Four desktops are better than one.

Posted by Dave

Hello World.

Here’s a little download-able utility I’ve been using for a little while - Microsoft Virtual Desktop Manager (MSVDM).

As I have mentioned before, I have made a few little forays into the world of Linux in the past few months, and there have been a few things I have seen in that strange world that I never knew I was missing in Windowsland. One of those things is the concept of Virtual Desktops.

“Virtual Desktops” are (usually three) extra desktops which run in parallel to the primary one and act much like a second (and third, and fourth) monitor attached to the computer. They can be extremely useful when using a computer with only one monitor, or a particularly small monitor (such as, say a laptop). I often find myself dreading having to make a trip down to the desktop by minimising the multitude of windows I have open at any one time (or worse, having to restore all of the windows again after minimising to try to find where I was before). With virtual desktops, I can keep a couple of programs open full screen at the same time, and keep a clean desktop for those times I might need it, and simply switch instantly between them.

Microsoft Virtual Desktop Manager provides Windows XP with this missing functionality for free. It allows you to switch between the desktops, or look at all of them side by side. The program is part of the Microsoft Windows XP Powertoys collection, which can be found here. Once installed, you will need to right-click on the task-bar at the bottom of the screen and select Toolbars>Desktop Manager. You can customise each desktop background by right-clicking on any of the MSVDM buttons and selecting Configure Desktop Images. Also in this right-click menu you may toggle the Shared Desktop option. This allows you to either see all open windows on all desktops (on) or windows unique to each desktop (off).

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Tags: Downloads

Thursday, July 27th, 2006 Uncategorized

5 Comments to Four desktops are better than one.

Doesn’t it then reduce the size of each element to 25% of it’s actual size? This would be particularly problematic on a small monitor… This looks to be more gimmick that useful.

tomhb on July 27th, 2006

No, each desktop is full screen - you use one at a time. The picture included is a selection view where it places all four side-by-side. You click on the one you want to use, and it will zoom to full screen.

'Orrible Cabbage on July 27th, 2006

So it’s just a fancy way of collating processes and programs? How punishing is it on the RAM?

BTW: I hate the guy who does the ads for Big Brother (he’s the Friday night show host as well). For a show that I don’t watch, he’s far too common on TV. And he’s going bald.