Q&A: A Virtual Desktop system for Windows?

Reader Milton asks: A friend of mine has a Linux computer and it has a cool feature: In the task bar along the bottom there is a little grid of four windows numbered 1 through 4. You start on on window 1, but if you click 2, 3, or 4, you get a new, blank desktop to work with. You can open windows or programs here and then switch back to "1" and everything you had open there stays where you left it. You can flip between 1 and 2, for example, and essentially have two different sets of applications open, one in each desktop, at the same time. It looks really useful. So my question is: What is this system called? And can I do the same thing on Windows?

The technology is called a "virtual desktop" and it's been a Linux/Unix staple for years. Your description is pretty much spot on: With Virtual Desktop, you can have up to four different sets of applications on four different desktops, flipping between them with a click of the mouse or a keyboard shortcut. One common usage scenario is to put your work applications in one window and your leisure pursuits in another. This way you aren't distracted by YouTube when you should be working on that spreadsheet, and your workspace stays clean and uncluttered.

So, can you do this on Windows? Yes you can.

If you have Windows XP, you can download Microsoft's Virtual Desktop Manager from this page. Note that this program does not work with Vista.

After you install the program you might not see it right away: Right-click in the taskbar, select Toolbars, and click "Desktop Manager" to enable the program. You'll see a new set of icons next to the system tray, reading "MSVDM," a green circle, and four circles numbered 1 through 4. Click the number buttons to switch between virtual desktops, or click the green button to see miniature versions of all four desktops on the screen at the same time. Be warned: Performance can be lackluster.

Windows Vista doesn't have a sanctioned virtual desktop manager, but third-party add-ons exist that work just about the same way. There are numerous applications available to do the job -- and most are freeware; Z-Systems' Vista/XP Virtual Desktop Manager is probably the most popular (and, as the name states, it works with both Vista and XP). GoScreen is a venerable application that works with Windows dating back to Win95 and comes in over a dozen languages.

If those apps don't work for you, a quick web search will turn up many more. Happy virtual desktopping!