Virtual Desktops for Windows

[Telarus]

So I've been lamenting my desktop clutter... and I watched some newer nVidia thing about multiple virtual desktops. Unfortunately, you can only send windows to another desktop, but can't manage icons or the taskbar (which is the same across all of nVidias "nViews")... LAME.


So I went digging around and found this:

code.google.com/p/mdesktop/   <- don't. there's adware in the most recent version

Sweet. BALLS

Anybody know of an any virtual desktop apps that will allow that?

[Triple Zero]

NX is supposed to be really good, though I haven't tried it. Except that it's intended for X11 sessions (Linux desktops, basically), but apparently you can also use it for other protocols [such as Windows Remote Desktop Services] and gain the speed benefits that NX provides:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NX_technology#Other_display_protocols

And then there's this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_software#Operating_system_support

And maybe this helps too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Remote_desktop

[Telarus]

Hmm, I think remote desktops are a different thing entirely (that's like accessing your home desktop from your work computer).

I found this, seems promising, and says it has the features I want:

http://dexpot.de/

[Triple Zero]

Oooooooooooohhh *facepalm* now I get you want multiple desktops for sorting out your windows on! Just like Linux already has

I wonder if there's something like Compiz for windows, I expect that would do all you need, plus extra free 3D accelerated eyecandy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiz one pretty cool thing is that it can display 6 desktops on a rotating 3D cube. But yeah it's for Linux.

And uh, failing that, since you're working with graphics all the time anyway, you really should treat yourself to a second monitor (if you don't have one already, in which case get a third, after that it's diminishing returns).

Second monitor = automatic extra desktop space

Preferably if you attach it to a wall-mounted moveable arm. Unfortunately I've find those arm things to be stupid expensive for what they do. Ok they're probably worth the money in the convenience and work pleasure you get from them, but not for being just some metal things with really smooth and strong hinges.

[Lord Cataplanga]

How about this one?
http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/

I haven't tried it, so I don't really know if it's good (I use Linux), but it's free, so it won't hurt to try.

[Telarus]

Thanks, looked at that one. It doesn't seem to have the Icons on each desktop customizable.

Ok, so I'm trying Dexpot 1.6 beta. I noticed that the default installer comes with the same ad-ware that that first one did.... BUT


These spags are slick about it. If you run the setup.exe with the command line option "/NOCANDY" it doesn't install/prompt for the adware. Sweet. I'll post my impressions.


(Trip, Compiz is the envy of everyone posting about this topic on the net.. seriously... there was even an April Fools joke I ran across about an emulated copy of Compiz running on windows that had people trying to download it till November...)

[Triple Zero]

Trip, Compiz is the envy of everyone posting about this topic on the net.. seriously... there was even an April Fools joke I ran across about an emulated copy of Compiz running on windows that had people trying to download it till November...

brilliant!!

kinda reminds me how we still get hits from google searches for "paranoid linux", though that wasn't a joke just a project that never got off the ground.

[Telarus]

I can feel the fog clearing immediately.

Here's the G+ post I made about my first impressions.
------------------------

Humans tend to associate Memory with physical Spaces. It seems our brain has adapted to use spaces (real or imaginary) as ways to organize and filter information (see this interesting article: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/11/21/the-boundary-effect-entering-a-new-room-makes-you-forget-things/).

As I've recently been lamenting Window's pretty lame desktop management (Oh, the CLUTTER!), I've been looking for an app that will let me have distinct Desktop Spaces with their own background and icon/shortcut selection.

Dexpot seems to have the most features that overlap my needs list, so I'm trying it out (it got an English install, don't worry). Also neat: no paid licence required unless/until the computer its installed on is used for commercial work.

So far, I've got 3 desktops going.

A) Admin, Games & Social Web - Icons: System Admin, Web, Games; Programs Running: Google+ in Chrome, Facebook in a Chrome Incognito window (14 cookie requests on a non-FB page, FaceBook? really?), Pidgin (for IRC), Firefox for research (a little better session management than Chrome).

B) 3D and Graphics - Various full & student licensed graphics and 3d programs: Photoshop, Maya, 3D Studio Max, L3DT, Sketchup, Roadkill, PlantLife3D, CrazyBump, Blender, Sculptris, Mudbox, Daz3D, Notepad++, UncodeX, UDK Nov-11, definitely others (see why I need different work-spaces!); Programs Running: none currently... hah.

C) Game Design & RPG - Icons: VUE (a mind-mapping tool), Maptool, Photoshop, Notepad++, Acrobat Reader, various shortcuts to my RPG and RPG images folders, various notepad docs; Programs Running: Notepad++ (my ED Framework code), Firefox (Redbrickllc.com, Maptools forum, & the Maptool wiki: http://www.lmwcs.com/rptools/wiki/).


Because I plan different project using the same tools, I can also make a new Desktop for a Project (say a UDK project), which may share resources with another project (say, an RPG map that uses some of the same textures) via shortcuts, and other simple pointers without getting the 2 projects muddled. I hope to see other unintended improvements in my workflow pop up... we'll see.