Articles
Dual Monitor Virtual Desktops in Windows 8
- Introduction
- Virtual Desktop as a Solution to Limited Workspace in Windows 8
- How to Create Dual Monitor Virtual Desktops in Windows 8
- Conclusion
Introduction
Sometimes, dual monitor is not sufficient for convenient work with a large number of windows. The most rational way to solve the problem of lack of desktop space is grouping of windows by tasks on different displays. As we only have two physical monitors, the best solution is to use virtual desktops.
2. Virtual Desktop as a Solution to Limited Workspace in Windows 8
If you work with dual monitors, the best choice of virtual desktop software is Actual Window Manager. The main advantage of Actual Window Manager is the unification of Virtual Desktop and Multiple Monitor tools in one piece of software.
Actual Window Manager allows you to use the Independent Virtual Desktops feature. It means you can create any number of virtual desktops for each display, even if this display is part of an extended desktop. Thus, you have many desktops on each monitor, where you can group any windows by task. For example, an image editor on the first desktop of the primary monitor, the necessary opened folders and files on a second desktop of the primary monitor, messengers on first desktop of the secondary monitor, and Internet browser on a second desktop of the secondary monitor. You can switch between desktops on the fly via hotkeys (or special switcher) and combine desktops from different monitors as you wish.
3. How to Create Dual Monitor Virtual Desktops in Windows 8
To create a new virtual desktop, open the configuration window of Actual Window Manager. Then go to the Virtual Desktop tab and check the Enable Virtual Desktops box.
Note: Virtual desktops work in two modes: Classic – each virtual desktop spans across the entire (extended) desktop; and Independent – each monitor has its own set of virtual desktops.
Set the desired work mode (Independent mode in our case), select the first monitor, configure the virtual desktop switcher, and click the Add a New Item button. Now you can set the name, wallpaper, and hotkey for the virtual desktop created. Create as many additional desktops as you need, and repeat the above actions for the second monitor. Do not forget to save the settings.
4. Conclusion
Also, Actual Window Manager provides many features to improve the multiple monitors’ environment, for example, a fully-functional taskbar with Start button, system tray, etc. on each display. You can read about the majority of features provided by Actual Window Manager for multiple monitors in Windows 8 in the 'Windows 8: Better Alternative to a Native Multi-Monitor Taskbar' article.
-
How to Creare a Desktop Profile for Multiple Monitor Desktop
Learn how to create a desktop profile for multiple monitor desktop for quick switching between settings.
-
Advanced Display Management of Windows 7 in Actual Multiple Monitors
Now users can use advanced display management (display orientation, clone this monitor, etc.)in Actual Multiple Monitors.
-
Transparency effect: Theory and Practice
Actual Window Manager can be used to solve many problems and is really multifunctional, but in this article we will enlighten one very interesting and convenient feature
-
Automatic Audio Playback Redirection
By default Windows can't handle the simple and obvious scenario: dragging a multimedia app to a display/monitor with its own speakers does not automatically switch audio playback to those speakers.
Here we offer a simple solution.
-
Minimize Eudora e-mail client into system tray
Eudora is one of the well known and oldest e-mail clients. You can minimize Eudora into system tray or force it to stay on top of other windows with a single mouse click with Actual Title Buttons.
-
Specific Settings - Window no Longer Opens on Wrong Display
Create specific settings for a window - and it will no longer open on a wrong monitor.
-
How to Play StarCraft 2 on Dual Monitors: Tips and Tricks
Get a better control on StarCraft 2 in a multiple displays environment with Actual Multiple Monitors.
-
Virtual Desktops: Theory and Practice of Arranging Windows within the Multiple Logical Desktops
The well-known time-proved approach to window organization is finally available in Actual Tools.
-
How to Make Your Desktop More Useful with Actual Window Guard
Best software to get full control of startup windows.
-
Essential improvement of Microsoft Outlook!
Microsoft Outlook is the most famous e-mail client all over the world and millions of people use it every day at home and in their offices. But despite of these facts we can improve our Microsoft Outlook!