Virtual desktops

Looking to create mutliple desktops on the same PC

from Stardock Forums

Hello everyone,


I've been looking for some software that allows me to create multiple desktops aka virtual desktops on the same PC. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with this, I'll try to explain what I mean in a way that hopefully makes sense.


So, for example, once windows loads, the main desktop appears (you can choose which is the main one). Then you can switch between desktops in various ways depending on the software you're using to bring across a new desktop.


Do any of you know of and/or recommend/have any personal experience with virtual desktops that you'd be willing to share please?


Thanks :)


Edit:


I probably should have made it clearer that I'm aware of a number of software options that offer some of what I'm looking for, I'm just interested in peoples personal experiences/opinions on any that they've used.

112,133 views 18 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

If anyone else is feeling generous with their time, reading your thoughts on any virtual desktop software you have used would be greatly appreciated :)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Dexpot is actually pretty good (for a Windows VWM) and it also has some nice eyecandy features.

http://dexpot.de/?lang=en

 

on Windows RabidVWM for LiteStep is my personal favorite, but that's really not for everybody (this includes you :) )

+1 Loading…
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you everyone for taking the time to post your reply's here, it's greatly appreciated  :)

 

On the off chance that anyone else is reading this/is interested, I'll mention that most of the software that I've tried works quite well, although some are more clunky and limited than others. I found Dexpot to be among the better ones (thanks moshi).

 

I'll also mention that I use Deskscapes and Fences, and so far, they seem to work quite well with the virtual desktop software. However, I'm unable to e.g. have different dream backgrounds for the different desktops which is a shame.

Also, I'm unable to use web browsers the way I'd like to in the different desktops. I'll try to explain what I mean. For example, lets say I have a web browser open in desktop 1 with multiple tabs, (lets call them A through to F). Then in desktop 2 I have the same web browser open also with with multiple tabs, although this time they're different tabs, (G through to N).

Upon launch, the browser is set to open the windows and tabs from the last session. What happens when I'm using virtual desktops is that only in desktop 1 does the browser open the tabs from last time, launching the browser from any of the other desktops doesn't, and that's some functionality that I'd be interested in.

 

The closest I've got to what I'm looking for is setting up multiple accounts on the same PC and switching between them, but I'd much prefer being able to remain in one account and have the functionality I've described. Unfortunately I haven't found anything that can provide me with this (at least not on Windows).

Anyway, thanks again everyone :)

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Funny no one mentioned that SD actually has this program and that it integrates very very well into Control Panel giving you exactly what you are asking for, I have used it for about 12+ yrs now and really cannot live without it. Problem is it wont run on 64x OS. Runs fine on W7 32. If you have a subscription to OD you should be able to get both Virtual Desktops and Control Center even if they are no longer supported, pretty sure Neil would cough one up?

Try them, awesome bit if kit that REALLY belongs BACK IN OD.

Sry about the shout  XD

Sue

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting zoobabe, reply 7

Funny no one mentioned that SD actually has this program

 

Probably because it's legacy software and likely no longer supported. But, Windows 10 has Virtual desktops built in natively and works on 64 bit!!

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 8

Windows 10 had Virtual desktops built in natively

Yum! Saving up my pennies.

Not to go OT but this is rather exciting. I know 7 does too but the more I hear of 10 the more I like it.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

7 Has Virtual Desktops built in? Uh, I don't think so.    >_>

 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Red, yes it is legacy and not supported but still works and well in 32 bit , I have a copy of it, needs OD reg to use .

Yes win X does have built in support for VDs or multiple DTs if you prefer but it is there !

To quote from LAngalist :

Support for multiple desktops: Also widely anticipated, Win10 ships with built-in support for multiple desktops. (Windows has supported this handy feature since XP — if you installed an add-on program.) Desktops are an easy way to reduce desktop clutter, especially on notebook screens. For example, you can work on one desktop to write a report, flip to another desktop to check email, and then jump to a third for browsing the Internet and viewing photos. (This might sound a bit like the Metro environment. That's not the case; you're still getting all the advantages of the desktop UI.)


Zoo

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ZooBabe, I know Stardock has a program called Virtual desktops. I have it as well.

 

Uvah insinuates that Windows 7 has virtual desktops natively, but I think he is mistaken.

Quoting Uvah, reply 9

Quoting RedneckDude,
reply 8

Windows 10 had Virtual desktops built in natively



Yum! Saving up my pennies.

Not to go OT but this is rather exciting. I know 7 does too but the more I hear of 10 the more I like it.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 10

7 Has Virtual Desktops built in? Uh, I don't think so.    >_>

 

:P

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have been using Dexpot for some time and can't imagine life without it now. It's free and very powerful and stable. I have 9 desktops ( set up for programming, art, browsing, entertainment, maintenance etc ) and flip between them constantly.

I enjoy customizing my PC  - using Dexpot across three monitors gives great eyecandy as well as being practical. The Full Screen Preview is awesome showing all desktops across all monitors and allowing you to drag applications between them.

I have just bought Deskscapes - which again is stunning. I love to have my wallpaper replaced by an asteroid field or crashing waves.

Like others that have posted I'm a little frustrated that I can't combine the two - I NEED multiple desktops and I WANT animated wallpapers but moving between desktops just stops Deskscapes from working.

Also I'd like to save 'schemes' in Deskscapes - each time I run it I have to choose which dream I want on each monitor. I don't think it would be a huge leap to be able to save these as choices.

I have a fairly powerful PC so I'm happy to live with resource hungry applications.

I just upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 - partly because virtual desktops are supported in Windows 10 and I was hoping since it is part of the OS I could run multiple instances of Deskscapes but unfortunately it's not the case.

I think the user interface and options for Dexpot still walks all over the Win 10

Incidentally it's only been 1 day but I'm finding Windows 10 to be slow and for many reasons frustrating - I don't want to go back to 7 but I am seriously tempted. It'll be nice when Windows finally becomes what it should be.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well......almost a year.

Reply #16 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Oh...

It's enabled by default on my KDE window manager :]

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sorry  - I wasn't here a year ago only just joined the gang

 

KDE Window Manager sounds great Kamamura_CZ  - if you have any more info please let us know

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

KDE on windows ?. Yeah might run but its a bit crazy in terms of cpu usage for reaching the goal of having virtual desktops.

Pure KDE  setups on linux are fast after some hacking ( disable nepomuk bluetooth etc.) on newer hardware.

For linux try pekwm if your pc is old and on windows search something fully windows native please . For normal setups  ( try linux mint cinnamon).

regards bluedxca93