"Virtual Desktop" Software - Not Virtualization

[jamiedolan]

HI;

All the posts I found about "Virtual Desktop" software were from 2009. I'm hoping to get a more current opinion.

I ran some virtual desktop program years ago with Windows 2000 and found it really useful. I'd like to find something that works well with Windows 7.

*Since the term can be confusing, What I am looking for is something that allows me to have multiple virtual desktops on the same machine. So for example, I could switch between desktops and on each desktop I have a copy of FireFox running; each desktop / copy of FireFox is able to be logged into a separate gmail account; for example, at the same time.*

What is the current suggestion for virtual desktop software? I read about virtual dimension, but it sounds like it is not 64 bit, I'm not sure how much of a problem that would create for a program like this.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Jamie

 

[Dwarf]

Try this: MaxTo

 

[xarden]

I think what he was wanting was multiple desktops, like what Compiz does in Ubuntu.
What you linked to seems to only partition the one desktop into multiple areas.

 

[Mike Connor]

This is the best I have used;

WindowsPager

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[rap33042]

Try Dexpot: Dexpot - The utility for virtual desktops

Up to like 20 desktops(I think); lots of Hotkeys to do various things; can save workspaces, etc...

I've used it in the past and it did what it said it would do; no muss- no fuss; (x86 & x64 compatible versions available)

 

[jamiedolan]

Try Dexpot: Dexpot - The utility for virtual desktops

Excellent!

Thank You everyone!

I have Dexpot installed and running. I setup 4 Desktops, and setup my HotKeys.

I switched to desktop 2 and opened a new copy of FireFox, then went to Gmail and it showed I was still logged into the same account I was logged in with on Desktop 1. I signed out. However, when I checked, this signed me out of gmail on Desktop 1 as well.

So, something is preventing me from being logged into a different gmail account on each desktop. My guess is that gmail is looking at cookies or some other temp file on the hard drive, as opposed to just what is running in memory, so it ends up affecting all the desktops. Any idea for work-arounds on this?

Thanks again,

Jamie

 

[xarden]

I switched to desktop 2 and opened a new copy of FireFox, then went to Gmail and it showed I was still logged into the same account I was logged in with on Desktop 1. I signed out. However, when I checked, this signed me out of gmail on Desktop 1 as well.

So, something is preventing me from being logged into a different gmail account on each desktop. My guess is that gmail is looking at cookies or some other temp file on the hard drive, as opposed to just what is running in memory, so it ends up affecting all the desktops. Any idea for work-arounds on this?

Good to hear you got it working.
This might be a firefox problem... have you tried another browser?

 

[jamiedolan]

Good to hear you got it working.
This might be a firefox problem... have you tried another browser?

I just tried it with Chrome and Safari. I experienced the same problem with both, I would click sign out on one desktop and would be signed out on the other desktop. I would sign in on one desktop and be signed in on both desktops.

I wonder if I could install another copy of the browser in the other desktop or something...

Thanks
Jamie

 

[jamiedolan]

I found a work around, A free FireFox add on:

Multifox - Different logins at the same time

It's pretty simple and seems to be solving the problem. Works fine together with Dexpot.

Thanks!
Jamie