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Dexpot is an awesome virtual desktop app - now with Windows 7 superbar integration!
Enter Dexpot, undoubtedly the best virtual desktop solution for Windows. Virtual desktops always felt a little clunky to me, but with the new Windows 7 plugin SevenDex (it ships with Dexpot), you now have Superbar thumbnail Aero Peek access to your virtual desktops (of which you can have up to 20, but the default of 4 is quite enough for my needs).
The sheer number of options can be a little overwhelming, but they are all neatly organized in a way that best befits this German-engineered tool. You can setup shortcuts (but the defaults of Alt-1, Alt-2, etc. are about as fast and convenient as shortcuts get), move windows between desktops, peruse a catalogue of desktops (to see what you've got running) -- and you can even create 'rules', which seem to interact with new apps/windows in strange ways (I haven't worked it out yet).
It's free to download for personal use, but I imagine the biggest gains are to be made by professional designers and developers. Still, it might be nice to keep all of your 'nefarious' apps open on one virtual desktop, and all your 'safe' apps on another... and just switch between!
[via Freeware Genius]
Comments
17
Subscribe to commentsScrewdriverClockApr 19th 2010 8:30AM
Been a Powertoy that gave virtual desktops for XP since around the time XP came out. So your article is a bit inaccurate when you make the "Virtual desktops have long been one of those things that Linux has held over Windows (and Mac too, until recently)".. at the start of the article.
Sebastian AnthonyApr 19th 2010 8:39AM
Yes, because everyone knows what a Power Tool is...! The Power Tool version has nothing on Dexpot, either.
Mac and (most?) Linux window managers handle virtual desktops natively, that's what I meant.
hazardApr 19th 2010 9:27AM
Well if you want be like that Sebastian, Windows doesn't really do much out-of-the-box .. But like so many things about Windows the "native" api calls are there but MS leaves it to third parties to create the GUI. I like to think of a fresh Windows install as a nice blank canvas.
Sebastian AnthonyApr 19th 2010 9:29AM
Very... Bohemian.
GeirApr 19th 2010 8:58AM
Thanks, Sebastian! This looks good, at least initially. I need to try it a bit more, but at first glance this one seems to be good. I like this a lot better than Microsoft's PowerToy version....
ScrewdriverClockApr 19th 2010 9:01AM
Find it cute that I can't respond to your responses Sebastian. Not trying to rain on your parade, but all I'm suggesting is that before you make a claim like that maybe you should find out what alternatives have been there for years. Also keep in mind that said powertoy came out years before Dexpot, and was made for an OS from 2001, so yeah it might not be as up to date.
Sebastian AnthonyApr 19th 2010 9:10AM
That's our crappy comment system -- you can only go one level deep. Sucks -- you just gotta reply to 'yourself', and then it goes below my comment :)
So what alternatives are there, that are better than Dexpot?
Are you seriously saying that the PowerToy is better because it's older and hasn't been updated? :P
jfjbJun 19th 2010 3:23PM
@ Anthony
You asked: "what alternatives are there, that are better than Dexpot?"
My answer is: check Emerge, the desktop shell at http://emergedesktop.org/
You'll find a whole slew of built-in add-ons that MS forgot to implement -- including a VM -- in a very clean Spartan desktop. OK, that's for Zen users, not for party animals who need to gawk at bells and whistles.
My take, I may be wrong.
pat_boy2008Apr 19th 2010 10:46AM
Cool I been wanting a virtual desktop app for Windows 7 for a while now. This is one of my favorite things about Linux.
Also is that furry porn in the 4th desktop?!?! o_O
Sebastian AnthonyApr 19th 2010 11:07AM
Says the man with SONIC as his avatar.
(If I had a way of distributing bonus points to commenters... you'd get some.)
Rupert Madden-AbbottApr 19th 2010 6:37PM
This looks like a great application.
Unfortunately I've experienced a fairly nasty bug with it on my two monitor setup. Sometimes, when I drag a window from one monitor to the other, every single program I have open will close immediately, even tray applications like WampServer. There may be some conflict with DisplayFusion which is what I'm using to extend my taskbar over the two monitors or it might just not officially support multiple monitor setups.
Its a bit confusing at first so I thought I would let others know, in case they experience the same symptoms.
Sebastian AnthonyApr 19th 2010 6:41PM
Weird...! I did that, while I was testing it out, and it was fine. Guess it's a conflict with something else :(
blasztaApr 19th 2010 10:57PM
You have 2 monitor and use virtual desktop program? Gee.. isn't it overkill? I stop using virtual desktop program the day I use multi-monitor setup.
P.S.: Try Win+Shift+Left/Right arrow to move applications between monitors (Win7), not dragging it.
ScrewdriverClockApr 19th 2010 11:52PM
Not once did I claim that the Windows Powertoy version was better. All I claimed was that you didn't seem to look into any programs for windows that did this before Dexpot, and made it seem like Dexpot was the only chance Windows had to catch up with Linux OS's in the virtual desktop field.
Look I'm not trying to bash the article itself; for what its worth it is well written and informative on the benefits of Dexpot. Just little things like that irk me, blame it on the morning grumpies if you will but oh well.
Sebastian AnthonyApr 20th 2010 6:47AM
No hard feelings old chap!
Vincent IpApr 20th 2010 1:14PM
I've been using AltDesk (http://www.astonshell.com/altdesk/) as my virtual desktop manager for a while, and it's pretty good. When I first looked for this program years ago, it had a few more configuration options which suited me more than Dexpot back then.
If you're looking for a virtual desktop manager util, give this one a try too.
jfjbApr 22nd 2010 9:40PM
Any of you guys tried the Emerge Desktop, the Windows shell replacement?
Check it out @ http://emergedesktop.org/
And then, tell yourselves how many 3rd party add-ons do you need next.
What's the point when talking about Dexpot?
Emerge has a built-in virtual monitor manager -- as well as a slew of tricks up its sleeve that should have been included into Windows. Any Windows, 32 or 64 bit.
Just rambling, but drooling over my minimalist setup with Emerge.
My two-cents, if you would.
Surf's up, dudes and dudettes.
moi