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Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops

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Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> wrote:
> invis <invis@invis.net> wrote:
> > Except that we're not comparing apples with apples.
> > 
> > The Desktops util for Windows creates 3 extra desktops. They're actually
> > completely independent - the desktop is considered a security boundary
> > in NT.
> 
> So what? From the web page:
> "Desktops reliance on Windows desktop objects means that it
> cannot provide some of the functionality of other virtual desktop
> utilities, however. For example, Windows doesn't provide a way to move
> a window from one desktop object to another, and because a separate
> Explorer process must run on each desktop to provide a taskbar and
> start menu, most tray applications are only visible on the first
> desktop."
> 
> Not being able to move windows from one desktop to another is a big
> negative, as is the lack of tray applications on 2-4, plus the
> limitaion of 4 desktops.

As a user of a self-made utility that uses the same mechanism
(CreateDesktop, SwitchDesktop, etc.)...

I agree with the moving windows problem -- it does bite
sometimes, but not as often as you might expect. This might be
to do with how I use them; with each desktop containing the
windows for each "task" (e.g. working on two clients' projects,
one desktop each). Some of that might have been shaped by the
lack of features Windows desktops provide, but this is also
exactly how I use evilwm's desktops (which do support moving
windows).

More annoying is that some applications try to be helpful by
detecting that they are already running (web browsers, notably)
and redirect all their windows to the first desktop they were
run on. This pretty much leaves you with one desktop permanently
assigned to the web. And to top that "feature", after Firefox
updates it tends to restart itself and *always* restarts itself
on the primary desktop ("Default"). I have found no way to
change this behaviour.

However, the lack of tray applications on other desktops is
possibly the most compelling reason why I use them. With no tray
applications the incessant notification bubbles (along with many
other popups from "automatically updating" applications and the
like) are no longer visible. Just running a desktop manager and
always using the second desktop is, in my opinion, a vast
improvement to the Windows user experience.

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Thread

Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2014-08-06 01:56 +0000
  Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Hils <hils@saynotospam.net> - 2014-08-06 03:30 +0100
    Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2014-08-06 22:07 +0000
      Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2014-08-06 22:16 +0000
        Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Dan Espen <despen@verizon.net> - 2014-08-10 10:57 -0400
      Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops invis <invis@invis.net> - 2014-08-07 00:58 +0100
        Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2014-08-07 20:24 +0000
          Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Underactive Moth <underactivemoth@gmail.com> - 2014-08-08 08:17 +0000
            Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Jerry Peters <jerry@example.invalid> - 2014-08-08 20:27 +0000
    Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Anssi Saari <as@sci.fi> - 2014-08-07 16:19 +0300
  Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Underactive Moth <underactivemoth@gmail.com> - 2014-08-06 14:53 +0000
    Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2014-08-06 21:34 +0100
      Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops invis <invis@invis.net> - 2014-08-07 01:06 +0100
        Re: Windows Threshold: Here come the virtual desktops RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-08-10 19:59 +0000

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