am switching far too often with un glassed content windows.
"Mike Williams" wrote in message What benefit would you expect from glassed content?
JW wrote: I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

I like the glass and use it. However, I realize that some do not. I would not object if Microsoft imported the Luna style to Vista for those who want it.
William
JW wrote:

During the mornings I have CNBC in a small TV window and the financial market statistics maximized in another and I often shift which one is on top in order to see if there are changes of importance or a TV interview of importance. With Glass content I could probably see enough of the content of either window to not have to switch just to see if there was something of more importance on the beneath window. Of couse maybe I am wrong in thinking I could do this but I wanted to try since I am switching far too often with un glassed content windows.
"Mike Williams" wrote in message
What benefit would you expect from glassed content?
JW wrote:
I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message
I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

What is the Lune Style? Do you have a link that gives details?
"William" wrote in message I like the glass and use it. However, I realize that some do not. I would not object if Microsoft imported the Luna style to Vista for those who want it.
William
JW wrote: During the mornings I have CNBC in a small TV window and the financial market statistics maximized in another and I often shift which one is on top in order to see if there are changes of importance or a TV interview of importance. With Glass content I could probably see enough of the content of either window to not have to switch just to see if there was something of more importance on the beneath window. Of couse maybe I am wrong in thinking I could do this but I wanted to try since I am switching far too often with un glassed content windows.
"Mike Williams" wrote in message What benefit would you expect from glassed content?
JW wrote: I upgraded my system to support it and now do not use it as I found no benefit from it since the as you pointed out the windows content is not "glassed" and it just consumes resources better used for other functions.
"SoCalFred" wrote in message I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

Personally, I rather like the Aero Glass feature, for me it's not very dark and really doesn't interfere with the rest of the disply. I'm using a Radeon X1300 PCI_E video card, and the beta video driver from ATI.

JW wrote:

What is the Lune Style? Do you have a link that gives details?

It's the default XP theme.

likewise, i love the glass effect. if the question is; Is it functional? well ofcourse not. i dont think it was ever meant to be functional, is as functional as a background picture. however i really do like it it makes very pleasent and "New" to look at. I am not using a real crazy video card just ATI Radeon X700 PCIe i dont notice any hang ups or lack of system resource. I love it.

"rich066" wrote:

Personally, I rather like the Aero Glass feature, for me it's not very dark and really doesn't interfere with the rest of the disply. I'm using a Radeon X1300 PCI_E video card, and the beta video driver from ATI.

Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

"Alejo" wrote:

likewise, i love the glass effect. if the question is; Is it functional? well ofcourse not. i dont think it was ever meant to be functional, is as functional as a background picture. however i really do like it it makes very pleasent and "New" to look at. I am not using a real crazy video card just ATI Radeon X700 PCIe i dont notice any hang ups or lack of system resource. I love it.

Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message

Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

Grumpy wrote:

Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.

You may have been alone in that misconception. Certainly looking at the masses of documentation and screenshots on the internet would have set you straight very quickly.

Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

No, Kerry, of course it doesn't. I think Stardock does have a Vista "Aeroesqe" theme available, but whether it does Flip 3D and/or Taskbar previews, I have no idea.
For the most part, I do like the visual impact of the glass theme, but I still can't see where it has any intrinsic functionality. Still, I haven't turned it off yet...
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Kerry Brown" wrote in message

Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

i guess most of are still waiting for RC1 which should include flip 3D and more Aero Glass; but whatever it does it makes the windows look really sharp. as for as needing to have 99 thumbnails on a desk top.... maybe you should use Linux Mandiva with the ability to run 16 desktops. that should be enough for the 99 thumbnails!
"Kerry Brown" wrote:

Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

I prefer Fedora to Mandiva and I only use two or three desktops most of the time.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Alejo" wrote in message

i guess most of are still waiting for RC1 which should include flip 3D and more Aero Glass; but whatever it does it makes the windows look really sharp. as for as needing to have 99 thumbnails on a desk top.... maybe you should use Linux Mandiva with the ability to run 16 desktops. that should be enough for the 99 thumbnails!
"Kerry Brown" wrote:
Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

I use DesltopXP v3.1 on XP it gives me 99 desktops I think, but I too only ever use three, beyond that I get lost.
A lot of private schools near me have gone fully Linux at the request of the students, the younger students like the "Penguin" logo nothing more I think, but the seniors convinced admin that linux is more cost effective than running Windows systems, they have a couple of Macs for video editing but no windows machines any more.
There have been write ups in the press about the schools going all Linux. They use Mandriva (formerly Mandrake) Linux 2006 - chosen for its ease of installation and stability. The students use a variety of open source applications for their coursework, including; OpenOffice, Firefox, Nvu for Web editing, Evolution for e-mail, Scribus for publishing, The Gimp for image manipulation, QCad for design, and KDevelop for Pascal programming. and non-open source application Mojo for animation which works brilliantly on Linux.
The school's main server is also running Mandriva, version 10.1. "In 2002 our first server was a well used Sun Ultra 10 (Sparc) running Mandrake 7 [and] it worked very well until the hardware failed,". "In 2003 our second server was a very well used HP Netserver LD Pro 133MHz, running Mandrake 9. It couldn't cope with the demand [but] nonetheless it gave good service 90 percent of the time. Late in 2004 our third server, a new HP Proliant ML 110 running Mandrake 10.1 has given 100 percent service ever since [with] no downtime."
So it appears many colledges and schools are going all Linux.

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

I prefer Fedora to Mandiva and I only use two or three desktops most of the time.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Alejo" wrote in message i guess most of are still waiting for RC1 which should include flip 3D and more Aero Glass; but whatever it does it makes the windows look really sharp. as for as needing to have 99 thumbnails on a desk top.... maybe you should use Linux Mandiva with the ability to run 16 desktops. that should be enough for the 99 thumbnails!
"Kerry Brown" wrote:
Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

Read the promo - Never !
If all else fails read the manual - Never !
If I can't get productivity out of a OS or an application without reading the manual or within 20 mins then that OS or application is history.
MS haven't you ever hear of "intuitive" interface.
I have great fun pressing the keys and see what happens, ok for most computers, not so good during a public open day at your local Nuclear Power Plant.

"Mike Williams" wrote:

Grumpy wrote: Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
You may have been alone in that misconception. Certainly looking at the masses of documentation and screenshots on the internet would have set you straight very quickly.

Multiple Monitors vs Multiple Desktops
For each their own, multiple 3 monitor setups are becoming more popular for home users.
Multiple monitors are used by, -AV producers and editors, -Financial currency and share traders, -Industrial processes even hobbyists, -Even some prototype games, -Home users webcamera surveillance of pool, nursary, etc.
Mutiple Desktops should not be considered the poor mans multiple monitor setup, indeed multiple desktops whether transparent or not can be useful, for web camera surveillance, NLE use, watching TV or application progress, etc.
Vista Aero Glass has the potential to develope into a powerful and useful application if MS wish to at sometime improve its capabilities.

"Alejo" wrote:

i guess most of are still waiting for RC1 which should include flip 3D and more Aero Glass; but whatever it does it makes the windows look really sharp. as for as needing to have 99 thumbnails on a desk top.... maybe you should use Linux Mandiva with the ability to run 16 desktops. that should be enough for the 99 thumbnails!
"Kerry Brown" wrote:
Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

Don't forget software developers. It's almost impossible to develop software and Web sites with one monitor. Three is more like it for Web development. Maybe four.

"Grumpy" wrote in message

Multiple Monitors vs Multiple Desktops
For each their own, multiple 3 monitor setups are becoming more popular for home users.
Multiple monitors are used by, -AV producers and editors, -Financial currency and share traders, -Industrial processes even hobbyists, -Even some prototype games, -Home users webcamera surveillance of pool, nursary, etc.
Mutiple Desktops should not be considered the poor mans multiple monitor setup, indeed multiple desktops whether transparent or not can be useful, for web camera surveillance, NLE use, watching TV or application progress, etc.
Vista Aero Glass has the potential to develope into a powerful and useful application if MS wish to at sometime improve its capabilities.

"Alejo" wrote:
i guess most of are still waiting for RC1 which should include flip 3D and more Aero Glass; but whatever it does it makes the windows look really sharp. as for as needing to have 99 thumbnails on a desk top.... maybe you should use Linux Mandiva with the ability to run 16 desktops. that should be enough for the 99 thumbnails!
"Kerry Brown" wrote:
Does it also give you the improved Alt-Tab, Flip3D, taskbar previews, etc.? There is much more to Aero Glass than transparent window frames. I'm not saying that Aero Glass is great. I haven't decided yet. I'll wait til the RTM. I am saying that focusing on only one aspect of it doesn't do it justice.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message Eye-candy at best, nothing more. Download a program called "Glass" and have the same thing in XP.
-- Mark
Keeping the fun in dysfunctional!
"Grumpy" wrote in message Transparent Background Multi-Desktops
Maybe I have missed the point, but I thought that was going to be the functionality of Vista Aero Glass.
When you have third party multiple desktops running, in say XP, you only see the top desktop with a solid background.
I asked MS years ago could I have a variable transparent background from fully transparent background to solid background, so I could see the desktop underneath, like "Layers" in photo / graphic applications.
The idea I wanted was my 99 desktop thumbnails in the system tray, but with the ability to drag them like layers to the top, or second, or third, etc, and to set transparency, so I could look thru my desktop to say the second desktop underneath or even to the third desktop, and see how my video rendering was progressing, watch tv, etc, just like Alice in wonderland looking thru the looking glass.
XP allows for transparent windows, but I wanted transparent Desktops.
Only the text, graphics (photos, video), window frames, etc, on the top desktop would not be transparent, but the rest of the window background (some times called window paper) would be transparent, also the desktop background could have customed clear not distorted transparency (see thru clear "Glass").
But this is not what Vista has delivered yet, and Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, all have similar ambitions in the furture I understand, when some cleaver programmers figure out how to do it, not easy apparently.
So is Aero Glass a worthwhile feature? well not yet anyway !

The Aero features are not limited to a Glass effect, Flip 3D is also a cool feature tied to it. If you have the resources, it's pretty cool. if not, don't use it. Ultimately it will not improve your efficiency very much and your resource utilization will drop if you turn it off. So far I like it. It is flaky but remember this is a beta... the final version should be much improved.
"SoCalFred" wrote:

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.

Slow at times, but is cool and sophisticated, even though it is sort of a resource hog. Gives sense of depth, but if many windows on top of each other, window borders look chaotic b/c of the blurs - titles of window borders hence are barely readable.
"SoCalFred" wrote:

I have read that Glass does not apply to the content of a Window just to the border material so I am not sure If I should upgrade my system so I can use it. So I am asking those of use that have it installed what you think.