Change for the sake of change (upgrade) . . .

[DMKAlex]

PC has been part of my life since the early 80's. All along, I had seen upgrades to the software and OS happening frequently. Some, particularly in the early days, were good and significant. But quite a few of them, they were change for the sake of change and didn't make the operation any better. Actually, it made it worse because they changed the old pattern.

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application. Then they hide the right hand corner desktop activation (you have to manually turn it on to bring it back).

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking. I may have 4 or 5 apps open and the one I am working on is on top occupying my screen. When I want to switch task, Alt+Tab would let me cycle thru all apps.

Now, if you have multiple desktops, you only cycle thru the apps that's in the active desktop and you don't see the other. This can be confusing. You may either turn off or reboot the machine without saving what you have been working on in the other desktop. Or you may have some sensitive item on it that you forgot to close it.

To me, this is among the worst change for the sake of change example I have come across.

 

[gscotten]

PC has been part of my life since the early 80's. All along, I had seen upgrades to the software and OS happening frequently. Some, particularly in the early days, were good and significant. But quite a few of them, they were change for the sake of change and didn't make the operation any better. Actually, it made it worse because they changed the old pattern.

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application. Then they hide the right hand corner desktop activation (you have to manually turn it on to bring it back).

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking. I may have 4 or 5 apps open and the one I am working on is on top occupying my screen. When I want to switch task, Alt+Tab would let me cycle thru all apps.

Now, if you have multiple desktops, you only cycle thru the apps that's in the active desktop and you don't see the other. This can be confusing. You may either turn off or reboot the machine without saving what you have been working on in the other desktop. Or you may have some sensitive item on it that you forgot to close it.

To me, this is among the worst change for the sake of change example I have come across.

So don't use it. You can also turn of the Task View on the Task Bar.

 

[SecondTimeAround]

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application.

I've not yet had a good look at Windows 11, but is this feature any different from the Windows 10 multiple desktops?:

"Multiple desktops in Windows"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...b-2ff9-e1a60c976434#WindowsVersion=Windows_10

 

[Scott_Eaton]

Because Microsoft is adapting to the workd of home PC users and app silo users like us not being as important as more focused corporate workflow users. At least that's what the spread sheet sez.

I can add to the OP's stance in that why not just log out and back in as a different user with different apps and profiles? Trust me...virtual desktops drive me crazy as well suppoting them. Just a layer of BS to deal with in terms of profile mgmt.

MS has been wrong before. Need I point out Metro in Win8. and the entire model of corporate users buying thin clients and using Citrix / RDS servers to save money on fat client support. I still see companies buying into the crap urged on by MSPs.

Top end corporate users that need this degree of customization *usually* resort to VDI.

 

[DMKAlex]

You can also turn of the Task View on the Task Bar.

I just did. Thanks.

 

[ddharriman]

Personally I hate that function, so I deactivated it.
Did the same with several other "supposed" enhancements of windows 11, as did in windows 10 before that, who just complicate things without any, for me, positive outcome out of them - it's the beauty of having the possibility of configuring ones machine the way we want.

Best regards,

 

[Sagittarius]

PC has been part of my life since the early 80's. All along, I had seen upgrades to the software and OS happening frequently. Some, particularly in the early days, were good and significant. But quite a few of them, they were change for the sake of change and didn't make the operation any better. Actually, it made it worse because they changed the old pattern.

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application. Then they hide the right hand corner desktop activation (you have to manually turn it on to bring it back).

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking. I may have 4 or 5 apps open and the one I am working on is on top occupying my screen. When I want to switch task, Alt+Tab would let me cycle thru all apps.

Now, if you have multiple desktops, you only cycle thru the apps that's in the active desktop and you don't see the other. This can be confusing. You may either turn off or reboot the machine without saving what you have been working on in the other desktop. Or you may have some sensitive item on it that you forgot to close it.

To me, this is among the worst change for the sake of change example I have come across.

I use dual monitor setup for decades. On one monitor I have Excel spread sheet opened and on another monitor I have another software in which I am entering data from spreadsheet. And on third (laptop) monitor I have Outlook constantly opened. Much more convenient than to use Alt+Tab. Some guys from our sister company use 5 monitors and each one is in use for different application. Do you think it will be more efficient to toggle through five apps? If you do not need it, does not mean other people do not need it. Never happened to forget to close app before closing compute. BTW if you try to close computer with app opened, it will tell you and ask if you still want to close.

 

[stateit]

...To me, this is among the worst change for the sake of change example I have come across.

Each to their own... I don't use that feature myself, but I understand why it would be useful. You can Alt+Tab within each desktop as well.

--
https://sullivangeorge.photo

 

[kelpdiver]

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking. I may have 4 or 5 apps open and the one I am working on is on top occupying my screen. When I want to switch task, Alt+Tab would let me cycle thru all apps.

What if your task entails more than one application? For task 2, you need a browser, a word doc, and a spreadsheet open across two screens?

Back at task 1, you have your normal view of your email, slack, browser?

Because I spend so much time on so many different platforms, I'm rarely a power user a given gui. But I see the reasons for it. Unix's X has offered this sort of thing for a long time.

Hiding games is certainly one function.

 

[skyglider]

PC has been part of my life since the early 80's. All along, I had seen upgrades to the software and OS happening frequently. Some, particularly in the early days, were good and significant. But quite a few of them, they were change for the sake of change and didn't make the operation any better. Actually, it made it worse because they changed the old pattern.

Your post reminded me of the "Picture It" software from RomTech. When I bought the first copy, I really liked it (though sadly with age I don't remember what I did with it ). I just remember that I really liked it.

Then Microsoft bought it and completely changed the interface. I hated the change and never used the updated version. Abandoned Picture It soon after.

Change for change sake can be a VERY bad thing.

 

[CAcreeks]

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application.

This feature was in W10 from the beginning, but maybe not the default. You had to right-click the taskbar and select Show Task View Button.

To change virtual desktops, the keyboard shortcut is Win+Ctrl+L/R arrow.

I liked it in Linux, where virtual desktops were available long ago. Also like it on Macbook.

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking.

Example use: put two edits of an image on Desktops 2 and 3, and switch back and forth to see which you prefer. It's really excellent because your single monitor is calibrated the same for both virtual desktops.

So don't use it. You can also turn of the Task View on the Task Bar.

I'm not a W11 user to any great extent, but I suppose this says Task View Button is the default.

 

[New Wrycuda]

PC has been part of my life since the early 80's. All along, I had seen upgrades to the software and OS happening frequently. Some, particularly in the early days, were good and significant. But quite a few of them, they were change for the sake of change and didn't make the operation any better. Actually, it made it worse because they changed the old pattern.

Recently, in the new Windows 11, there is the desktop icon showing in the task bar. The idea is that you can have multiple desktops each containing different application. Then they hide the right hand corner desktop activation (you have to manually turn it on to bring it back).

Now, why do you need multiple desktop to do multi-tasking. I may have 4 or 5 apps open and the one I am working on is on top occupying my screen. When I want to switch task, Alt+Tab would let me cycle thru all apps.

Now, if you have multiple desktops, you only cycle thru the apps that's in the active desktop and you don't see the other. This can be confusing. You may either turn off or reboot the machine without saving what you have been working on in the other desktop. Or you may have some sensitive item on it that you forgot to close it.

To me, this is among the worst change for the sake of change example I have come across.

I use my Win11 computers pretty much the same as I have used every GUI since Win2000, where the desktop was clear except for “File Explorer”. I ignore anything that I don’t need.

Multiple Desktops? I prefer multiple computers.