Getting into Spaces : how do you use them?

Spaces is a hot corner for me. I use it just like I use Expose.
I have 4 spaces for:
-Safari
-iTunes
-EyeTV/Parallels
-iCal/AddressBook/Mail

 

I keep my Fusion/Windows running in another space
Like having a separate computer

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

I have to admit that it took me about a year (and I use my computer for about 8+ hours a day) to really learn and tweak spaces for my optimal experience. I have assigned a few apps to open in a particular space. Some apps behave differently with spaces too. You have already voiced your irritation with Office 2008, and that is a standard complaint with that package.

You can go to Macworld and various other places to read articles about how to use Spaces. I liked doing this because articles will explain all of the benefits/quirks so that you can think about what you do and use spaces to help you to do it more effectively.

 

So do I...

 

i have 6 spaces divided how i see them fit:

Space 1: Coda, Photoshop CS4, Cyberduck
Space 2: Mail, iCal
Space 3: Safari
Space 4: Transmission, Boxee, CrossOver
Space 5: iTunes, iPhoto, Airfoil/Airfoil Speakers
Space 6: Adium, iChat, Stickies, Quicktime, Garageband, Sys Prefs


most of the time everything but Boxee+CrossOver+Cyberduck is open so i love spaces

you should divide them

Work, Web Surfing, Media, Chat+Notes - or well.. i guess what applications you use together.

 

how well do spaces work with external displays?

 

Flawlessly for me.

 

Flawlessly period.

 

I stopped using spaces altogether as I found it was slowing me down. Plus, there were always times when I would want to see an app on space 1 and an app on space 2 at the same time. So, I was constantly moving apps between spaces. I found using combinations of command-tab and command-h work much faster for me while keeping my desktop clean and organized. I do, however, always use 2 monitors so that helps me a lot.

I really like the idea of spaces. Pretty much the only apps I would really want to use with spaces don't work well with them. Examples: MS Office and Matlab/Simulink. The latter is really annoying when it is on a space other than 1. Menus and pop-ups would always appear on space 1 no matter what space the program is actually on. Maybe something to do with X11? I don't know. Oh well.

 

Unfortunately as of right now there is not really a solution that I know of for clicking the application icon and having it go to the one you want. I think it generally goes to the last window you used.

I personally love them, but you kind of have to think of window management in a bit different of a way, and IMO more or less shun the dock. This works AMAZINGLY well for me, but it really throws Windows / Tiger / non-spaces Leopard users for a complete loop ("omg, where did it go "). I have a shortcut on my MX Revolution mouse that activates spaces, which works very very well.

If anyone is curious or hunting for ideas, my spaces layout: (I have two monitors, my 13" MB and my 21" external, so there is almost zero clutter / application overlap, which is the way I like it)

1: Mail, iCal, iChat
2: Safari, generally my "go-to space" for running misc. things
3: MS Office, iWork, etc.
4: iTunes, Aperture
5: Transmission, Limewire (when it worked), Handbrake, Switch, etc. -or- Aperture
6: Photoshop

 

Running 9 spaces, across two screens

1 Safari
2 Mail, iChat, iCal
3 DVD Player, iPhoto, iTunes, Logitech LCD tool
4 Numbers, Keynote, Pages
5 ConceptDraw Pro, Mindmap, Project
6 Handbrake, Razer mouse Control Centre, Cleanapp, System Profiler, Preferences
7 Keychain Access, ClamXv, Software Update
8 Terminal, Activety Monitor, Temperature Monitor, Console
9 Disk utility, SuperDouper, Drive Genius

Never had a problem Spaces works flawlessly for me, I also move stuff about, if I want two or more programs to coexist in the same space, generally I have them laid out to keep my workflow smooth, just need to add Neo Office 3

Q-6

 

I have 6 spaces:

1: iWork, Office
2: Safari and other internet stuff
3: free for apps that I don't use that often
4: Mail, iCal, Adium, Adressbook
5: iTunes
6: Windows running in fusion

Spaces is assigned to the 3rd mouse button, so I can navigate really quick between all my spaces. Expose is on the 4th button. With both Expose and Space I get a very easy and fast way to find all my windows.

When I'm on the road without a mouse I use the F5 key to bring up spaces.

And btw I have Spotlight on F6 so I can access all apps and documents in a second.