Mission Control Replacement?

[Piplodocus]

I always thought spaces was a PITA to use. Now I can swipe between spaces or rearrange/goto them via mission control.

IMO it's now FAR more usable than it was!!!

 

[klaxamazoo]

I always thought spaces was a PITA to use. Now I can swipe between spaces or rearrange/goto them via mission control.

IMO it's now FAR more usable than it was!!!

You could always rearrange Spaces even in 10.5 and the problems people have with Mission Control have almost nothing to do with arranging Spaces and everything to do with Windows overlapping and not being able to see the content of more than one Space at a time.

Please keep the discussion relevant to the topic title. i.e. Finding a replacement for Mission Control. It is great if you like Mission Control, I suggest starting a thread on that very subject; but there is a decently large contingent of people that don't like Mission Control and we are looking for a replacement.

That is what this thread is about, finding a replacement for Mission Control.

 

[Phechs]

its a bit hard(impossible) for me to swipe on my NON-Apple mouse, and my lack of a touchpad for my DESKTOP. IMO, Lion is actually pretty useful on a laptop. But I have a long list of features that are just beta/broken IMO, when compared to SL(or a number of other operating system window environments). I personally prefer lion on a laptop, but not at all on a desktop.

Why oh why are my dual-screen desktops SPLIT UP, to only show each displays individual desktop on each screen, they should be displayed NEXT to each other(connected) in iMissionControl; this is just broken functionality imo. In mission control, I cant even drag one window or app from one display to another, on the same desktop. I have to mouseover or count the desktop order just to see which desktop I am looking at on my second display(so I know which one its connected to on my main display in missioncontrol), was this even tested with users that actually use multiple displays? Lion feels more and more like a prep-program to ready me for switching to another OS. I cant believe how much extra time I've already lost compared to MY day-to-day SL usage :-(! If i didnt need these new OpenGL drivers, I'd be back in SL.

I'm aware of ShowWindows, Witch, Change Space, and HyperDock, but has anyone found any other new utilities for iLion that they'd like to share on the thread? I WISH someone would port Gnome and/or KDE to OSX!

edit: just found these, hmmm ;-)
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/613234/
http://lists.apple.com/archives/Darwin-x86/2006/Jul/msg00000.html
http://homepage.mac.com/rhwood/gnome/index.html

 

[klaxamazoo]

its a bit hard(impossible) for me to swipe on my NON-Apple mouse, and my lack of a touchpad for my DESKTOP. IMO, Lion is actually pretty useful on a laptop. But I have a long list of features that are just beta/broken IMO, when compared to SL(or a number of other operating system window environments). I personally prefer lion on a laptop, but not at all on a desktop.

Why oh why are my dual-screen desktops SPLIT UP, to only show each displays individual desktop on each screen, they should be displayed NEXT to each other(connected) in iMissionControl; this is just broken functionality imo. In mission control, I cant even drag one window or app from one display to another, on the same desktop. I have to mouseover or count the desktop order just to see which desktop I am looking at on my second display(so I know which one its connected to on my main display in missioncontrol), was this even tested with users that actually use multiple displays? Lion feels more and more like a prep-program to ready me for switching to another OS. I cant believe how much extra time I've already lost compared to MY day-to-day SL usage :-(! If i didnt need these new OpenGL drivers, I'd be back in SL.

I'm aware of ShowWindows, Witch, Change Space, and HyperDock, but has anyone found any other new utilities for iLion that they'd like to share on the thread? I WISH someone would port Gnome and/or KDE to OSX!

edit: just found these, hmmm ;-)
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/613234/
http://lists.apple.com/archives/Darwin-x86/2006/Jul/msg00000.html
http://homepage.mac.com/rhwood/gnome/index.html

Nice finds. That is some decent progress and does give me a lot of hope that someone will find a way to bring a decent alternative to MC to 10.7.

 

[Phechs]

man oh man, until today, I hadn't tried moving one window from a desktop on display#1 to another desktop on display number 2, in iMissionControl.... and the winners are SNOW LEOPARD, Leopard, Tiger, KDE, GNOME, & Windows! This is BASIC CORE functionality, that, unless I'm doing something wrong here, has been stripped from Lion.

was this OS even tested on something other than a laptop or iMac!!!!!!!!

so here's the scenario(that works fine in SL/L/KDE/GNOME/Windows)
after launching iMissionControl, I then attempt to drag an app window on display#1 & desktop#1, to display#1 & desktop#2, and all works as expected, the window moves to display#1 & desktop#2.

BUT, #iLionFAIL !!!!! ugh, get this:

after launching iMissionControl, I then attempt to drag an app window on display#1 & desktop#1, to display#2 & desktop#2(or ANY desktop on display #2), and Lion REFUSES to allow for the dragging of any app window from one display to any desktop on another display. WTF, this is getting very embarrassing. How was this allowed to leave internal testing?

pardon the gripe, but here we go again, HAS ANYONE FOUND A SOLUTION TO THIS iLION FAIL?
can anyone confirm this behavior on their own multi-display setup? maybe I'm missing some hidden key command or something, because this is just absurd imo.

edit: also, in SL, when you were in expose, you could tap space bar once and then any window you moused-over would appear full size. In iLion, when you attempt this in iMissionControl, it only allows you to mouseover 1 window, causing the user to constantly tap the space bar to zoom in on more than 1 window. so if I exposed 20 windows in SL, I could tap spacebar once to then see any of those windows zoom in by mousing over any number of them, I hope thats clear. Has anyone found a fix for this missing functionality in iLion?

 

[jameslmoser]

man oh man, until today, I hadn't tried moving one window from a desktop on display#1 to another desktop on display number 2, in iMissionControl.... and the winners are SNOW LEOPARD, Leopard, Tiger, KDE, GNOME, & Windows! This is BASIC CORE functionality, that, unless I'm doing something wrong here, has been stripped from Lion.

was this OS even tested on something other than a laptop or iMac!!!!!!!!

so here's the scenario(that works fine in SL/L/KDE/GNOME/Windows)
after launching iMissionControl, I then attempt to drag an app window on display#1 & desktop#1, to display#1 & desktop#2, and all works as expected, the window moves to display#1 & desktop#2.

BUT, #iLionFAIL !!!!! ugh, get this:

after launching iMissionControl, I then attempt to drag an app window on display#1 & desktop#1, to display#2 & desktop#2(or ANY desktop on display #2), and Lion REFUSES to allow for the dragging of any app window from one display to any desktop on another display. WTF, this is getting very embarrassing. How was this allowed to leave internal testing?

pardon the gripe, but here we go again, HAS ANYONE FOUND A SOLUTION TO THIS iLION FAIL?
can anyone confirm this behavior on their own multi-display setup? maybe I'm missing some hidden key command or something, because this is just absurd imo.

edit: also, in SL, when you were in expose, you could tap space bar once and then any window you moused-over would appear full size. In iLion, when you attempt this in iMissionControl, it only allows you to mouseover 1 window, causing the user to constantly tap the space bar to zoom in on more than 1 window. so if I exposed 20 windows in SL, I could tap spacebar once to then see any of those windows zoom in by mousing over any number of them, I hope thats clear. Has anyone found a fix for this missing functionality in iLion?

Yeah, this was the first thing I noticed when I used Mission Control. I couldn't believe it, I thought I screwed up my upgrade... needless to say because of this and all the other Fail in Mission Control and Lion I am back on Snow Leopard, and I can move my windows to any monitor and desktop from any desktop... so simple, so powerful... why of why did they screw this up!?!?

 

[strausd]

Yeah, this was the first thing I noticed when I used Mission Control. I couldn't believe it, I thought I screwed up my upgrade... needless to say because of this and all the other Fail in Mission Control and Lion I am back on Snow Leopard, and I can move my windows to any monitor and desktop from any desktop... so simple, so powerful... why of why did they screw this up!?!?

I am really considering going back to SL on my MP. The problem is that I don't know exactly what I would lose from restoring from an old TM backup

EDIT: Just had a thought. If I restored from a TM backup from a few months ago to go back onto SL, could I then just replace my home folder from my more recent version that was running Lion? Or would that cause problems?

 

[GermanyChris]

I am really considering going back to SL on my MP. The problem is that I don't know exactly what I would lose from restoring from an old TM backup

EDIT: Just had a thought. If I restored from a TM backup from a few months ago to go back onto SL, could I then just replace my home folder from my more recent version that was running Lion? Or would that cause problems?

I would do plan B..

I want to say I used and image of the Lion drive and used CCC to bring back the Apps and such but not the user account.

But after a couple weeks I reinstalled everything from scratch

If it were me I'd zero and clean install it..I know its a paing but Lion is all invasive and you want it gone COMPLETELY.

 

[strausd]

I would do plan B..

I want to say I used and image of the Lion drive and used CCC to bring back the Apps and such but not the user account.

But after a couple weeks I reinstalled everything from scratch

If it were me I'd zero and clean install it..I know its a paing but Lion is all invasive and you want it gone COMPLETELY.

I wish there was an easier way to downgrade Or upgrade depending on how you see it

 

[Phechs]

I've been attempting to install kde and gnome(or even xfce) with mac ports, and get errors on each. If I could get these installed, it could to a great degree could solve(and even enhance) the issued that Lion presents to my workflow/productivity... I'll keep trying, but for now I'm using parallels to run the ever so cool GNOME(and kde sometimes) on top of all of my iLion displays, in seamless mode, allowing me to toggle between multiple displays, and use their expose features, no matter what desktop I'm on. Given I'm limited to the apps in linux that I would use for this, but its actually VERY useful to have apps like chrome, or firebird running on top of every lion desktop and have expose/spaces functionality on all of those virtual desktops. If any else is able to do a native x11 or otherwise install of kde/gnome/xfce on top of osx lion with macports, please share your steps

P.S. an app called dockview(appstore) is VERY useful, in that when you trigger the app switcher(apple tab) it allows for displaying all window previews when mousing over an app in the app switcher(and the dock, but I use hyperdock for that). having the window previews on any desktop, with the app switcher, and not having to mouse over to the dock for them, like hyperdock requires, is very handy in iLion.

 

[GermanyChris]

I've been attempting to install kde and gnome(or even xfce) with mac ports, and get errors on each. If I could get these installed, it could to a great degree could solve(and even enhance) the issued that Lion presents to my workflow/productivity... I'll keep trying, but for now I'm using parallels to run the ever so cool GNOME(and kde sometimes) on top of all of my iLion displays, in seamless mode, allowing me to toggle between multiple displays, and use their expose features, no matter what desktop I'm on. Given I'm limited to the apps in linux that I would use for this, but its actually VERY useful to have apps like chrome, or firebird running on top of every lion desktop and have expose/spaces functionality on all of those virtual desktops. If any else is able to do a native x11 or otherwise install of kde/gnome/xfce on top of osx lion with macports, please share your steps

P.S. an app called dockview(appstore) is VERY useful, in that when you trigger the app switcher(apple tab) it allows for displaying all window previews when mousing over an app in the app switcher(and the dock, but I use hyperdock for that). having the window previews on any desktop, with the app switcher, and not having to mouse over to the dock for them, like hyperdock requires, is very handy in iLion.

While I'm a big fan of Linux window management, I don't think I'd want a KDE desktop on top of OSX especially when the prefious version of OSX is just fine. I'd be interested in seeing it compete, I just don't know if it's the solution.

 

[Phechs]

I totally agree with you. Ideally, If I could find a way to port the OpenCL 1.1, and maybe even the OpenGL(though the OpenCL is most important) from Lion into Snow Leopard, I would have already switched back, It seems like its only reliant onupon a few different .kexts, so it may be possible. Also, the Leopard dock was tweaked to work in snow leopard, and I've read of people trying to get SL or leopard dock/expose/spaces into lion(because it looks like the dock still controls it all in lion too), but no success yet.

edit: also, today I saw the new photoshop 6 video teasers, and it looks like they've(of course) moved even moreso onto the gpu(given their NVIDIA partership, so of course premiere and AE will likely do more & more of as well). Given that they relied only on acceleration from CUDA in cs5.5(and below), IF they opt to support OpenCL, for a number of reasons, they'll need at least openCL1.1, which is in Lion only, and not OpenCL 1.0 which is in SL :-(. At the moment, Apple is leaking VERY new radeon drivers for Lion that CRUSH with OpenCL based GPU computing(not CUDA obviously). For 3D rendering, this is a key factor, more & more often video(premiere) and 2D(photoshop) as well. Now that you can pick up 3GB GPU's that FLY in photoshop with GPU acceleration and a ton of VRAM(much more on windows than mac in my experience), this is a big factor for users that depend on the GPU to process and not just display their desktops. Now if only I could get that OpenCL and GL into Snow leopard... I'd have no reason to move to Lion, and could hand out to see if 10.8 alienates the pro-user even more ;-)(hope not though, REALLY hope not... I hope this was just a quick preemptive move to beat Microsoft to the market given the impending release of Metro in Win8)
http://prodesigntools.com/photoshop-cs6-performance-sneak-peek.html#sneak-3

edit 2: lol, activate mission control, then trigger the previous or next desktop keystroke WHILE in missioncontrol; or better yet, for ALL APP EXPOSE(not really because it doesn't autosize the windows, but DOES show them all, from ALL apps in full size), trigger the above GLITCH in iMissionControl, then go back to the desktop you originated the glitch from(via keystroke), ALL of your windows will be "exposed" in their full size, from all apps, at once. how was that combination of keystrokes not bug tested, LOL.

edit 3!!!: FTW!!! type this into your console to make the animation speed of iMC nearly instantaneous, AKA SNAPPY LIKE IT SHOULD BE for power users ;-)
defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-edge-delay -float 0.1; killall Dock
then trigger all apps espose, or iMissionControl.... it less useless now ;-)

apparently: to reset the duration of the iMC reveal animation type this into your console:
defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-edge-delay -float 2.75; killall Dock
BUT I CANT RESET IT PERSONALLY, I've tried, then again, I wouldn't want to. just a WARNING!
found this tip on http://superuser.com/questions/3156...h-animation-when-switching-spaces-with-missio

 

[Phechs]

ReSpaceApp !

http://switchstep.com/ReSpaceApp/
if you liked ChangeSpace, CHECK THIS ONE OUT!

edit: it looks like this is the same developer of ChangeSpace, and he's remarked that it looks like he's going to attempt an implementation of all windows expose too(on top of adding back more of the SL spaces functionality). Please check out the forum there and contribute to the conversation.
http://switchstep.com/ReSpaceApp/support

 

[HappyDude20]

http://switchstep.com/ReSpaceApp/

if you liked ChangeSpace, CHECK THIS ONE OUT!

Can I see the grid layout with this app?

 

[Phechs]

I'm using it now, and I can see the grid layout of desktops/spaces when I move between spaces, its MUCH smoother than changeSpace, and offers some nice customization of the spaces switch styles already, and so far, no issues with switching to space/desktop#1(like changespace had)

if you add some input on the HELP/FORUM, the developer is likely to add the feature. He's already been very keen on adding features users are requesting, and building back in spaces/expose functionality. PLEASE contribute to the conversation so we can help steer this app in the direction that we need.

http://switchstep.com/ReSpaceApp/support

 

[klaxamazoo]

I'm using it now, and I can see the grid layout of desktops/spaces when I move between spaces, its MUCH smoother than changeSpace, and offers some nice customization of the spaces switch styles already, and so far, no issues with switching to space/desktop#1(like changespace had)

if you add some input on the HELP/FORUM, the developer is likely to add the feature. He's already been very keen on adding features users are requesting, and building back in spaces/expose functionality. PLEASE contribute to the conversation so we can help steer this app in the direction that we need.

http://switchstep.com/ReSpaceApp/support

Downloaded it. It is some progress, hopefully the developer will be able to bring back the full 10.5/10.6 experience. I would definitely pay for that.

 

[dyn]

I've been attempting to install kde and gnome(or even xfce) with mac ports, and get errors on each.

That's because they are geared towards Linux. This has become a big problem in non-Linux systems like FreeBSD as well and it is one of the main reasons why the non-Linux systems primarily use KDE. Unfortunately KDE's development sucks tremendously. They've managed to screw things up since version 2.x. One of the latest screw ups is making things depend on Linux specific stuff causing problems in non-Linux systems. Gnome is known to only work properly on Linux systems because of some tight integrations. You should read the FreeBSD forums and the complaints of all the FreeBSD users. There just isn't a very good DE out there any more

@strausd: I get downvotes because the people using the voting system have no idea what they are doing or what they are talking about. They actually genuinely believe that the voting systems does something. It doesn't Second, if they actually read the post and tried to understand what it says they'd have known that they were voting against one of their own. In other words: people downvote their own arguments by downvoting me. I find it absolutely hilarious The only thing I'm doing is complain about semantics and agree with the consensus in this thread (MC needs changing). Not hard to see if you have braincells...

 

[Phechs]

@dyn, thanks for the kde/gnome info. That might be one of the reasons I cant get it to compile on 10.7 :-(

 

[Phechs]

ReSpaceApp's ability to disable desktop switching transitions has made Lion soooooo much faster/smooter for me. His list of upcoming todo's is great, might beat SL/L if he see these todo's through.

respaceapp!!!

 

[TwitchOSX]

What I'd like is to have a desktop "pager" for the different desktops so that I don't have to go to mission control to get to the different desktops. I used to use a virtual desktop program years ago in like 10.4 and it was awesome but they stopped upgrading it and newer versions of OSX broke them =(

 

[Phechs]

moving windows from one display to another

I've found another easter egg in missionControl. If you use a tool/app like BetterSnapTool(or perhaps the many that reproduce this functionality), You can trigger MissionControl, then use the modifier-key-window-drag method, and NOT THE MOUSE CLICK AND DRAG METHOD, to move windows from one display to another on the same minimized desktop in MissionControl. You don't see the window move to the other display in missioncontrol after performing this action; HOWEVER, upon exiting missionControl, the window will have moved to the other display's desktop. Hope this helps any iMissionControl users with multiple displays(until ReSpaceApp adds this functionality natively).

P.S. if you're not using ReSpaceApp yet, you're missing out on some very VERY helpful Lion functionality.

 

[jasonvp]

P.S. if you're not using ReSpaceApp yet, you're missing out on some very VERY helpful Lion functionality.

IMHO, you're over-stating its usefulness at the moment. I think he's got some wonderful potential with it, and when he gets the navigation grid working I'm all in. But right now all it allows for is switching desktops. Kinda like Mission Control does.

jas

 

[Phechs]

@JasonVP

I don't disagree, I'll try to tone down the mentions, until a more notable feature is added. I do want to bring it up, because SwitchStep seems to be the ONLY developer taking the revival of this functionality seriously, imo.

If you check the ReSpace forums, he's working to release an update with a clickable mini grid spaces/desktops layout. IMO, this will be a very welcome feature. Window previews wont be in each slot of the mini grid initially(or so I heard), but the grid alone will be great for those of us that want to switch to a desktop/space with spatial memory, skipping switching through multiple desktops to do so.
Its baby steps, I agree, but imo heading in a welcome direction. I bring ReSpaceApp up, in hopes that other potential users will chime in an offer ideas/input/bug-reports on the SwitchStep forum. I've already had 2 feature requests added.

EDIT: The ability to disable desktop transitions alone has sped up my workflow overall, this is a feature users have been searching for, since the release of lion. That feature alone, along with the directional desktop switching warrants at least the occasional mention & update imo. If other MR members on this thread would rather I don't post updates and easter eggs I find, I can stop posting in the thread, and enjoy my Spaces/Expose replacement info without posting here.

@TwitchOSX, the pager is coming to ReSpace in an update. ATM SwitchStep is calling it the mini-grid. It'll be clickable and display over the desktop, similar to spaces or codetek Virtual desktop I would guess(though I'm not exactly sure how it'll end up looking obviously). That feature was amidst my initial feature requests for ReSpace, and the developer is already implementing it. Anyone who wants more from ReSpace can request a feature, and get fairly immediate(atm) consideration from the developer on his/their SwitchStep forum.

 

[Phechs]

here comes the iOS to your desktop, 10.7 service pack, I mean OSX 10.8. I'm sure most of you already know. Oh wow, 10.9 is gonna be great, we'll be using our Mac Pro's like iPads!!! can't wait ;-)

Has anyone tested the developer preview on a multi-display system yet? Please say at the least they've fixed the broken multi-display issues in iMissionControl. Can we finally drag 1 window from the same desktop display to another display(or better yet another desktop like we could in SL) in missionControl? Are the various displays using the SAME desktop finally next to eachother again, where they should intuitively be, and are on SL?

If I was ONLY using OSX on a MBP or an iMac, 10.7+ would be pretty darn spiffy, but for the multi-display pro-user, if the glaring issues with 10.7 aren't addressed in 10.8, I think it might be prudent to consider what may be in store for 10.9. If you're not down for the Windows 8 metro interface ;-), then perhaps its ubuntu(gnome/kde/compiz/xfce) time, and running 10.8 in a seamless vmware/virtualbox environment.

The "minority" feeling that 10.7 was not "professional" hasn't gone away with 10.8, its not the majority by any means, but this sentiment isnt fading. Hey Apple, offer us a Pro OS, AKA one that actually handles more than a single display properly, that'll at least entice me to stop/slow booting into Ubuntu. OSX has become a GREAT os for what seems like the majority, but is quickly alienating a segment of its userbase that "consider" themselves pro users to a great extent. I wonder what 10.8 server will be like.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1324862/
IMO, its obvious that the iOS has won more than likely, for better or worse. If future macs implement UEFI, and Gatekeeper no longer allows for the "option" to allow for non apple developer signed apps, people might have to jailbreak their OSX desktops/laptops to boot another OS or use non-apple sanction SW. Good for a large percentage of apple's potential userbase, obviously, but other users might want to consider such a potential possibility.

I should note, that when I mention Ubuntu, I dont use the Unity desktop environment. I prefer Gnome2/3, and KDE, sometimes XFCE; which are all easily installable on top of Ubuntu. I'm well aware that Unity is considered the "iOS" of the linux world, by some.

EDIT: LOL, quite a few "considering linux" quotes in the 10.8 thread already. This is a REAL issue, that has seemingly(or obviously) had its feedback & bug reports totally ignored in 10.8. Get ready for 10.9

 

[nokuchikushi]

I see Mission Control as taking a lot of the functionality out of Exposé and Spaces. You remember when your spaces were in a grid layout? Man I miss that. It allowed me to easily switch from any of my 6 spaces to any other extremely quickly using control-arrowkey. With Mission Control, it makes Spaces completely linear, taking away the ability to navigate to and from different spaces easily. I liked being able to navigate up, down, left, and right to get where I needed to go quickly. In that sense, Mission Control is a failure.

And before, I liked being able to use them independently, which made them much more powerful when used together! For example, I had Spaces set up for my top right corner and Exposé set up for my bottom right corner. So I could easily hit my Spaces corner to see all my spaces, and then while still in Spaces hit my Exposé corner to see all my windows in all my spaces. Now with Mission Control, you can only see all your windows in one space, which, in my opinion, is very limiting. Now if you want to see all your windows at once, you can't! You have to go into Mission Control and then go through each space to see your windows.

Also back in Snow Leopard, it was easy to move any window from one space to another thanks to the grid layout. When I hit my Spaces corner, I could easily drag my Chrome window from space 3 to space 6, or from 4 to 1, it didn't matter, I could move it wherever I wanted. But with Mission Control, you can only move windows in your current space to another space. So if you open Mission Control while on your first space, you can't move windows from your second space to your first one. You would have to move to your second space, move it to your first one, go back to your first one, and then you can start working with that window. Once again, very limiting in my opinion.

Another thing is moving spaces. You have ABSOLUTELY NO ability to rearrange your spaces in Lion. Back in Snow Leopard, you could move your whole space wherever you wanted, it didn't matter! And if you use a full screen application, it automatically moves it to the very last space! Well what if you want the full screen in your second space, some apps in your first space, and some other random apps in spaces 3 and 4? Well too dang bad, it won't let you!

Also comes problems with Mission Control and multiple monitors. In Mission Control, you can't move a window from one monitor to the other, you have to get out of Mission Control, drag it over, and then go back to Mission Control to do whatever you needed to do. And say you are on your first space and want to move a window to your second space to be on your other monitor. Well that won't work either!

Mission Control took out all the great productivity features from Exposé and Spaces that really helped people work faster. So, does anyone know if there is/will be a Mission Control replacement anytime soon? What I'm thinking is if there is any developer(s) working on fixing the current problems with mission control and maybe even bringing back Exposé and Spaces like they were in SL, you know, back when they worked well? Because if someone comes out with this and puts it on the App Store, I would gladly pay for something like this.

Also, if anyone finds some other problems with Mission Control, please post it here. And if anyone finds any work arounds or replacements for Mission Control, post it here!

The spaces are linear instead of in a grid because now we can swipe to move between spaces - a huge advantage and time saver and worth every "inconvenience" you've described. And in Mission Control it's very easy to reorder the spaces, just grab one with the mouse and move it.