I’ve been reading Stephen O’Grady’s blog for a while now. More often then not, I learn a bit about segments of the computer industry that I might have otherwise been ignorant to. A recent post discusses the merits of various “cool” user interface enhancements. Most of these started with Mac OS-X and made it into the Linux community distributions and finally Microsoft Vista. The 3-D desktop is one of those.

I’ve blogged a few times about virtual desktop solutions. Originally it was because my favorite computer – the Thinkpad X60 – only has a 1024×768 screen. Recently, the reason has grown a bit deeper. First, here is what Stephen writes …

… using said 3D functionality off and on I had a special interest. Among other things, he expressed his hope that the various communities that provide and consume the functionality would seek ways to apply the new capabilities to the task of making the user more productive.

A month ago, I would have wholeheartedly agreed. And in fact, I still do, for the most part. But my recent usage has led me to question my original belief that these technologies – while visually impressive – were largely gratuitous and trivial in their current incarnation. While having transition animations like OS X and transparent borders and so on is a definite improvement over the usual staid desktop experience, it did little to make me more productive. Source: Stephen O’Grady

However, Stephen goes on to say …

But over the past few weeks, I?ve taken to using the multiple desktop concept quite heavily. I typically assign one side of the cube (a desktop, in other words) to a browser, IM, IRC and other related tasks, one to writing, one to Songbird, and the last to my terminal windows and other miscellaneous tasks.

This is very much the model I now use with Ubuntu. My cube (or more accurately my octagon as I have 8 desktops) has one for my basic “daily drivers” of email and IM. I use one for each major task I have during the day. for instance, when writing a paper, I have the document, a diagramming tool, wikipedia, and various Google searches open together. When I get interrupted, I leave everything on that desktop and either rotate back to email or – if I need to start a temporary task – to a clean desktop. Finally, I use one desktop each for remote computers. I typically have 2 other machines I connect to. On the occasion I need to access a VMWare image, I now give each of those their own desktop just like the remote machines.

This division of content has had an interesting side effect. With my email and IM off on a different desktop, I find I can more easily ignore the interruptions they generate. I can focus on my research papers for longer periods of time. And, when the interruption necessitates immediate action, I can leave all of my work open and undisturbed while I address the interrupt and everything is where I left it when I return. I also have a cleaner *real* desk as I have relegated all other computers to the corners of  my office.

BTW: Stephen, if you read this, the trick to getting a good screen clip of the 3-D desktop is to use GIMP and capture the full screen with a 5 second delay <grin>.