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Are you using a virtual desktop manager? Which one and do you like it and/or recommend it?
. . . and have for some time on several of my computers. I've found it to be quite reliable and would recommend it. In rare cases, a program window can be a bit problematic for it when switching desktops, but usually this is easily solved by specifying some rules for handling that window.
as much as I detest the bloated thing, the KDE 4 GUI for the open source operating systems was designed to be able to completely REPLACE the standard windows GUI.
so KDE 4, 20 desktops possible, different backgrounds per desktop
preview of the desktops
fast switching [ both hotkey and a task bar icon ]
easy shifting of applications to any desktop
task bar can show all open apps or only from current desktop.
get a copy of kubuntu or pclinuxos or mandriva's live cd all use KDE and you can check it's features out yourself without doing an install.
I wouldn't recommend actually installing KDE 4 on a windows system, their own documentation on doing so is not being maintained and it does say it is a compile from source only, with dependency he|| involved in doing so. :/
so KDE 4, 20 desktops possible, different backgrounds per desktop
preview of the desktops
fast switching [ both hotkey and a task bar icon ]
easy shifting of applications to any desktop
task bar can show all open apps or only from current desktop.
get a copy of kubuntu or pclinuxos or mandriva's live cd all use KDE and you can check it's features out yourself without doing an install.
I wouldn't recommend actually installing KDE 4 on a windows system, their own documentation on doing so is not being maintained and it does say it is a compile from source only, with dependency he|| involved in doing so. :/
I'm currently running VirtuaWin, although I've used Dexpot in the past and found it satisfactory.
I haven't looked at the MS / Sysinternals product since the first version several years ago. At that time I had problems with it Excel crashing if it wasn't on desktop #1. I also had problems with it leaving 'ghosts' or 'artifacts' of the Excel title bar's shadows across all screens. I may revisit it.
Edited - Note that the goScreen application is shareware, requiring payment after 30 days. There is a freeware version but it lacks many 'critical' features, including hotkey shortcuts or more than 4 windows.
I haven't looked at the MS / Sysinternals product since the first version several years ago. At that time I had problems with it Excel crashing if it wasn't on desktop #1. I also had problems with it leaving 'ghosts' or 'artifacts' of the Excel title bar's shadows across all screens. I may revisit it.
Edited - Note that the goScreen application is shareware, requiring payment after 30 days. There is a freeware version but it lacks many 'critical' features, including hotkey shortcuts or more than 4 windows.
I use VirtuaWin + KvasdoPager in W7.
It's almost as good as the Gnome virtual desktops in Ubuntu 10.
Some programs appear on all of my desktops at the same time though (e.g. VMware Workstation, Process Explorer).
It's almost as good as the Gnome virtual desktops in Ubuntu 10.
Some programs appear on all of my desktops at the same time though (e.g. VMware Workstation, Process Explorer).
I'm not familiar with KvasdoPager. Is it another virtual desktop app? If you're running two virtual desktop apps at once, that could be the problem.
Also, there's a setting in VirtuaWin that will do this. Right-click the tray icon, select 'Windows Rules'. Select each entry and look for the 'Show windows of this type on all desktops' checkbox.
Also, there's a setting in VirtuaWin that will do this. Right-click the tray icon, select 'Windows Rules'. Select each entry and look for the 'Show windows of this type on all desktops' checkbox.
...and found the following article:
www-test.peterson-tech.com/~jlp/.../making_windows_usable.html
As a result, I downloaded several of his recommendations to try out.
HTH,
www-test.peterson-tech.com/~jlp/.../making_windows_usable.html
As a result, I downloaded several of his recommendations to try out.
HTH,
KvasdoPager is a module for VirtuaWin.
It gives you a toolbar of windows (it's like the Gnome Virtual Desktop panel applet).
You can "Drag & Drop" program windows and switch desktops using the mouse.
"Also, there's a setting in VirtuaWin that will do this. Right-click the tray icon, select 'Windows Rules'. Select each entry and look for the 'Show windows of this type on all desktops' checkbox. "
VirtuaWin has a lot of settings, but I have no idea what they do (or are supposed to do).
The setting you mention is NOT selected.
It gives you a toolbar of windows (it's like the Gnome Virtual Desktop panel applet).
You can "Drag & Drop" program windows and switch desktops using the mouse.
"Also, there's a setting in VirtuaWin that will do this. Right-click the tray icon, select 'Windows Rules'. Select each entry and look for the 'Show windows of this type on all desktops' checkbox. "
VirtuaWin has a lot of settings, but I have no idea what they do (or are supposed to do).
The setting you mention is NOT selected.
I used PC Tools years ago with Win 3.1 and then a program from Norton who had purchased PC Tools in Win 95. To avoid system overload I now use a a group of folders with the contents stored alphabetically and accessed by the Desktop toolbar. Tou can use different color folders you previously made in another drawing program.
you are organising apps / shortcuts with the folders, the desktops allow that, but you can have the apps running on the different desktops.
when you switch desktops the running apps you can access are instantly changed.
with the folders, it is all one desktop, no seperation of tasks in the task bar.
[ office apps in one desktop,
graphics apps in a second
music player in a 3rd
all open and running, but those not on current desktop have a lower priority for cpu time.
when you switch desktops the running apps you can access are instantly changed.
with the folders, it is all one desktop, no seperation of tasks in the task bar.
[ office apps in one desktop,
graphics apps in a second
music player in a 3rd
all open and running, but those not on current desktop have a lower priority for cpu time.
I've been using WindowsPager for a few months now. It's lightweight, supports drag and drop, hot keys, and a few other nifty features. I haven't used any of the others mentioned, but this one works much like the Linux-based desktop switchers.
I tried this program years ago on XP; the issue I had was when it didn't load.
It looks like Stardock has been improving it, and I may have another look at it.
http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/features.asp
It looks like Stardock has been improving it, and I may have another look at it.
http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/features.asp
Like wwgorman above, you're talking about a way to manage icons. The article refers to ways to maximize your desktop space by spreading it out over multiple virtual deskops. In your example and his, the icons would remain in the same arrangement across all desktops, not with different ones on each.
Can't believe your refer your readers to this spyware junk...part of the "OpenCandy" network, which installs an unsollicited toolbar and call homes without permission!
Been using DeskSpace by OTAKU for several years and I love it. It even works well with Virtualbox VM's running on one of the desktops. Support is always responsive and the pricing is very reasonable. No, I don't work for them!
Check it out with the demo version:
http://www.otakusoftware.com/
Check it out with the demo version:
http://www.otakusoftware.com/
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