tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post8321308134238213044..comments2023-09-20T07:28:27.572-05:00Comments on Linux in Exile: Why no virtual desktops?Jim Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11598443864678006773noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-65447412609762461192009-04-30T20:09:00.000-05:002009-04-30T20:09:00.000-05:00I think the best virtual desktop representations I...I think the best virtual desktop representations I've ever seen have been ones brought to us by Compiz. Being a Windows refugee, I liked virtual desktops (as I said earlier), but I never found myself using them much. That is, until Compiz showed me the light with the desktop cube. Nowadays I prefer the desktop wall plugin, but either way it's a spatial representation of the desktops. It lets me get a better conceptual grip on them. I also found myself using virtual desktops a lot, even without Compiz, when my video card died and I was busted down to 800x600 for a while. It was amazing how much they help at low resolutions.NoobixCubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17150854195016438207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-67165782779776219332009-04-30T10:45:00.000-05:002009-04-30T10:45:00.000-05:00I guess there isn't really a spot to put an at-a-g...I guess there isn't really a spot to put an at-a-glance view on the Mac desktop. I just use F8.Ben Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12985694779451169100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-54710280097056884632009-04-29T10:46:00.000-05:002009-04-29T10:46:00.000-05:00I haven't used it, but my frioend uses Dexpot. Thi...I haven't used it, but my frioend uses Dexpot. This provides Virtual Desktops, supports Windows 95/98/ME and NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista (incl. x64). http://www.dexpot.de/<br /><br />But yeah, I agree that you shouldn't have to install some Widnows add-on to get the functionality that Linux provides by itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-79793435679345695552009-04-29T07:17:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:17:00.000-05:00The virtual desktop "power toy" is a very poor imp...The virtual desktop "power toy" is a very poor implementation. The best work around I have found is VirtuaWin. It is still not as good as the gnome implementation, but it is the best I've found for a Windows environment. It is also portable and requires no installation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-42264233744755068152009-04-29T07:02:00.000-05:002009-04-29T07:02:00.000-05:00@Noobix: it's interesting that Microsoft has these...@Noobix: it's interesting that Microsoft has these "Power Toys". I'd heard about them, but haven't dabbled.<br /><br />I'd like to hear from others if there is virtual desktop support in Vista's "Power Toys", and what's the performance like.<br /><br />But like an earlier blog item, I can only compare defaults here. Linux has provided virtual desktops <EM>as part of the default feature set</EM> since ~1993. Apple provided virtual desktops with 10.5 (I understand that Apple had a third-party solution around 10.3 or 10.4.) Yet Windows XP and Windows Vista don't have them.<br /><br />Whenever I read tech articles about how someone has experimented with replacing their Windows desktop with Linux, they always compare the default install of Linux with Windows (to be fair, usually it's Windows + "standard" 3rd party software.) I'm doing the same here; I'm comparing the defaults.JHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264061238864151815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-3665387930406747442009-04-29T06:50:00.000-05:002009-04-29T06:50:00.000-05:00Ben, Spaces doesn't feel as integrated because I d...Ben, Spaces doesn't feel as integrated because I don't get an "at a glance" view to what other windows are open on the other virtual desktops. To see what else I have open, I have to flip to the Spaces view (for me, a hot-corner) and then I can see what else is open.<br /><br />With virtual desktops under Linux, there's a panel applet that shows me a quick view of the windows that are open on the other virtual desktops. I don't have to flip to another view just to get an overview of my virtual desktops.<br /><br />I'm comparing defaults here, by the way.JHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264061238864151815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-2471615978814670232009-04-28T16:08:00.000-05:002009-04-28T16:08:00.000-05:00The "Power Toys" are not all compatible with Vista...The "Power Toys" are not all compatible with Vista "yet." I thought it was extremely slow and poorly implemented.<br /><br />I'm curious: what does spaces (not) do that makes it less integrated?Ben Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12985694779451169100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5650649138973583402.post-61179941684167269392009-04-28T15:50:00.000-05:002009-04-28T15:50:00.000-05:00I've commented on "apologists" pointing out some t...I've commented on "apologists" pointing out some third party tool that fills the gap before, but this time it's my turn :P. When I was dabbling with Linux for the first time, the thing I really liked was the virtual desktops. I searched for something similar for Windows and believe it or not, Microsoft of all people have made it. It's one of the Windows "Power Toys". I'm not sure if there's a vista version, or if the Windows XP version is compatible. I wasn't really happy with the implementation though. Seemed to slow Windows XP right down for me - your mileage may vary, and if you really miss virtual desktops, this may be just the ticket for you.NoobixCubehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17150854195016438207noreply@blogger.com