multiple desktops in Lion

Sean Quagmire

I wanted to have separate desktop for work but the whole things seems a bit pointless. The dock stays the same for both desktops and if I put a folder shortcut on my work desktop it appears on my personal one. I want to be able to hook this up to a projector in a meeting and a have nothing personal on the desktop.

all I seem to be able to do is change the background pic, am i missing something about this feature? am i better off creating a separate log in to use for work?

cornbb

This feature is known as "spaces" and its supposed to allow you to arrange open windows in their own containers (e.g. a space for Safari, a space for a movie you are watching etc). Its not really about having multiple, customisable desktops and docks. To the OS, your Desktop is a single directory in your home directory; there is no inherent support for multiple desktops containing different files.

Setting up multiple user accounts is probably not ideal either but it could be worth a shot.

unnamed

I use mutliple logins and fast user switching and it works perfectly for, you can then use spaces for each account.

I even have multiple skype accounts open (one for each user) to keep my work and personal skype seperate.

Copy your preferences into the new account and most of your apps will keep their currrent settings.

Sad Professor

Personally I don't keep anything on my desktop. But if you want separate Docks and wallpapers then different user accounts is probably the best bet.

opinion guy

I never got why apple implemented this the way they did. Having the same files on the desktop completely negates the point of this.

Linux had a version that worked better back in the 90's and it was awesome - a great productivity feaure (I'm sure it probably still does this)

Sad Professor

Originally there was no desktop in OS X. The NeXT guys were completely opposed to it. That and the Apple menu were carried over from OS 9 and slapped onto OS X due to users kicking up a big stink over it. As a result I don't think Apple have ever given much thought to it. OS X no longer shows any files on the desktop by default anyway, so I'd say it will get the chop altogether before long.

cornbb

+1. I think the Desktop is a paradigm that's had its time. Each to their own though.

opinion guy

I don't get it .....what can you have instead of a desktop ? A space with icons to click is pretty much unavoidable is it not ?

I still say the Linux implentation in the mid-late 90's was better. Did you ever use it SP ?

Sad Professor

You would still have the Finder, you just wouldn't have icons on the desktop. It would just be wallpaper. The Desktop as it currently stands is arguably a clutter magnet.

As for virtual desktops on Linux, I'm sorta familiar with Gnome's Workspaces. Is that what you mean? It seemed pretty good alright, but not as user-friendly as Spaces.

opinion guy

haha I had to look up what gnome was.

No idea if its the same.

From memory, it was like apple spaces, except each space had its own files. Was VERY useful. You could have your work space with work folders etc, your gaming space with gaming stuff etc and whatever. Apple spaces always seemed....hobbled in comparison

Stainless_Steel

I agree with the above that the desktop is a clutter magnet.

I am so used to having no icons on the desktop (from using macs) that even my windows box has no icons.