Use Fast User Switching to simulate virtual desktops

Feb 17, '04 09:44:00AM

Contributed by: Viridian

For those people using Panther who have wished for virtual desktops, I recently had a "Duh!" moment. I had set up accounts for my wife and three children on our 17" iMac, and was marvelling at the Fast User Switching feature when it occurred to me that I could simulate virtual desktops by setting up and naming accounts for special purposes, eg email, browsing, editing etc. with specific apps in each Dock, different backgrounds, whatever.

I don't have a use for virtual desktops myself, but maybe those who do will find some value in this.

[robg adds: We've covered the more typical solutions for virtual desktops here before (CodeTek Virtual Desktop, Desktop Manager), but fast user switching is clearly another means of simulating virtual desktops. You'll lose some features, such as the ability to easily cut and paste between desktops, and although it's fast, it's still slower than hitting a hotkey to switch desktops.]

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