I just started using spaces recently and I love it. Used it in the past briefly but never really used it everyday for daily tasks. Do you use spaces? Can you live without? Just curious. 
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Spaces: Do you use it?
- Thread starter Matthew9559
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I have 3 spaces set up but I rarely use them. I got a multi monitor set up so I don't struggle for screen space. It may be different if I only had one monitor.
Nope. Tried to organise them before into work and play as I often do both at the same time, but I naturally ended up with everything on one screen.
No, for two reasons. I still have only the base 1Gb of RAM in my iMac*, so having everything open across multiple Spaces would slow things down. I also have a second display, so I have plenty of "real estate" for what I do.
* I really oughta throw in another stick of RAM one of these days...
* I really oughta throw in another stick of RAM one of these days...
Totally. Looking right now I have four spaces open, and typically enough I'm using them all.
1) has Firefox running (into which I'm typing)
2) has Mail and iTunes (Anywhere by Terry Hall playing if you're interested)
3) has Adobe Digital Editions and Preview running, both displaying Cisco stuff.
4) has Terminal.app running SSH to an FWSM I've been configuring this morning.
1) has Firefox running (into which I'm typing)
2) has Mail and iTunes (Anywhere by Terry Hall playing if you're interested)
3) has Adobe Digital Editions and Preview running, both displaying Cisco stuff.
4) has Terminal.app running SSH to an FWSM I've been configuring this morning.
yup, took a littlw while to get used to, but I have my games popping up in a different space, and I have my general stuff like mail and safari on the first window, find it useful for playing WoW and being able to jump between web pages and the game itself.
Space is a premium on a 13" macbook pro!
Space is a premium on a 13" macbook pro!
I find it an invaluable feature to have, but, I can't have more than 2 spaces, with 3 I find myself losing windows and forgetting what app is open in what space, but being able to hit a key to move to a completely fresh screen is brilliant, but I can't imagine having 4 or 6 spaces at a time.
I'd been using the feature in Linux for years and frankly I couldn't live without it. On my MBP it's essential to my workflow. I've tried using many different numbers of spaces but I find 4 is the right number for me.
I always have a browser up that I typically leave on #2. Space #3 is dedicated to Xcode. While space #4 is multimedia apps like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Premiere, After Effects, Aperture, etc....) I leave space #1 reserved for things like Finder, Terminal, iTunes, iCal, Mail, Pages, & Numbers.
I've tried further subdividing and organizing apps further, but find if I do this it just gets too cluttered. I find a wide organization works best for me and my workflow. I couldn't live without spaces myself. Jumping back and forth between Firefox, Xcode, Photoshop is such a breeze... minimizing and maximizing windows just gets tedious for me. Being able to move my cursor to a corner of the screen to switch to a new space or use a shortcut goes with the way I work... not against it.
I always have a browser up that I typically leave on #2. Space #3 is dedicated to Xcode. While space #4 is multimedia apps like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Premiere, After Effects, Aperture, etc....) I leave space #1 reserved for things like Finder, Terminal, iTunes, iCal, Mail, Pages, & Numbers.
I've tried further subdividing and organizing apps further, but find if I do this it just gets too cluttered. I find a wide organization works best for me and my workflow. I couldn't live without spaces myself. Jumping back and forth between Firefox, Xcode, Photoshop is such a breeze... minimizing and maximizing windows just gets tedious for me. Being able to move my cursor to a corner of the screen to switch to a new space or use a shortcut goes with the way I work... not against it.
Yes, couldn't live without it!
When it first came out I wasn't too bothered but the more I played around with it the most I started using (and relying) on it... I use it on my macpro but it really comes into it's own on my 13" macbook... The relatively small screen makes spaces a must have; I use my laptop mostly for coding so I have browser on space 1, Xcode project window and iPhone simulator on space 2 and spaces 3 and 4 for code windows. Works very well for me... Really improves workflow for me
When it first came out I wasn't too bothered but the more I played around with it the most I started using (and relying) on it... I use it on my macpro but it really comes into it's own on my 13" macbook... The relatively small screen makes spaces a must have; I use my laptop mostly for coding so I have browser on space 1, Xcode project window and iPhone simulator on space 2 and spaces 3 and 4 for code windows. Works very well for me... Really improves workflow for me
I have 6 spaces set up. Use them different categories of apps that I might use at the same time. I have alot of stickies set out on my screen so use #1 for all that. N then #2 is for all Internet related stuff. Safari, opera, adium, transmit, transmission etc etc. #3 I can't remember but I'm sure there's sommat there haha. 4 is sommat else. I know I have photoshop n iphoto set to their own one together. N reason, logic n ableton set to another.
I just like how easy is it leave stuff open. N then come back when your done with previous task. Particularly with 4Gb of ram.
I just like how easy is it leave stuff open. N then come back when your done with previous task. Particularly with 4Gb of ram.
I like being able to have several things open, but not the clutter that can create. Spaces is a great tool. Use it all the time.
It's interesting to read how Spaces works for all of you. I do not have an external monitor for my MBP so Spaces is helping me feel like I have a lot more room, as others have said.
This functionality was something I really missed when I first moved from Linux / X11 to OS X for my desktop PC. I was very pleased to see it make a welcome return with Spaces.
I have a 24 inch iMac with a 24 inch monitor sitting beside it and run 4 spaces. You can never have too much screen estate. The control-n method of switching has become second nature and my fingers seem to now know to switch to space 2 if I want to look at mail without conscious effort
The only slight glitch I've noticed is when using Parallels where space switching can sometimes lag and queue up. Then you get to watch a slow motion slide show of your various screens whilst things catch up. Having said that, things seem to have gotten a lot better in that respect with the most recent version of Parallels.
I have a 24 inch iMac with a 24 inch monitor sitting beside it and run 4 spaces. You can never have too much screen estate. The control-n method of switching has become second nature and my fingers seem to now know to switch to space 2 if I want to look at mail without conscious effort
The only slight glitch I've noticed is when using Parallels where space switching can sometimes lag and queue up. Then you get to watch a slow motion slide show of your various screens whilst things catch up. Having said that, things seem to have gotten a lot better in that respect with the most recent version of Parallels.
I use it all the time! I love it.
Basically I often have a ton of programs and windows open at once so I need spaces so I don't go insane.
I use command + arrow keys to switch between them.
Basically I often have a ton of programs and windows open at once so I need spaces so I don't go insane.
I use command + arrow keys to switch between them.
I like Spaces, but... I have a few programs I use regularly that don't play well with it, so I can't use it.
I don't have the need of Spaces. I use Exposé + Dock (not dock exposé - I'm still on Leopard).
To find something I haven't opened, I use Spotlight (for apps) or Finder (photos, documents, etc... it's very great because of Quick Look!)
To find something I have opened but is put behind my other windows, I use the exposé key (F3).
To use a clean desktop, I use Hide All Exposé (or how is it's name) (Command-F3). (To find something in Finder)
I rarely use App-specific exposé (like dock exposé in SL), since I can find everything with all windows opened.
Sometimes, if I don't directly need something but want to have something remain opened (e.g. a document that needs editing but is not very important), I minimize the window in the dock. (then, if I have some spare time, I scroll through my dock, saying "Oh, yeah! That document..." and maximize it back to work on it.)
In short; with Exposé, Desktop exposé, and the Dock minimize function, I don't have the need of Spaces.
To find something I haven't opened, I use Spotlight (for apps) or Finder (photos, documents, etc... it's very great because of Quick Look!)
To find something I have opened but is put behind my other windows, I use the exposé key (F3).
To use a clean desktop, I use Hide All Exposé (or how is it's name) (Command-F3). (To find something in Finder)
I rarely use App-specific exposé (like dock exposé in SL), since I can find everything with all windows opened.
Sometimes, if I don't directly need something but want to have something remain opened (e.g. a document that needs editing but is not very important), I minimize the window in the dock. (then, if I have some spare time, I scroll through my dock, saying "Oh, yeah! That document..." and maximize it back to work on it.)
In short; with Exposé, Desktop exposé, and the Dock minimize function, I don't have the need of Spaces.
At first, I couldn't figure out how to efficiently use Spaces. As someone mentioned earlier, I would forget what program was opened in what Space, and it all seemed to be more trouble than it was worth.
However, what I have now done is set up Spaces so that a handful of my most-used programs automatically open in a particular Space. (I've set up nine, but I certainly don't use all nine Spaces.)
Now I don't have to worry about manually switching from Space to Space when I open a program. It's taking some getting used to, but it's nice to go to a "clean," clutter-free screen when I open a new program. I don't have to worry about windows stacked on top of windows when I want to switch from email to Safari to iPhoto, etc.
However, what I have now done is set up Spaces so that a handful of my most-used programs automatically open in a particular Space. (I've set up nine, but I certainly don't use all nine Spaces.)
Now I don't have to worry about manually switching from Space to Space when I open a program. It's taking some getting used to, but it's nice to go to a "clean," clutter-free screen when I open a new program. I don't have to worry about windows stacked on top of windows when I want to switch from email to Safari to iPhoto, etc.
Very handy for me now, I have a dual-screen setup and use Windows 7 in Parallels Desktop across both screens in one space, and my Mac apps in the other.
I used to run Windows 7 on one screen and OSX on the other, but needed the extra screen space and Spaces is the easiest way to switch back and forth.
I used to run Windows 7 on one screen and OSX on the other, but needed the extra screen space and Spaces is the easiest way to switch back and forth.
Well, I'm pretty new to spaces, but I just love the concept of a different workspace. Especially for people like me, I love the way you can entirely change the environment of the current workspace. I usually put Itunes, Reason, and other music-oriented software on one space and Pages, Mail and work-oriented stuff on the other.. Pretty useful for me
I love spaces, but I only use it when using a mouse because the center scroll wheel button is set to activate spaces. It makes OSX so much more streamlined. I have 6 spaces configured for the 6 major apps I use. Even better when using an external monitor because it becomes 6+6.