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Ever since I switched from Ubuntu to OSX I've been missing how simple and useable Virtual Desktops are. I used them all the time in Ubuntu, and I had a keyboar

by div 15y ago

Ever since I switched from Ubuntu to OSX I've been missing how simple and useable Virtual Desktops are. I used them all the time in Ubuntu, and I had a keyboard shortcut to move the currently active window to any adjacent virtual desktop (with loop around). This was great when a context switch happened in a virtual desktop dedicated to project A. I would just realize I need to do this on a separate desktop, and use my shortcuts to fling to an empty one. On OSX this involves clicking, dragging and aiming at the correct space, which completely stopped me from using spaces at all. I tried dedicated spaces for certain applications, but found that to be annoying when I want to run one of those apps in the context of my current space. I was kinda hoping Lion would improve on this, but sadly it seems they went the opposite direction.

idan 15y ago
Properly configured, the old Spaces was a passable replacement for virtual desktops, with some caveats. I always had a 4-space, one-row layout. Wrap-around worked, but the animation was a bit confusing at first (it lets you move "right" past the last space, but the animation shows you moving three spaces to the left). I never used Spaces to move between spaces, keybindings and mouse gestures accomplished those. I only entered Spaces view when I wanted to move windows from one space to another. If I had to use the mouse every time I wanted to change spaces, I'd stop using it too.
- div 15y ago
  I know you can change spaces through shortcuts, my problem was I could not e.g.: Be using chrome in space 1, hit a shortcut and move to space 2 while at the same time moving my chrome window over to space 2. This took 2 minutes to set up on Ubuntu and I used it constantly.
  - kd5bjo 15y ago
    If you change spaces with the keyboard shortcut while dragging a window, it will come to the new space with you.
  - elfred 15y ago
    cmd+ctrl+arrow used to send a window to a space.
    - Symmetry 15y ago
      But does it send your view to that space as well? If it doesn't that's slightly less convenient when you're trying to move that window one space, and more inconvenient when you're trying to move multiple spaces.
tom9729 15y ago
I use cmd + arrow key to switch spaces. If you grab a window you can bring it along with you to another space. It would be nice if there was an easy way to select multiple windows to do this with though.
- div 15y ago
  That's exactly what I was missing! Pretty awkward to have to first drag the window you want to take along a bit though. I'd much prefer if I could do something like cmd + ctrl + arrow to mean "move the currently active window to the next space"
cks 15y ago
Agreed, spaces in OS X has always appeared half-baked to me. Coming from a GNU/Linux environment I found it surprising that it wasn't possible to send a window to a specific workspace using the keyboard only. I don't want to invoke the mouse for basic workspace usage
neanderdog 15y ago
"Mission control, abort! abort!" Well that's how I feel :) Seriously, I too came from linux (ubuntu even) to osx having last owned a mac when it had a whopping 128k memory. I heard someone say on a podcast recently that when Apple Computer became Apple (jan-07), that's when they started leaving power users behind. Anyhow, my Lion/MC/Spaces gripes are along these lines: 1. 1-D vs 2-D grids. This is terrible for me personally. 2. Animations. If I'm typing ctrl->right/left, it means I'd like to get there more quickly than my mouse allows. The (for me) nauseating animation is just painfully slow and sickening (literally). 3. I've read many people say, 'use ctrl-<desktop#>'. Well yea that's somewhat better and has a snappier animation (like ctrl-<arrow key> had with SL spaces) but I personally find this awkward. First, if I am going to go the trouble of that, I want to get to that desktop immediately so any animation seems silly. Second, it's still 1-D thinking. Having been able to ctrl-<arrow key> to my 3x3 grid in SL was a basic with my workflow. Now I'm sure my mother will love Mission Control, and not tire of the eye candy animations, but for people working all day with them.... ugh! I just don't understand why Apple can't bring it's stunning "Here's how to use a trackpad" gif-like spiffy animations to the System Preferences more broadly, and add more customization to the UI in general (like turn of animations!). I know we're the 20% and not the 80% but it does suck, making me seriously consider going back to *nix now that I'm digging deeper into vim.
- radley 15y ago
  I heard someone say on a podcast recently that when Apple Computer became Apple (jan-07), that's when they started leaving power users behind. Basically they stopped being a computer company and became a consumer media company.
X-Istence 15y ago
With the old spaces you could move windows by clicking them, and then switching to the space using your keyboard.
bzbarsky 15y ago
> On OSX this involves clicking, dragging and aiming > at the correct space No, it involves clicking, then holding ctrl and an arrow key to move in that arrow key's direction, or clicking then holding ctrl and hitting the number for your desired space. So the only difference from what you describe on Ubuntu is that you have to click the window titlebar first. At least this is how it worked in 10.6. Haven't tried 10.7 yet.

by div 15y ago

idan 15y ago

Properly configured, the old Spaces was a passable replacement for virtual desktops, with some caveats. I always had a 4-space, one-row layout. Wrap-around worked, but the animation was a bit confusing at first (it lets you move "right" past the last space, but the animation shows you moving three spaces to the left). I never used Spaces to move between spaces, keybindings and mouse gestures accomplished those. I only entered Spaces view when I wanted to move windows from one space to another. If I had to use the mouse every time I wanted to change spaces, I'd stop using it too.

div 15y ago
I know you can change spaces through shortcuts, my problem was I could not e.g.: Be using chrome in space 1, hit a shortcut and move to space 2 while at the same time moving my chrome window over to space 2. This took 2 minutes to set up on Ubuntu and I used it constantly.
- kd5bjo 15y ago
  If you change spaces with the keyboard shortcut while dragging a window, it will come to the new space with you.
- elfred 15y ago
  cmd+ctrl+arrow used to send a window to a space.
  - Symmetry 15y ago
    But does it send your view to that space as well? If it doesn't that's slightly less convenient when you're trying to move that window one space, and more inconvenient when you're trying to move multiple spaces.

tom9729 15y ago

I use cmd + arrow key to switch spaces. If you grab a window you can bring it along with you to another space. It would be nice if there was an easy way to select multiple windows to do this with though.

div 15y ago
That's exactly what I was missing! Pretty awkward to have to first drag the window you want to take along a bit though. I'd much prefer if I could do something like cmd + ctrl + arrow to mean "move the currently active window to the next space"

cks 15y ago

Agreed, spaces in OS X has always appeared half-baked to me. Coming from a GNU/Linux environment I found it surprising that it wasn't possible to send a window to a specific workspace using the keyboard only. I don't want to invoke the mouse for basic workspace usage

neanderdog 15y ago

"Mission control, abort! abort!" Well that's how I feel :) Seriously, I too came from linux (ubuntu even) to osx having last owned a mac when it had a whopping 128k memory. I heard someone say on a podcast recently that when Apple Computer became Apple (jan-07), that's when they started leaving power users behind. Anyhow, my Lion/MC/Spaces gripes are along these lines: 1. 1-D vs 2-D grids. This is terrible for me personally. 2. Animations. If I'm typing ctrl->right/left, it means I'd like to get there more quickly than my mouse allows. The (for me) nauseating animation is just painfully slow and sickening (literally). 3. I've read many people say, 'use ctrl-<desktop#>'. Well yea that's somewhat better and has a snappier animation (like ctrl-<arrow key> had with SL spaces) but I personally find this awkward. First, if I am going to go the trouble of that, I want to get to that desktop immediately so any animation seems silly. Second, it's still 1-D thinking. Having been able to ctrl-<arrow key> to my 3x3 grid in SL was a basic with my workflow. Now I'm sure my mother will love Mission Control, and not tire of the eye candy animations, but for people working all day with them.... ugh! I just don't understand why Apple can't bring it's stunning "Here's how to use a trackpad" gif-like spiffy animations to the System Preferences more broadly, and add more customization to the UI in general (like turn of animations!). I know we're the 20% and not the 80% but it does suck, making me seriously consider going back to *nix now that I'm digging deeper into vim.

radley 15y ago
I heard someone say on a podcast recently that when Apple Computer became Apple (jan-07), that's when they started leaving power users behind. Basically they stopped being a computer company and became a consumer media company.

X-Istence 15y ago

With the old spaces you could move windows by clicking them, and then switching to the space using your keyboard.

bzbarsky 15y ago

> On OSX this involves clicking, dragging and aiming > at the correct space No, it involves clicking, then holding ctrl and an arrow key to move in that arrow key's direction, or clicking then holding ctrl and hitting the number for your desired space. So the only difference from what you describe on Ubuntu is that you have to click the window titlebar first. At least this is how it worked in 10.6. Haven't tried 10.7 yet.