If you set the shortcut to Command and the directional arrows you can switch between them with ease!

Only problems I've had are with inDesign, where you go back to your canvas and the tools and pallets don't show up.

Kinda weird but spaces is very useful!

I can't get used to it. I will try again now.

... I just can't get used to it. Plus whenever I try to add ID3, it adds ID2 instead. EVERY FRICKIN' TIME. What the hell?

I've been using virtual desktops on-and-off for years, via shareware/freeware apps. However, even with Apple building it in to the OS, I still can't see using it day-to-day. I can get the same effect by hiding the current app.

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Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

I use them, for example, I have the finder, Adium and Twitterrific open up on every space (you can set that up in system preferences). Then let's say Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop on space 1; Bridge on space 2 (full screen mode); Pages, Numbers or TextEdit on Space 4; and Mail and Safari on Space 4. I use it when I need to keep everything running. I've assigned applications specifically to certain spaces to help me get organized.

To me Spaces (or any virtual desktop system) is just an organizational tool. This system doesn't save any real time; it only keeps the type of mind that needs it more organized. There is no difference IMO between using cmd-tab and Spaces. Tried it and couldn't find the benefit beyond using regular program switching and hiding.

Actually I find organizing the apps, switching between the spaces dragging from one to another space, searching for the right space where I "left" an app, etc. very time-robbing.

Instead I am using CornerClick to hide an app that I don't need right now and highlight another by clicking on the Dock.

I never use it because I dont use huge apps that take up the whole screen (ex. Photoshop, InDesign, any Adobe app basically...). Pixelmator works great for me. I like the idea of spaces...but I can't seem to find a reason to use it since I normally have maybe...3-4 windows open at once.

I thought I would use this feature more but once I tried it (Gave it about a month) it just annoyed me more then it facilitated any level of productivity or organization.

One thing it did do is show me that I am a hardcore multi-tasker and I like seeing everything at once. Out of sight out of mind of sorts. So it just isn't a good feature for me, I prefer an over view of everything and in an age where you can have monster monitor sizes or dual monitors (What I have) there is more then enough real estate to not have to use such tactics that "Spaces" offers.

Von

Illustrative Designer

http://www.Glitschka.com
http://www.ArtBackWash.com
http://www.IllustrationClass.com

cmd-tab is excellent for me. I'm not using anything else. cmd-tab is quite enough for my needs :) even though I have a lot of Apps opened in the same time, everything works easy and fast. without any problems.
cmd-tab + Dock = enough, for me :)

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Those of us few who used to use Macs before (gasp there was a before?!) OS X used do things a certain way. For example if you clicked on an app ALL the windows of the app would come forward (something OS X has now done away with. Why? Who knows!?) So THAT took some getting used to. Then old school multitaskers like myself used to be up in the right hand corner CONSTANTLY pulling down the Multi-Finder menu to switch apps. When that was taken away I have to admit I was lost. . . The dock NEVER replaced that for me and though Commaand-Tab KINDA brought it back I still find myself going into the right hand corner now and then and pulling down the clock or the Spotlight menu or something, out of HABIT. lol

Then there was expose which I love if ONLY to spread windows out so I can see which Photo looks better or which layout looks better when they are placed side by side and then the F11 CLEARING the screen to go to the desktop has now REPLACED Command-Tab for me. I hardly ever use it.

When I go on other artists machines I get REALLY annoyed, however, when I TRY to go up to the Apple menu or the spotlight Menu and they've set expose to come on when my mouse "accidentally" hovers in that hot corner. . . VERY distracting and annoying for me. For them, I have observed them flipping apps and windows on the fly with expose. . . so diff'rnt strokes for diff'rnt folks!

I haven't upgraded to Leopard yet. . . but when I do I PROBABLY won't be using spaces. I just don't see the need. (just yet)

"Try not, Do! or do not, there is no try."
-Yoda

I'm currently playing with it at home. Glad to see this post, because it encourages me that others are exploring uses of Spaces too.

I thought it would be good for those cases where a person has related apps that they want to show or hide together. For example, I thought I could put Coda, CSSEdit, etc., on one Spaces screen. It works, but my greatest frustration is that the spaces aren't named, other than 1, 2, 3, 4 ... not very intuitive. It would be better if I could name them "Main Screen," "Web Apps," etc., and see these custom names as I'm moving between spaces.

Spaces is a really neat feature, but you don't want to abuse it all the time. When I first got Leopard, I did just about the same thing by tying to "think" of stuff to put in another space, rather then putting frequently use applications.

This is my workflow:

Space 1: I got dual 20" so plenty of real estate for CS and all major apps

Space 2: Parallels Desktop ready to go when I have the use the dreadful IE6 or IE7 for something, or run a .exe

Space 3: Time tracking, I put my timer for projects on this space to start and stop projects (toggl.com)

Space 4: This is a very important space that I save when the going gets tuff and I have 1,000 of things going on normally 2 projects that I'm working on at the same time, or I use that space when I have a lot of video animation/rendering and I jump back and forth working on other assets while its rendering.

I agree with Von, above... I had Spaces set up as many people have mentioned, with my ID/PS/AI apps in one Space, all my email & IM apps + iTunes in Space 2, Flash/Dreamweaver in a third, and other less-used apps in a 4th...

After a few weeks though, I started realizing that I was switching between 1 and 2 so often (multitasking between working, chatting, and emailing clients), that I worked faster just having a more-cluttered screen, with most of my apps in one "Space"... My 24" iMac gives me more than enough room to see just about everything, and I've been a slave to the "double-click top of window to hide" function since OS 7, or whenever it was introduced.

So, Spaces is a pretty cool function, but I've found that I get more done when I don't use it. Or at least I feel more efficient, anyway. :-)

Dan
www.designumber18.com

Love Spaces - it completely changed the way I work, offering me the opportunity to create application-specific desktops rather than the constant minimizing vs. maximizing issues. I do see how this could cause some issues with social networking components, though. I try to keep a bit of a tight reign on those social/networking activities so I can complete the paying gigs.

With Twitter...it's not so easy.

Craig Michael Patrick
http://www.cmpatrick.com

With my 15" MBP is a very fast and convenient way to squeeze screen state to the max. Like havng 3 or 4 monitors.

The only gripe i have is with ID3 and the crazy toolbar that dissapear.

It is a different way of thinking of your desktop space. It helps to have certain key apps anchored to a space, and others maybe set to every space. Eventually you automatically think of each space by those main anchors. It's easy to switch between spaces by using the right Control key and use the arrow keys to "move around", but you can also use the left Control key and the number keys. And then there is always Command+Tab to tab to the desired app (don't forget that once you hit Command+Tab once, you can use your mouse to click the app's icon instead of tabbing to it).

My setup (dual-screens): For now I don't need more than 4 spaces. I have AI, PS, and ID assigned to space 1 on the right monitor, finder windows on the left. Space 2 I have Safari and Firefox on the right, Textmate and/or Dreamweaver on the left. Space 3 has iChat and other misc. Space 4 has Mail on the right and some Finder windows in the left (because I get and send attachments often). iTunes is set to every space, so no matter which space I'm in I can skip songs, expand and pick different playlists, etc.

I find that I don't hide apps anymore because my screens aren't as cluttered because of Spaces.

There is one tricky preference that is new in 10.5.3 that attempts to fix behavior that some users complained about. For example, If you had two Finder windows in two different spaces, and you were in another app and wanted to switch to the Finder window in your current space, sometimes using Command+Tab to switch to the Finder would switch spaces to where the other Finder window was. 10.5.3 has a new Spaces preference check-box that says "When switching to an application, switch to a space with open windows for the application." What that basically means is in the same scenario above, if this box is unchecked, it won't switch spaces on you. I like to keep this checked though, because I've found that Apple has tweaked the behavior so that doesn't happen anymore anyway, unless there are no windows for the app in your current space.

I absolutely love spaces. Completely changed the way I navigate around the computer. At first I didn't know what to think of it, but now I use it constantly

Like any change, it takes a bit of getting used to and a touch of tweaking to get it just how you want it.

Having your more popular apps assigned to a window eliminates any issues with trying to locate programs. I personally have a six-window setup, apps assigned to four of those spaces and the top two for my adobe apps. I find it nice to have a clean desktop to work on when switching between tasks.

I would recommend that you guys who gave up on it give it another shot. Let it grow on you a bit and you may find that you feel better about it.

I will probably use it again at some point but my work is so intertwined at the moment it doesn't make sense to have stuff spread across spaces, especially with a multi monitor setup.

I use it all the time even with a dual monitor setup. (@mbemmett2 - works just like a single monitor) With Exposé, a two button mouse, and Spaces, all my apps are organized and easy to find.

Here is an article on Daring Fireball about the new changes in 10.5.3, which may offer a reason for previous Spaces Poo Pooers to give it another try:

http://daringfireball.net/2008/05/spaces

~ spigotdesign.com

I use it everyday!!!

I used to think it was crazy when I first got my iMac, but then as I researched it, I found it quite useful. However, sometimes I notice when I have a lot of programs running simultaneously, it runs a bit slow when I got from space to space. I just need to upgrade my RAM....

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com

Thanks to spaces I no longer use a monitor with my laptop. I just switch to the space with whatever it is I need to use. This means I can roam around my home and work in whatever chair, coach, bed, recliner I wish.

It amused me for about an hour after I installed Leopard, but i haven't used it since. Like Von, I'm rocking a dual monitor setup, so I have plenty of room to keep my apps open at all times. Spaces just annoys me and slows me down. Instead of Spaces, I'd rather have the OS and applications be multi-monitor aware.
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Von said: "I thought I would use this feature more but once I tried it (Gave it about a month) it just annoyed me more then it facilitated any level of productivity or organization.

One thing it did do is show me that I am a hardcore multi-tasker and I like seeing everything at once. Out of sight out of mind of sorts. So it just isn't a good feature for me, I prefer an over view of everything and in an age where you can have monster monitor sizes or dual monitors (What I have) there is more then enough real estate to not have to use such tactics that "Spaces" offers."

I think Spaces was the most useful application in the last operating system. Have it set at 6 spaces. One for iCal, One for mail, and 4 working desktops. Really cool and saves so much time.