I do not understand Spaces

I go my Macbook recently. I do not remember the date, I only remember it was about the same time that dturner got his MBP.

So far, I am enjoying it. I would like to get more out of it. This Spaces seems like something good. If someone would like to give me a rundown, that would be great! Thanks in advance.

That is about the only thing I can think of that I don't get either. I understand the basic concept, but I don't get how it can be helpful/useful.
Thanks for the post. I will be "listening in" also.

Oh John,where are you.

The basic idea is that you have any number of different "Spaces" that can hold different apps/windows. You can also assign any application to open automatically in any "space". Say you want your mail app open in space #2, and you're using safari on a different space, and you want to check your email. You could then hit shift+2 (or shift+>,<,^,V) to go straight to your mail app. So you can in effect personalize your work area, so you always know, for instance, where your web browser is, or where your mail is, or where itunes is...

I personally use expose' much more. i just keep a bunch of windows open in one space, and when i want to switch apps, i just hit the expose' button assigned to my mouse (or the one on the keyboard), and then click on the window i want. much quicker and more intuitive, imo.

Well, I had no idea what Spaces was so I decided to give it a try. It's actually really neat. Instead of having a desktop that looks like this:
I can assign "Spaces" where I want programs to be. For instance, I set it up such that in Space 1 I have all of my programs that are Internet Based. Safari, iChat, Mail and SlingPlayer.
In Space 2 I have programs that I use frequently. iCal, Notes and iPhoto.
In Space 3 I have all the applications that I use primarily for fun. iTunes, Photo Booth, Garage Band and Handbrake.
And finally, in Space 4 I have the programs that I often don't use regularly but I still need. System Preferences and Cyberduck.

To switch between all I have to do is hit Command and the Arrow Keys and I can go to whichever Space I want. It clears up desktop clutter if you're wanting to focus on a single thing but still want to keep the other applications accessible.

It takes a bit to get used to but switching between the Spaces is easy and it seems really convenient so far.

Exactly the point. I don't use it much as I typically do one thing at a time (I may multitask a bit more when I get the new MacBook) but as it was demoed last year at WWDC, it's purpose it to provide you with a way to organize your windows.

If you're playing a game or two, those windows can go in space one. A paper you're writing for school and the research you're doing for said paper can go in space two. Your IM client can go in space three, and in space four you might have iTunes playing music. Note that you can have up to sixteen spaces, which can be set in System Preferences.

Here's Apple's page on Spaces.

- John

Thanks everyone. I will play around with it, but right now Comm+Tab seems better for me.:smile:

I'm not a Mac user. I think you all know that by now. But I still like to take a stroll to the Mac store and mess about with their machines, and get my iPhone fill.

I discovered Spaces the other day and I have to say, it rocks!! I wish Windoze would have the same thing.

Example for me using it: I am VPN'ing into my office and my Netflix DVD comes in. To do a favour for Netflix, I decide to back it up for them. I can switch over to a new Spaces session and do the ripping there. Then I can go back to the VPN session and continue my work. Then my GF comes over and wants to check her emails. I don't want her to mess about with my VPN stuff, so I switch over to a new Spaces session and let her surf away.

It's like people who buy 2 monitors, because the desktop is not big enough for them, or it is simply too cluttered and they need order among chaos

I think Spaces it a great concept. And this is coming from a hardcore Windoze guy!!

Thanks. I will play with it. I usually only do one thing at a time at home on my Mac, so I am not sure if I really need it. Now my PC at work is another story. I could really use spaces on it!

I guess I have to play with it too but so far seems complicated.

Same here. You can comm+tab and it shows a box of running apps. When you get to the one you want to show, just release the keys and that program comes to the front.
Much easier to me.

I just usually minimize the app I am not using and it sits in the dock there.

FIrst, I have a MBP but even with the larger screen the desktop space isn't all that big. I set up six spaces, and set the center scroll wheel push on my Logitech Laser Wireless Travel mouse to switch between them.

Space 1 auto-opens with just Safari and my desktop items.

Space 2 auto-opens Mail and Calendar taking the entire screen

Space 3 auto-opens Firefox that I keep open and connected to my VOIP online console for managing my office phone system from remote.

Space 4 doesn't auto-open anything but if I start Aperture or any photo editing like Photoshop, it opens in Space 4

Space 5 auto-opens iTunes and stays open

Space 6 auto-opens VMWare Fusion and a Windows Vista Ultimate session that remote controls my office desktop from home.

I have my lower right screen corner also set to bring up the spaces switch dialog for when I have to use my touchpad as a mouse.

Analyze what programs you use regularly, assign them to a specific space, and if you want them open every time you startup, se\t them to auto-open.

My single screen just doesn't have enough space. Hope these comments help!

Dude, you're the Spaces expert. I use it all the time, but not as well defined as you have it.

Is a PC (or ex PC) person telling Apple people how to use their own tools? Shame on you :wink:

Apple people, you should be ashamed of yourselves :wink:

well, it's really more of a linux thing that apple borrowed.

I feel dirty.

I just never saw the usefulness of it... still. I just use expose.

exactly. expose is much easier end more direct, imo.

Man I'm glad I checked out this thread. Two strong feelings really - glad I checked it out, and boy I'm dumb.

I had been using Spaces - and liking it quite a bit - just about since first switching to a Mac. I like it better than just tabbing between open apps because it lets me run more apps full screen in their own area. But ... I had not realized at all that you could go beyond the default four spaces until I was reading through here and saw Upload's great outline of his usage.

Now I've got 8 spaces and I'm a much happier camper