I think it's fair to say that the flapping window effect looks pretty cool. So does Genie (or Suck, which I prefer) in slow-mo.
Looks is the operative word here.
I'd love it if my Mac COULD do that, but I'd sure as hell never leave the feature on because it'd be tremendously annoying if I was ever trying to get something done. It is less useful than a minimize effect (which at least shows you something--where the object is going--with the eye candy), but I assume MS would let you turn it off, so it's really a wash.
The point of the demo (particuarly the stupid swimming window one) is to demonstrate what is possible when you make the interface a 3D composited layer using a 3D graphics card.
And the important thing is, Quartz, though not currently quite that full featured in its use of a 3D engine, can do that too, and it can do it now. Apple hasn't bothered yet, but I wouldn't be all that surprised if an extreme 3rd party hack could produce something like that, or will be able to soon.
Oh, and a word on XP--it's probably very easy to set up for a begining user. With the billions MS has, it'd better be. The more you know, the more you hate it, is the refrain I've heard from everyone I know--even not so advanced computer users. X, however, is tremendously easy to set up, and even easier to learn for a beginner--I've seen that at work many times. X, on the other hand, gets even more fun the more you know. And we've got at least two major OS revisions (counting 10.3) on the way before Longhorn is even scheduled to ship... and you know how punctual MS is about making ship dates.
Sorry, MS, I'll take power now, more power later, and a big ol' lack of Paladium et al, regardless of the cost.
)
