What are they anyway??
"Desktops" or "Virtual Desktops" have been around in the Linux world for ages. More recently Apple incorporated desktops into Mac OS X calling them spaces. In Linux, desktops are usually enabled by default and Linux users generally like to use them.
So why bother with Virtual Desktops (Spaces)?
- Avoiding clutter
Having three or four applications open can make for a cluttered desktop. Separating tasks over two or more virtual desktops and switching back and forth between them can make for a more manageable work environment. - Organizing tasks or processes
Some individuals finds it helps them organize their workload according to the nature of the task and frequency of use. For example, someone primarily engaging in writing documents might keep LibreOffice Writer, an opensource word processing program similar and compatible with Microsoft Office, on Desktop 1, assign email to Desktop 2, and perhaps Skype or Jitsi to Desktop 3. - An application freezes
If an application, for example, on Desktop 1 freezes, work on other apps can still continue on desktop 2 or 3.
How to change desktops
In Linux there are various ways of changing from one desktop to another depending on the Linux system and what is enabled. This may be a point of frustration if you are used to Mac or Windows where what works on one computer will work on all computers. In our case, since we are using older computers that are donated from various sources, developing an optimal system becomes a necessity. There are many many Linux systems and what works best on a netbook might not be optimal for another type of computer or even another kind of netbook. Consistency is certainly a high priority, but at times functionality has been chosen over consistency.
Even so, with a little patience, it's really not so bad. In fact, it can be fun and rewarding to cultivate flexibility and expand one's horizons. Short of that, all of this can be customized to suit your own tastes, both the number of desktops as well the method for changing between them.
- Method 1. On many desktops, such as our netbooks, icons resembling small rectangular boxes appear in the dock or on a shelf somewhere. These boxes represent their respective desktops. The box farthest left would represent Desktop 1, the next over to the right Desktop 2, and so on, depending on how many desktops are available. This system works well on our netbooks.
- Method 2.
Using the control, alt and arrow keys also works well on our netbooks. From Desktop 1, alt + right arrow will bring you to Desktop 2, and alt + left arrow back to Desktop 1. On some systems this may be Ctrl + alt + (left or right) arrow key. You will have to experiment to find which works. - Method 3.
For many of our desktop computers, you can cycle through desktops using the control and Fn keys. Control + F1 will take you to the first desktop, Control + F2 to the second, and so on. - Method 4.
On certain Linux systems, just moving the cursor with the mouse to the far left or right of the screen will move you to another desktop. For example, from Desktop 1, moving the cursor to the far right of the screen as if to cross over to a new desktop will bring you to Desktop 2. This option is disabled on most of our computers as many individuals find it annoying or confusing.
Problems
If you suddenly find yourself looking at a blank screen when a minute ago you were looking at Firefox. If so, it could be you inadvertently switched desktops. This usually only happens when Method 4 above is enabled. If it does happen, just use one of the methods above to get back to your original desktop environment.
Conclusion
If all this seems more bewildering than it's worth, just disable having more than one desktop. On the other hand, if you get used to using desktops you may wonder how you ever got along without them.