Why wait for Leopard? Get a virtual desktop manager now

I cannot create a new desktop (I have the 3 default Desktops but cannot add a new one). I cannot configurate the applications inspector properly. Sometimes some options are not avaliable...
A least the light and move sensors work ok and the cube transition is really cool... but that's only eye candy.

Virtue Desktops is cool. So is Desktop Manager and YouControl Desktops (although the latter crumpled my Mac into an unhappy kernel the last time I tried it). However, none of these is ready for prime time. I've been trying to work with Virtue Desktops again for a week or two, but it's just not there. Unfortunately, the developer doesn't have the resources to improve it fast enough. It's beautiful, but I'm really hoping Spaces is a stable virtual desktops implementation, cause none of these others are. I also have heard good reports about YouControl's software, but I'm just not willing to pay for this functionality. Heck, it's free in other Unix distros, so why pay in Mac OS X?

Last week I was trying to get Virtue to maintain a simple desktop with a white background that I could use for screen-movie making. First big problem? Every desktop inherits your main desktop's files--meaning all of its icons, drives, etc. Fortunately, I have DeskShade, but it shouldn't have been necessary.

Next, I used Virtue's Cmd-Ctrl O shortcut to try to put a particular Firefox window onto the screen movie desktop. I frustrated myself endlessly, finally quitting Virtue and restarting it. I did have better luck then, but in general Virtue's controls for specifying apps and windows in particular desktops simply doesn't work.

There are numerous other quirks, but basically Virtue is an interesting experiment that will either leave you longing for the real thing or will convince you that virtual desktops are a bad idea. In either case, you're probably better off waiting for Leopard. :-)

Cheers,
Leland

I second the vote on Desktop Manager. It may not be open source, but it's worked GREAT on my PB Al for over a year, survived the transition to Tiger, and is flawless transitioning across desktops. Maybe the transitions aren't fancy shmancy, but it gets the job done.

Todd,

Try disabling the transition animations. And the motion sensor switching seems even more frivolous although I've never tried it since I don't have a MacBook (Pro).

I tried Virtue Desktops after reading this here, and I can say the answer to 'why wait for leopard' is 'because it will work right there'. I had quite a few random flippings of screens, motion sensor switching doesn't work. It looks nice, but I'd like something that works better, without the kitchen sink settings.

VirtueDesktops is great. Hopefully Apple can bring something new to the concept or Virtual Desktops in Leopard.

It woud be great, however there is a slight issue with using a dual monitor set up.

I have an Apple 23" HD Cinema Display plugged into my 15" G4 PowerBook.

The 23" screen is Primary display (the menu bar is on this screen) and obviously the Secondary screen is the PowerBooks screen.

But when I switch to another 'screen' only the secondary screen rotates (I am using the 'Cube' transition), the bezel graphic appears in the Primary screen.

The best virtual universal desktop application right now is Youcontrol Desktops. It costs money, but they have a 15 day demo to try. I've used Virtue Desktops, but the Youcontrol application is easier to configure and easier to manage.

http://yousoftware.com/desktops

It is the best, but it cost $30 USD, I think it is not a cheap price

GB

sorry, forgot the link...

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/12682

i've been using desktop manager for quite some time and it works great.