Multiple desktops
Ever since I got hooked on the idea of virtual desktops with Linux, I’ve used some kind of virtual desktop manager on the Mac. I don’t know how people do without themâparticularly on a relatively small laptop screen. I find that it really helps to organise my workspaces into related activities, such as web, email, editing and so forth.
I started off using Codetek Virtual Desktop, and while I happily paid for a licence and thought the product was great, I started using the Open Source Desktop Manager instead. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Codetek product, but this was a good thing in many ways, and made it simpler and easier to use.
However, like Jarkko Laine, one thing always bothered me about Desktop Manager, and that was the fact that it didn’t switch to the correct desktop if you made an application active. I’ve spent frustrating minutes going to each desktop in turn to try and track down an application that I’ve misplaced. Virtue fixes that bug, and has some elegant improvements like a semi-transparent bezel pager display. It also displays mini-icons for your applications on the pager, so you know what’s where. Particularly if you have a laptop, I’d really recommend giving it a try.
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Thanks for the recommendation. I've never used virtual desktops. But I gave your suggestion a try and it looks like it will be quite useful for keeping my coding area clear - yet still have irc, feeds and Safari available.----- "...on a relatively small laptop screen"
Umm... Use the F9 key?
by ted_groony @ 05/02/2005 9:03 pm • Permalink •
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I love this! Thank you! Just like Desktop Manager... but so much better, and simpler!
by Nathan Ladd @ 06/02/2005 11:02 am • Permalink •
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Iolaire McFadden: You'll get addicted to them
ted_groony: I know, but it's not really the same thing. I might have 40 windows open spread over my 8 desktops. If I use Expose, I've got to hunt around in those 40 mini-windows to find the one I want. If I only did that occasionally, it wouldn't matter, but I'm frequently switching between, say 3 applications. If I'm writing notes on desktop 5, I can have a PDF version of a journal article open on desktop 8 and a Web of Knowledge search in my browser on 2. I have command keys set for all my desktops, so I can just bounce between them, knowing exactly what I'll find when I get there. No hunting required
. YMMV, though.
Nathan Ladd: You're welcome. It is subtly but hugely better than DM, isn't it?
by bsag @ 07/02/2005 6:02 pm • Permalink •
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Great catch! This is the first desktop manager for OS X I've been able to stand - and I was a heavy virtual desktop user on Linux. The fact that it switches desktops when an application becomes frontmost is absolutely key, and makes all the difference.
BTW, I installed Tracks this weekend, and I simply love it! Not only is it making my GTD tracking easier and more fun, you've inspired me to dig into Ruby and Rails. So, I guess that's two, maybe three good ones I owe you!
by Doug Miller @ 08/02/2005 2:03 am • Permalink •
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When I set up Virtue with the sliding desktop effect, it immediately reminded me of my first Mac, which had a very similar effect when you switched between applications. The tiny little black and white screen slid sideways. It was cool then!
Unfortunately Virtue doesn't yet work with Classic applications so I can't use it at the moment...
by pete @ 08/02/2005 9:02 am • Permalink •
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I've added this to my list of must-have OSX applications for when I get my Powerbook. Thanks for writing about it
by Matthew @ 08/02/2005 8:02 pm • Permalink •
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But you know that using Desktop Manager you can shift-click an inactive application to activate it and switch to the correct desktop?
by Frank @ 17/02/2005 10:03 pm • Permalink •
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But alas, it is broken in Tiger.
by bongoman @ 31/05/2005 10:06 am • Permalink •
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It's not broken under Tiger anymore! tonyarnold.com
You can always get the latest development build from my site - it's under very heavy development at the moment, but most of the features from the Panther version are now present and working under Tiger.
by Tony Arnold @ 08/12/2005 1:12 am • Permalink •
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