Sorry, Windows 9 Fans, This Is How Multiple Desktops Should Work

Softpedia ^ | 17 September 2014 | Silviu Stahie

[ShadowAce]

The Windows 9 OS will finally get a very coveted feature, multiple desktops, but the Microsoft developers are still pretty far away from what you can get on Linux.

The Linux platform has always taken pride in this cool feature. Having multiple desktops is a great way to increase the productivity and there are numerous means to implement it. Lots of Linux distributions have this option, which is used in various ways.

Ubuntu has had multiple desktops (or virtual desktops) for many years, and this particular option has been refined over time. Basically, users can add as many desktops as they see fit and use them in any way they choose. They can even opt out and have just one desktop.

Windows is on the right track, but it's late in the game

The possibility to have more desktops than just one has been around for many years, and a lot of users have argued that it even predates Linux, but that's for another discussion. Now, Microsoft is trying to bring that feature to Windows 9, but it's still in its infancy.

To be fair, there have been a number of third-party applications that could fulfill this role in the past, but they never really took off and they weren't implemented natively. Microsoft is hoping to correct this problem, and from the looks of it, they've done an OK job – not bad, but not great either.

We made a short video showing what can be done with multiple desktops in Ubuntu and you can compare it yourself with the leaked video from Windows 9. As it was to be expected, the Microsoft implementation of the feature lacks any kind of finesse and it seems to be added just to say that they have it. It will probably get better in future Windows versions, but for now that's the current state.

The only advantage spotted in the Windows build is the way users can create and delete virtual desktops. Apparently, this can be done on the fly. In Ubuntu, users need to install an application from the repository, called Unity Tweak, that allows them to change the default number of desktops, which is currently four.

Other than that, everything else is way behind. Moving apps from one desktop to another looks to be rather unintuitive, you can't activate the option with hot corners, it's difficult to say what apps are open and where, not to mention the fact that you can't really tell where you are when you have all those desktops open.

Please keep in mind that the Windows 9 video is made from a Beta release and that some features might changes before it hits RTM stage.

We have posted both videos for your enjoyment and we'll let you decide which one is the best.

NOTE: Videos at link

[sheana]

Well I don’t really see the point in having multiple desktops without having multiple monitors to view them all. I really hate having to switch back and forth. I used to trade futures for a living and had 4 different things running on the 4 monitors.

[GeronL]

Microsoft is paying $2.5 billion for Minecraft. They have screws loose.

[ShadowAce]

yeah, but Notch is like

[GeronL]

You can change your startpage. Mine is DuckDuckGo

[GeronL]

I bet he is! This could easily be another Nokia diaster (what was that $7 billion?) for MS. They like throwing a lot of money around apparently.

How much more do they expect to squeeze from the Minecraft turnip? I realize they are about to launch PS4 and XBox One versions but can they really expect to recoup that much? Too bad I don’t have a worthless app to sell them for a few million.

[ShadowAce]

You've heard of Minetest and Voxelands?

[ShadowAce]

Too bad I don’t have a worthless app to sell them for a few million.

ProgressQuest

[Labyrinthos]

Another obnoxious article from a Linux groupie on the virtues of Linux over MS and everything else. You win. Linus trumps all other operating systems. The score is not even close. But no one really cares because 99% of the people who turn on a computer every day are too stupid, busy, or uninterested to play with an OS that very few people use or write programs for.

[ctdonath2]

FR may be a very interesting and informational website but unless you are really into politics it is worthless.

At basic, someone should explain what the main point of every thread is, that, what is meant by “Democrat” & “Republican” & “Obama” & etc, and why the discussed issue is important.

I guess I am just an old guy that does not keep up with everything but it is a pet peeve when someone post something without any context.

Okay, I am done, I got go and chase some kids off my grass...

[Moral: if you don’t understand a discussion, either politely ask for an explanation or move on. Don’t whine that others haven’t already made clear what participants already understand.]

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

BTW, The entire Ubuntu look is depressing.

Try Linux Mint. It is based on Debian Linux just like Ubuntu and they are very similar under the covers. I have used both and prefer Linux Mint.

[lewislynn]

You can change your startpage. Mine is DuckDuckGo

Thanks but I'm near illiterate when it comes to computers and I can't figure out how to change it.

[GeronL]

At the top: “Edit” to “Preferences” and the “home page” should be there, which is easily changeable.

[GeronL]

I have Mine-Test. Mine-Test Plus doesn’t like my putter but the Carbone version does.

Voxelands? I have now, thanks.

[GeronL]

Voxelands works with Ubuntu?

[GeronL]

BTW, The entire Ubuntu look is depressing.

What is depressing about it? I use any picture I want as a desktop wallpaper and there is a thin bar at the top of the screen. The sidebar whatever-its-called stays hidden unless I move the cursor over there.

[ShadowAce]

You’d have to try it out. I don’t run Ubuntu (and I haven’t actually installed or downloaded Voxelands).

[cothrige]

Just to start some flames... Linux would have gone NO WHERE, if it weren’t for a bunch of extreme Geeks willing to spend their time in the command line(i.e pre 1960s technology). Fortunately for the world Linux flavors have slowly been awakening to the fact that we have had video for 50 years now, and they are beginning to implement more things graphically, but overall they still have a long way to go.

I don't know about flames, but I never quite understand why there seems to be such a consensus that the GUI is superior to the command line, or that an OS is bad because it is geeky. According to that logic Ferraris are not as good as Nissans because they are harder to drive and less user friendly. Standard transmissions are also bad and all cars should have automatic transmissions. But, why? Why shouldn't there be cars out there for people who really love driving, even if they represent a tiny part of the market? And yet that is what I read on these threads about Linux. People insist that since it is "geeky" and only has a tiny share of the market it is somehow a failure. I just don't see that.

[Prophet2520]

I don’t think nor did I imply at all that Linux flavors are a failure. I only say that if it were not for that “tiny part of the market” as you put it, it would have been a failure. Linux is good in many ways, and getting better all the time. I am glad the option is there. I don’t however agree with Linux is far superior to windows attitude.

I do think that GUI has the POTENTIAL to be far superior to command line. There is nothing intuitive to humans about a command line interface, and having to learn “/x” options. Superior UI allows users to accomplish more, intuitively, while needing to know less.

As far as cars, automatic transmissions are safer when all other factors are the same. :-) You should always have both hands available for steering, and less things to think about in crisis moments, and zero delay time to get in gear. Also studies have show significantly higher stress in manual transmission drivers than automatic ones. But if you think its fun needlessly flipping your feet and hands about, go for it. :-)

[cothrige]

I don’t think nor did I imply at all that Linux flavors are a failure.

I was responding to your statement that "Linux would have gone NO WHERE, if it weren’t for a bunch of extreme Geeks willing to spend their time in the command line." This certainly implies that any OS, all flavours of Linux included, are failures if they haven't abandoned the command line or are directed at "extreme Geeks." I just disagree with this attitude.

I don’t however agree with Linux is far superior to windows attitude.

How is it different than the "steak is far superior to bologna attitude"? Or, more to the point, the "GUI is superior to the command line attitude"?

There is nothing intuitive to humans about a command line interface, and having to learn “/x” options.

Perhaps, but what of it? If you really get down to the basics, there is nothing intuitive to humans about reading. Movies are more natural insofar as they involve simply watching and absorbing, which is what we do from birth. Therefore movies are superior to books. And yet, that is not so for lovers of reading. And this is what I am getting at. Geeky is not bad, or even inferior. Small, devoted user bases are not automatically indicators of lower value than larger user bases, which is the implication of much of what I read on these Linux threads.

As far as cars, automatic transmissions are safer when all other factors are the same. :-)

Yes, but if we are going to talk about what is intuitive for humans it is impossible to leave out the concept of fun. There is nothing safe about climbing rocks, jumping out of planes, skiing down mountains, or many other things we do. Quality is more than a matter of safety.