Virtual Desktops... You NEED them...

[mnkeybsness]

Okay guys: this is going to be my little software plug for Desktop Manager (http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/)...

I first started using Codetek's (http://www.codetek.com/) Virtual Desktop program about a year ago when I started a CSCI class and saw that Linux natively supported virtual desktops. It made me want my own. I used just one extra desktop for the longest time, not wanting to pay for the full version of the program.

Then, about September, I stumbled upon Desktop Manager (http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/). At that time, it did what I wanted and was free, so I continued using it and following the very rare updates.

Now, Desktop Manager is on it's way to becoming an amazing little application. The wow factor really comes from being able to use the different OS X Quartz Extreme transitions when switching between desktops:
http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/DMCube2_thumb_s.png
Desktop Manager is also lightweight, can use Codetek's Virtual Desktop pager skins, and FREE!

Did I mention that it's FREE?

ps- I am in no way affiliated with the program or the program's designer... just very very excited about it.

[edesignuk]

That looks awsome, thanks for the heads up on this!
I used to use Codeteks Virtual Desktop, and it was pretty good, but this looks great! :D

[DavidLeblond]

Looks like a nice program. But doesn't Panther already have that? Can't you have one user named "Internet Surfing" and another called "Music Creation" and just switch between the two using fast user switching?

[ExoticFish]

wow, that is so cool! i love it! i don't have a lot of need multiple desktops since i have Expose but i'll keep it around just have something to go "oooooo.... aaaaahhhh" at. :D

[Mr. Anderson]

Why have multiple user accounts - this is good stuff - my only question is how stable is it? Are there any compatibility problems with an other apps?

D

[edesignuk]

Well thye say it's still in Alpha, so it's very early days yet, not sure how stable it will be, but it does look very good and should be very good by the time it hits v1.0 :D

[jxyama]

Originally posted by DavidLeblond
Looks like a nice program. But doesn't Panther already have that? Can't you have one user named "Internet Surfing" and another called "Music Creation" and just switch between the two using fast user switching?

multiple user accounts as virtual desktop would be a nightmare for sharing files. files created/saved under one account won't generally be accessible by other accounts...

[ExoticFish]

from the few minutes i've been using it it seems pretty stable but i've only been using it for a little bit now. :) but just using it it feels real nice. all of the different desktop switching effects are awesome!

[Westside guy]

Being a migrant from Linux, I've always found virtual desktops to be very useful (even found some hacks for Windows to enable them). I find it easier to subdivide my work - e-mail and Web on one desktop, graphics (Photoshop, or the GIMP) on another, etc.

Expose is nice, but I still prefer having multiple desktops. Hopefully Apple will incorporate them sometime. Certainly most other Unix/Linux/BSD window managers have them.

[technocoy]

I have been using this app for months, and i have to say that i love it as well. it is very stable.

technocoy:D

[jdang]

this program is truley amazing. especially the effects going from one desktop to another. and to ansewr the above posters question about fast-user switching.....that is much slower and probably takes up more space. here you can do so many more things, with COOL effects, and its all free. one cool request would be to have different desktop images allowed on different desktops, but for some reason i dont think this is possible. anyways, what an awesome program!

[mnkeybsness]

i'm actually surprised at the stability of the program. i recommend it to everyone i know.

i do believe that the multiple desktop picture functionality is being worked on.

and as for using multiple accounts for virtual desktops? that's crazy because programs can't run cross-users and network connections get killed when you switch accounts.

my only quarrel is that applications still remain in the dock at all times... i wish there was a way to get them to be desktop specific docks...

[takao]

Originally posted by Westside guy
Being a migrant from Linux, I've always found virtual desktops to be very useful (even found some hacks for Windows to enable them).

virtual desktops are no problem for windows xp but it has to be downloaded here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

yeah virtual desktops are really useful (using linux at the moment) after a while you nearly can't live without them

[Westside guy]

One eye-candy feature I miss from my Linux days: Enlightenment's desktop pager (and the old Gnome desktop pager) had little desktop displays that were basically screenshots of each desktop. It was fast too - redraws seemed at least as fast as this program or Codetek's VD.

Much nicer than little boxes with icons on them - and if you have multiple windows from the same app, it's a better representation of your desktop.

I know, I know... I don't NEED this. Codetek has even explained why it probably will never be implemented. But it's a cool feature, and OS X is all about cool, right? :D

[dukemeiser]

I would bet this feature might be in 10.4. It would be easy for Apple to do since they've already introduced fast user switching. This is just a variation of that.

[Mr. Anderson]

Coming from a unix environment, I've been waiting for something like this for a while now. I installed it and it seems to run quite nicely....

Is there anyway to change the prefs, names of the different windows, # of windows and position?

D

[mnkeybsness]

the menu was turned on by default for me up in the right side of the menubar... if it isn't, click the little blue color spot on the pager at the middle-bottom to bring up the prefs.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by mnkeybsness
the menu was turned on by default for me up in the right side of the menubar... if it isn't, click the little blue color spot on the pager at the middle-bottom to bring up the prefs.

ah - tricky since i have a pop up dock at the bottom of the screen :D

Thanks! This thing is great if you only have one monitor!

Got Lightwave (animation app) in one window and the LW Modeler in another. Photoshop in the 3rd and safari in the 4th.

Friggin great!!!

D

[Dale Sorel]

Originally posted by DavidLeblond
But doesn't Panther already have that? Can't you have one user named "Internet Surfing" and another called "Music Creation" and just switch between the two using fast user switching?

Yea, but with Desktop Manager you can use the edges of the screen to switch desktops...very intuitive and cool :D

And they say they're working on being able to drag things from one desktop to another :D

[yoman]

wow this is awesome thanks man

[Rower_CPU]

Very nice for laptops...I can recreate my dual monitor setup very easily now...:)

[edesignuk]

wow, just installed it, it's fantastic! if u haven't got it...get it!

[MacBoyX]

Works great on my PBook 12" 1GHz, not so much on my G5, if I stay in the preferences too long it just quits, no message no nothing :( Anyone else having this? If I dont change prefs it seems ok...

macboyX

[crenz]

mnkeybsness, thanks for the hint! I really like it! It's a wonderful little app -- tried it out with Logic, and it's really nice to have the arrangement window on one desktop, then move over to the mixer window on the other desktop. Sweet :)

Now if there were a way to set a different desktop picture for each virtual desktop... that would help me to orientate myself :).

[Dale Sorel]

Originally posted by crenz
Now if there were a way to set a different desktop picture for each virtual desktop... that would help me to orientate myself :).

That would be too cool :cool:

[mac15]

I'd use it if it offered a true multi-moniter UI. One thing I'd like to see go is the dock and menubar from screens other than your main on. If that happened, Virtual desktops would be for me :)

[mnkeybsness]

Originally posted by mac15
I'd use it if it offered a true multi-moniter UI. One thing I'd like to see go is the dock and menubar from screens other than your main on. If that happened, Virtual desktops would be for me :)

the problem with that (the menubar at least) is that you can't use an app just in one virtual desktop very well if the entire menubar is on another virtual desktop that you cannot see.

[Heart Break Kid]

i just wanted to say that this app is soo cool

the eyecandy just reminds me once again why i will never regret switching to a 17" PB.

thanks so much for the app mnkey - you da man

[Mr. Anderson]

it works great and but there is room for improvement :D

the different backgrounds is one, and clicking on an app and going to that virtual window would be nice.

it is only version 0.5 - so maybe we should send our comments to these guys and hopefully they'll add these options.

This thing is essential for smaller screens - and the active edges option is great - the different transitions quite fun.

D

[Mr. Anderson]

After using this thing for a week or so now - I'm hooked. I've got it on all 3 of my machines and I can't imagine not using it.

Apple should be buying this and have it standard in the OS - maybe 10.4....:D

Great stuff!

D

[Heart Break Kid]

total agreement with Mr. Anderson

gotta, it not only makes every1 in my comp sci class we theere pants when i switch between my iTunes/Music desktop to my Internet desktop

only suggestion - the bezzel that shows the name could stay a little longer on the new desktop and not show on the old as you switch

features id like to see -

1. sticky apps - having ie. konfab stay running on all desktops

2. different desktop backgrounds

other then that this alpha is so stable and flawless i cant believe its not a final release

[ionas]

although i dont see that expose and virtual desktop and multiple desktops exclude each other i dont see virtual desktops to come along with expose.

(virtual = scrolling desktop)

more likely will be expose + multiple desktops,

i still do not see that because it is not USABLE for dumb end users ;)

and apple has to care about them

if apple brings a 2 or 3 button mouse, we might once see multiple desktops,
until then: no chance ;-]

but who cares - if that app presented here is good enough! ;-]

[Kingsnapped]

Very nice app, stickey apps would be nice though, I'm trying to run the system profiler to see how much power this thing is taking up.

[neoelectronaut]

Well, I downloaded it and gave it a whirl.

All in all, it's a neat little program, but I don't really see myself needing it. I hardly ever have that many things open, and when I do, expose easily takes care of any window management for me.

That said, if you need it, download it. It's a nice piece of software and I would reccomend it to just about anyone.

My 2 cents.


Edit: Any way I can set it to be just 2 windows instead of 4? I might play around with it a little more later, but 4 virtual desktops just seems a little overkill for me.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by neoelectronaut
Edit: Any way I can set it to be just 2 windows instead of 4? I might play around with it a little more later, but 4 virtual desktops just seems a little overkill for me.

Well, I was actually hoping to get more than 4 :D and it doesn't do that. It seems as though its stuck at 4 for now, hopefully they'll add the ability to change the number of virtual desktops in future releases.

D

[ExoticFish]

over the past couple days i've been trying to use it off and on and i just can't get used to it. i'm in love with virtual screens on my linux box, but in OS X Expose is just much more useful. i have it set up so that command-mouse3 does the "all windows" Expose function and that is hella quick and easy for finding stuff, much more so than switching around virtual desktops till i find what i'm looking for. i'll keep it around and keep trying to use it. i WANT to find it useful, honestly i do!!

[mnkeybsness]

here's the best way that i've found to use virtual desktops and expose at the same time...

i like to be able to see my entire itunes window whenever i need to, without waiting for hide/unhide or maximize, etc... so in my second desktop, i have the itunes window, and only the itunes window take up the entire screen.

i have my regular space (first desktop) set up for web browsing, chatting and miscellaneous tasks.

my third desktop i use for all my other work like photoshop, bbedit, ftp, or any other related tasks. i've found that when working with this kind of stuff, i always need to reference something from my browser or need to get to my desktop quickly without all those other windows. the hide all windows expose function just doesn't cut it sometimes.

that's all i do. three desktops is the perfect number.