Virtual Desktop Manager

One of the interesting features that was made available in the latest release of the Mac OS X was the Spaces feature. Although I’m not sure about my initial usage of something like that in the beginning, I’m sure it would grow on me in it’s usefulness and my dependence on it.

Virtual Desktop Manager from Z-systems delivers the Spaces functionality and then some to Vista and XP desktops.

Virtual Desktop Manager by Z-Systems

Apple Mac OS X Spaces

As you can see from the two screen shots the functionality is very similar. Not sure if the Apple Spaces feature can do more than 4 windows though. Someone share?

My boss grabbed the Virtual Desktop Manager from the Codeplex website a week or so ago while he was trying to still find a similar solution for Vista like I have for XP with MultiMon. Didn’t deliver that functionality so if anyone has a solution like that for Windows Vista, please let me know in the comments.

Getting back to the Virtual Desktop Manager, here’s a little bit about the basis under the program:

Vista provides developers with the new DWM based aero interface. A new set of thumbnail API’s can be used to access some of this new technology. This virtual desktop program takes advantage of this new API and uses some tricks of its own to provide a powerful virtual desktop manager with a full screen thumbnail based preview. You can have as many desktops as you want and can seamlessly switch between them.
But wait! What if you still are using XP? Don’t worry, Vista/XP Virtual Desktops provides support for XP as well, although window previews are not live since XP doesn’t have DWM.

Even though Virtual Desktop Manager works for XP, I think what’s missing with the absence of DWM is pretty core to the coolness factor.

For those interested in on Vista though here’s a list of the features you can expect to take advantage of with the application:

• Full screen desktop/window manager/preview with full drag and drop managing
• Desktop switch indicator
• An infinite number of desktops
• Watch the windows move in real time as you drag them around in the window manager
• Multiple monitor support
• Window menus
• Tray icons for each desktop
• Per-desktop backgrounds
• Configurable colors, fade speeds, hotkeys, etc.
• Uses Vista’s live thumbnails

To download Virtual Desktop Manager and see it for yourself, visit the Codeplex site for the full download and more information.

VDM Screenshot: Used with Permission from Z-systems
Apple Spaces Screenshot: From Apple website features