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ZDNET key takeaways
- Virtual Desktops are a great way to improve efficiency.
- Every desktop OS has the feature built in.
- These tips help me use VDs with a high level of effectiveness.
When I first started using Linux in the late 90s, one of the features that I found so helpful was called Virtual Desktops (sometimes called “Workspaces”). Yep, that’s right, Linux had them first, and the open-source OS has retained the feature ever since.
Even better, the other two operating systems (MacOS and Windows) eventually realized how helpful the feature was and decided to implement it. Eventually, even ChromeOS picked up on virtual desktops.
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To some, Virtual Desktops are a must-use. To others, they are something to try and eventually forget. Finally, there are others who simply don’t bother.
If you are part of the last two groups, know that you’re missing out on a feature that can help keep your desktop organized and you working at a higher level of efficiency.
What I want to do is discuss how these features can be used to help you out. I’m going to speak to this subject not specific to an OS or desktop, but in general; that way, everyone can get the most out of Virtual Desktops and Workspaces.
So, whether you use ChromeOS, Linux, MacOS, or Windows, this is how you use your desktop in the most efficient manner.
What are Virtual Desktops?
Virtual Desktops are a feature found on desktop operating systems that serve as separate, virtualized workspaces, so users can better organize apps and windows into distinct screens on a single monitor.
Think of Virtual Desktops as a way to use multiple monitors on a single display. Each virtual desktop acts as an independent desktop, so you can focus apps for a single task. Here’s what I mean.
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Let’s say you use your web browser, email client, Trello, and Slack for work productivity. You could create a desktop dedicated to that. Or maybe you use your web browser and word processor for writing. You might even have a collection of games that you play.
To make your life easier, create a workspace for each task and open the associated windows to the related workspace. When you need to do something productive, switch to your productivity workspace. If you need to do some shopping, make the switch to another. You then need to do some work on your latest novel, so you switch to that desktop.
You could even open one browser window in one workspace, another in a second, and yet another in a third. Essentially, Virtual Desktops make it easier for you to combine related apps together in a way that makes them easier to find and use.
But why use Virtual Desktops when you can go with multi-monitor setups? First of all — money. Multiple monitors can cost you a bit of coinage, and to some, that puts them out of reach.
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Another reason is space. Your desktop (or your lap) might not have room for multiple displays.
Those two options alone make using Virtual Desktops a must for some.
How best to use Virtual Desktops
I’m going to make this general, so it’s not specific to a single operating system. Because of that, I’m not going to demonstrate on any one OS, to ensure that this isn’t limiting. In other words, these tips should work regardless of the operating system.
1. Create as many VDs as needed
Make this easy on yourself and count exactly how many VDs you’ll need. For instance, you might want them for:
- Productivity
- Shopping
- Audio/Visual
- Creativity
If that’s the sum total of your list, that requires four desktops. You already have one by default, so you only need to add three more.
2. Name your Virtual Desktops
When I first started using Virtual Desktops, I just created them on the fly and then manually moved my apps to their own home. I would then have to try to remember which VD housed which task.
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Eventually, I realized the best thing to do was to name each desktop with its task, so I would have a Virtual Desktop named Productivity, one named Shopping, one named Audio/Visual, one named Creativity, and so on.
This made it exponentially easier for me to know which desktop I needed to work with at any given time.
3. Know your keyboard shortcuts/gestures
Each OS handles Virtual Desktop switching differently. You might have an OS/desktop that allows you to switch VDs using your scroll wheel, while others require something like Super+Arrow Key. Still others might have a trackpad gesture for switching between desktops.
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Whichever OS you use, make sure you know how to easily switch between workspaces. If you use an OS/desktop that allows you to customize the method, do so, and make sure the keyboard shortcut is easy to remember and use.
4. Change your wallpaper
Some OSs/desktops allow you to change your wallpaper for each desktop. The reason I do this is that it makes it very easy to know which desktop I’m using. By doing this, I can quickly switch back and forth between desktops and immediately know which one I’m using. This is very helpful, especially when you use the same app (such as your web browser) on multiple desktops.
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It doesn’t take much to make Virtual Desktops a must-use feature. I’ve been working with VDs for a very long time, and they never fail to keep me working efficiently.
