Spaces - So close yet so far!

OK, I've tried, I've really tried.

Spaces was one of the new features I was really looking forward too in Leopard. Even though I've got significant screen real estate (a 30" Dell monster) I knew I could still benefit from having an orderly Spaces environment to group my related screens altogether.

Spaces is so close to being a great feature but just falls short of the mark.

I like being able to assign applications to various spaces but I just haven't found a consistently useable way to configure it. Not withstanding the issue of open windows mysteriously just disappearing without trace.

I think Spaces Rev 2 might fix some of the issues but until then, I'm afraid I've reverted back to just a single window on the world.

Mind you, I'm formulating a new master plan using multiple monitors once Apple release the next rev of the Mac Pro.

Stay tuned!

What's your experience with Spaces been?

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Comments

[Patrick]

I don't have a lot of experience with multiple virtual desktops but so far the best use so far is running my parallels virtual XP machine in a separate space if I am running my virtual OS at full screen. It seems to work much better than the screen "flipping" built into Parallels.

Another use I have played with a bit is running my social networking apps and e-mail in a separate space keeping them available but out of the way when work on my work.

The one thing I wish I could do would to be able to move program elements like the Photoshop toolbar into a separate windows than the image I am working on but I guess I need real monitors for that.

[Steve]

I've had exactly the same experience Don. Windows keep disappearing and the only way to bring them back is to toggle Spaces off and on again from System Preferences.

Even if Spaces did work properly, I really wish the background desktop icons could be switched off if desired. A big part of the attraction of spaces is to get a nice 'clean' workspace, and an icon-free backdrop would improve things no end, though I appreciate this might be confusing for some users.