The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Virtual Desktop Managers

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by slickie88, Jul 10, 2010.

  1. slickie88

    slickie88 Master of Puppets

    Reputations:
    973
    Messages:
    2,566
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Anyone here have one they'd recommend? Since we're dealing with relatively limited desktop real estate on the M11x I thought I'd give some of them a try.
     
    slickie88, Jul 10, 2010
    #1
  2. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,354
    Messages:
    4,449
    Likes Received:
    476
    Trophy Points:
    151
    I have used Object Dock (part of the Object Desktop UI re-themeing bundle) in the past before when I used to run Windows XP. But to be honest, I haven't used that in a long time.

    Generally, these desktop manager overlays consume a lot of resources that would be better spent on general desktop use or gaming performance. Windows 7 does a decent enough job by itself in managing the user interface. So I just stick with base Windows 7, and manage everything I need in folders, or by using the Search feature on the start menu. But if you are inclined to look into it anyway, then I would recommend you check out the Object Desktop suite.
     
    kent1146, Jul 10, 2010
    #2
  3. slickie88

    slickie88 Master of Puppets

    Reputations:
    973
    Messages:
    2,566
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Thanks, kent1146. I'd only be using multiple desktops when I'm at work where my workflow tends involve having a huge number of applications open at once. I've gotten used to managing this with spaces in OSX. Thought I might give it a go with 7. I've got the ram to handle it.
     
    slickie88, Jul 10, 2010
    #3
  4. n1ghtf@ll

    n1ghtf@ll Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    n1ghtf@ll, Jul 11, 2010
    #4
  5. mwaldron

    mwaldron Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I used WindowsPager, it's a free opensource VDM that works in all flavors of Windows (XP->7-64). I find it works rather well for my limited needs. The only thing I've found is it doesn't seem to work with games.
     
    mwaldron, Jul 11, 2010
    #5
  6. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Its an old thread revival!

    I'm using dual monitors for work and want something that when mobile doesn't eat up a bunch of resources or can be turned off easily yet still support multimonitor.

    Havent finished testing but there are a few virtual desktop/desktop manager apps out there.

    FREE - One is renamed, "Finestra" Finestra Virtual Desktops - Home

    Not FREE - independent VD for each mon: Independent Virtual Desktops on Multiple Monitors - Articles - Actual Tools

    FREE - no multimon support: mdesktop - mDesktop allows you to have multiple desktops like in linux - Google Project Hosting

    FREE - sysinternals solution. More of a true multiDESKTOP app but not as clean to close out if suddenly needing mobile. Desktops
     
    GNandGS, Jun 21, 2011
    #6
  7. maxotar

    maxotar Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    maxotar, Jun 21, 2011
    #7
  8. xdraw

    xdraw Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I second dexpot. really small footprint, hasn't set a foot wrong.

    u can have fancy transition animations or maclike switching!
     
    xdraw, Jun 21, 2011
    #8
  9. ebondefender

    ebondefender Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ebondefender, Jun 23, 2011
    #9
  10. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Finestra was working ok... it supports dual ext monitors. I think however Im going to have to move to multiple explorer processes as I am using the same applications but for different purposes on each desktop.

    Huh?

    Firefox for example works on a Finestra solution but it either stays on a single virtual workspace OR is made a sticky that follows each one. I'll want to run more than one instance of the same version but use them differently.

    Plus, I have another app that doesn't play nice... it shows on each VD no matter what settings are used.

    Next I'll try either "Desktops" or "Dexpot"
     
    GNandGS, Jun 23, 2011
    #10