Comments on: Virtual Desktop Application Round-up http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/ The Apple Blog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:26:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Alex http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22980 Alex Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:50:56 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22980 Tony Arnold has picked up the project. Latest versions at: http://www.tonyarnold.com/ Tony Arnold has picked up the project. Latest versions at:

http://www.tonyarnold.com/

]]> By: Andy http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22973 Andy Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:49:30 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22973 New version Ryan? Where? New version Ryan? Where?

]]> By: ryan http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22282 ryan Sun, 05 Mar 2006 21:37:57 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22282 new version of virtue just came out new version of virtue just came out

]]> By: Jos P. http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22063 Jos P. Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:33:31 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-22063 I would concur with sjk: to the best of my knowledge, development on Virtue appears to have been utterly abandoned. The website hasn't been updated since January of 2005, and the application has never worked under Tiger with any degree of reliability. It's sad, because I was particularly fond of a few features in it--most notably the ability to switch desktops when switching applications (that is, if I Cmd-Tab to an application, I switch automatically to that desktop). DesktopManager has been an excellent choice for me: very stable, consistent, and full-enough-featured to be useful without feeling cluttered. I'd love to see a new version to implement a couple of long-standing requests like the above Cmd-Tab option, but overall it's an excellent application, particularly considering the price! I would concur with sjk: to the best of my knowledge, development on Virtue appears to have been utterly abandoned. The website hasn’t been updated since January of 2005, and the application has never worked under Tiger with any degree of reliability. It’s sad, because I was particularly fond of a few features in it–most notably the ability to switch desktops when switching applications (that is, if I Cmd-Tab to an application, I switch automatically to that desktop).

DesktopManager has been an excellent choice for me: very stable, consistent, and full-enough-featured to be useful without feeling cluttered. I’d love to see a new version to implement a couple of long-standing requests like the above Cmd-Tab option, but overall it’s an excellent application, particularly considering the price!

]]> By: Bilbo http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-21850 Bilbo Tue, 21 Feb 2006 17:55:27 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-21850 Mhr? Been using virtual desktop for ever. Used to use CTVD when I was beta testing for them. No love anymore.. wrote up over 320 bugs and then get booted out the door with nothing. So.. bugger CTVD... I haven't really tried virtue.. but I will soon. You softwares app sounds like a joke.. and not being free either just makes it look like an idiotic thing to do... so I wont even bother with that. I would like to express my severe disappointment in the developer of Desktop Manager have allowed his fine project to stagnate to such a degree. But.. I see that he is very busy with his blog.. and well... you know that can take away alot of your free time... writing about what you had for dinner and stuff. I mean who cares if someone's donated anything to you... what you had for dinner is important. Bilbo Mhr? Been using virtual desktop for ever. Used to use CTVD when I was beta testing for them. No love anymore.. wrote up over 320 bugs and then get booted out the door with nothing. So.. bugger CTVD… I haven’t really tried virtue.. but I will soon. You softwares app sounds like a joke.. and not being free either just makes it look like an idiotic thing to do… so I wont even bother with that.
I would like to express my severe disappointment in the developer of Desktop Manager have allowed his fine project to stagnate to such a degree. But.. I see that he is very busy with his blog.. and well… you know that can take away alot of your free time… writing about what you had for dinner and stuff. I mean who cares if someone’s donated anything to you… what you had for dinner is important.
Bilbo

]]> By: sjk http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15408 sjk Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:26:40 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15408 Is Virtue still being developed? 0.5r2 isn't reliably compatible with Tiger. Seems there's more hope for Desktop Manager. 0.5.3 was released a few months ago for Tiger compatibility. Is Virtue still being developed? 0.5r2 isn’t reliably compatible with Tiger.

Seems there’s more hope for Desktop Manager. 0.5.3 was released a few months ago for Tiger compatibility.

]]> By: Nick Santilli http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15407 Nick Santilli Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:45:31 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15407 @JamesR: I did this original round up about 9 months ago. THEN, virtue didn't fare so well on my system. I've not tried it since, but maybe it's time to revisit things. It's actually the baby brother of Desktop Manager, so as it grows, I can easily see it overtaking DM...especially since DM development seems to have hit a wall. On a somewhat related side-note, I recently bit, and paid the $10 for You Software's Desktops app. Tried it for almost 2 weeks. Couldn't stand it - compared to Desktop Manager at least. Not very pleased with the lack of assignable hotkeys. Otherwise not bad, but I use the hotkeys more than I realized. @JamesR:
I did this original round up about 9 months ago. THEN, virtue didn’t fare so well on my system. I’ve not tried it since, but maybe it’s time to revisit things.
It’s actually the baby brother of Desktop Manager, so as it grows, I can easily see it overtaking DM…especially since DM development seems to have hit a wall.

On a somewhat related side-note, I recently bit, and paid the $10 for You Software’s Desktops app. Tried it for almost 2 weeks. Couldn’t stand it - compared to Desktop Manager at least. Not very pleased with the lack of assignable hotkeys. Otherwise not bad, but I use the hotkeys more than I realized.

]]> By: JamesR http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15406 JamesR Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:37:51 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-15406 As a matter of public record to the readers of this piece, I've used both Desktop Manger and Virtue, and virtue to be superior in crucial ways. Although configuration is a bit more complex, the reward is a VDM of unbelievable sleekness. It is a lightweight VDM that should be considered (once configured properly) by anyone who desires the least amount of screen realestate to be taken, and by those who like to customize their environment. For instance, i use shift+{up,down,left,right] key combos and the result is very intuitive. I wanted to balance the review to hightlight why virtue has won some hearts. As a matter of public record to the readers of this piece, I’ve used both Desktop Manger and Virtue, and virtue to be superior in crucial ways. Although configuration is a bit more complex, the reward is a VDM of unbelievable sleekness. It is a lightweight VDM that should be considered (once configured properly) by anyone who desires the least amount of screen realestate to be taken, and by those who like to customize their environment. For instance, i use shift+{up,down,left,right] key combos and the result is very intuitive. I wanted to balance the review to hightlight why virtue has won some hearts.

]]> By: sjk http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-12918 sjk Tue, 12 Jul 2005 18:00:34 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-12918 The recently released CTVD 3.2 is reported to (finally) fix the Firefox and Thunderbird compatibility bug. The recently released CTVD 3.2 is reported to (finally) fix the Firefox and Thunderbird compatibility bug.

]]> By: Frank http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-12915 Frank Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:34:23 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-12915 I've been uisng CTVD for quite a while. I am not s fan and am severly disappointed that the creator hasn't made any noticeable effort to correct the mozilla issue. Yes it only effects Mozilla products so there is some issue as to who should do the fixing ... But since I have to pay for CTVD I tend to look there way. I am a fan of Mozilla products, especially Firefox. The previous mentioned work around is good in a pinch but there is a better way. If you Launch Firefox completely BEFORE launching CTVD the issue does not present itself. Be sure to ALWAYS KEEP ONE FIREFOX window open. And do not launch CTVD until at least one Firefox window is open. With that method I never experience any of the issues that CTVD and Mozilla share. Everything wors as it should. If Firefox crashes, you close all its windows or you shutdown firefox you must stop CTVD relaunch Firefox and Then CTVD. This can be a pain but is far, far less frequent than CMD+Tab. I normally go weeks before I have to do that. I’ve been uisng CTVD for quite a while. I am not s fan and am severly disappointed that the creator hasn’t made any noticeable effort to correct the mozilla issue. Yes it only effects Mozilla products so there is some issue as to who should do the fixing … But since I have to pay for CTVD I tend to look there way.

I am a fan of Mozilla products, especially Firefox. The previous mentioned work around is good in a pinch but there is a better way. If you Launch Firefox completely BEFORE launching CTVD the issue does not present itself. Be sure to ALWAYS KEEP ONE FIREFOX window open. And do not launch CTVD until at least one Firefox window is open.

With that method I never experience any of the issues that CTVD and Mozilla share. Everything wors as it should. If Firefox crashes, you close all its windows or you shutdown firefox you must stop CTVD relaunch Firefox and Then CTVD. This can be a pain but is far, far less frequent than CMD+Tab. I normally go weeks before I have to do that.

]]> By: alba http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-2045 alba Tue, 12 Apr 2005 18:40:09 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-2045 Great round-up. i'm playing with Desktop Manager now and it's great. However, you mentioned that you are able to move apps between desktops via hot keys. How exactly are you doing that and is it possible to do this with a mouse (drag and drop with the pager). I've looked at the sourceforge page and i can't find it documented anywhere. Thanks in advance, keep up the great work. Great round-up. i’m playing with Desktop Manager now and it’s great. However, you mentioned that you are able to move apps between desktops via hot keys.

How exactly are you doing that and is it possible to do this with a mouse (drag and drop with the pager). I’ve looked at the sourceforge page and i can’t find it documented anywhere.

Thanks in advance, keep up the great work.

]]> By: sjk http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1810 sjk Wed, 06 Apr 2005 04:20:03 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1810 Append "from an end user perspective" to my "development has stagnated" comment. Append “from an end user perspective” to my “development has stagnated” comment.

]]> By: sjk http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1809 sjk Wed, 06 Apr 2005 04:16:25 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1809 Thanks for that tip, Derek. I rarely use Firefox but it's good to have a workaround for compatibility with CTVD when I do. I wonder what the future holds for "virtual desktop" apps on OS X. Development has stagnated lately, with the appearance of You Control: Desktop beta being the last significant news. Hopefully after Tiger is official released we'll see more progress. Thanks for that tip, Derek. I rarely use Firefox but it’s good to have a workaround for compatibility with CTVD when I do.

I wonder what the future holds for “virtual desktop” apps on OS X. Development has stagnated lately, with the appearance of You Control: Desktop beta being the last significant news. Hopefully after Tiger is official released we’ll see more progress.

]]> By: Derek http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1806 Derek Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:46:48 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-1806 Howdy, Thanks for the list. Couple of notes about CTVD, which has been my main manager for a couple of years (though I've tried the others): 1. The Firefox bug is *tremendously* annoying (note that it is a bug in Firefox, supposedly, although only CTVD seems to be affected) - however, there is a workaround: if you CMD-tab away from Firefox and then back to it after creating a new window, all the text fields should become enabled. Still annoying, but now that I've developed that little habit, not nearly so bad. Hope that is helpful... Howdy,

Thanks for the list. Couple of notes about CTVD, which has been my main manager for a couple of years (though I’ve tried the others):

1. The Firefox bug is *tremendously* annoying (note that it is a bug in Firefox, supposedly, although only CTVD seems to be affected) - however, there is a workaround: if you CMD-tab away from Firefox and then back to it after creating a new window, all the text fields should become enabled.
Still annoying, but now that I’ve developed that little habit, not nearly so bad.

Hope that is helpful…

]]> By: nick santilli http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-101 nick santilli Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:51:56 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-101 Hmm, editing comments gives a DB error. sorry to mess it up. here are those forums links: http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=54 http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=12 Hmm, editing comments gives a DB error.
sorry to mess it up.
here are those forums links:
http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=54
http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=12

]]> By: nick santilli http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-100 nick santilli Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:47:51 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-100 Thanks for the information Mike. I cleaned up your original post and put the forum link sin there. I'll check out the forums for the hotkeys! Thanks for the information Mike. I cleaned up your original post and put the forum link sin there.
I’ll check out the forums for the hotkeys!

]]> By: Mike Wong http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-98 Mike Wong Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:42:15 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-98 Hi there. Nice write up. Just wanted to let you know that in You Control: Desktops, you can set hot keys to switch to the next/previous desktop as well as to jump to a non-sequential desktop (i.e. from Desktop 1 to Desktop 3). Check out our forums <a href="http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=12" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://forums.yousoftware.com/viewtopic.php?t=54" target="_blank">here</a>. Weve got a new method to set hot keys (thats a little more intuitive) coming in the next beta release. Thanks. Mike Wong You Software Hi there. Nice write up. Just wanted to let you know that in You Control: Desktops, you can set hot keys to switch to the next/previous desktop as well as to jump to a non-sequential desktop (i.e. from Desktop 1 to Desktop 3). Check out our forums here and here. Weve got a new method to set hot keys (thats a little more intuitive) coming in the next beta release.
Thanks.
Mike Wong
You Software

]]> By: Josh Narins http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-96 Josh Narins Tue, 14 Dec 2004 04:44:00 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-96 Use /usr/bin/screen :) Use /usr/bin/screen :)

]]> By: nick santilli http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-95 nick santilli Tue, 14 Dec 2004 03:37:50 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-95 Ah, thanks for the information. That makes sense. I can't remember now, which one it was, but either You Software's Desktops Beta, or Virtue actually relaunched the dock upon completion of their installation. Ah, thanks for the information. That makes sense.

I can’t remember now, which one it was, but either You Software’s Desktops Beta, or Virtue actually relaunched the dock upon completion of their installation.

]]> By: Kevin Ballard http://theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-94 Kevin Ballard Tue, 14 Dec 2004 03:24:41 +0000 http://www.theappleblog.com/2004/12/13/virtual-desktops/#comment-94 The reason Desktop Manager loses the ability to move windows after a few days is really it loses the ability to move windows after the Dock relaunches (so if you force quit the Dock or something, it loses this ability). That's because it has to inject code into the Dock to do the window-moving (all virtual desktop apps do), and it really should listen to the app launched notifs and re-inject the code when the Dock relaunches, but it doesn't. The reason Desktop Manager loses the ability to move windows after a few days is really it loses the ability to move windows after the Dock relaunches (so if you force quit the Dock or something, it loses this ability). That’s because it has to inject code into the Dock to do the window-moving (all virtual desktop apps do), and it really should listen to the app launched notifs and re-inject the code when the Dock relaunches, but it doesn’t.

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