Having been a windows user for a long time, we know it has only one desktop and no virtual desktops unless you buy a third party application to do so.

I've been using linux for years and even though it has virtual desktops, I admit I never had used them. I usually minimized the apps when not in use and pop them back up when I need them.

Maybe it's my brain, it's just used to working with one desktop all those years.

Do you still do everything in one desktop just by habit or do you take advantage the virtual desktops? If yes, how many virtual desktops on average do you use?

Yes I use virtual desktops and have for years. I use about 3 at a time. I never use the minimize feature.

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Steve Stites

FWIW there's been free virtual desktop switchers for ages.

Are you sure? I though windows never had virtual desktops. What version of windows had virtual desktops by default?

Yes I use virtual desktops

Read what it says, not what you think it should say. *BTW, not the one I'm talking about but, way back then you had XP PowerToys which also included a Virtual Desktop Manager.

I also use virtual desktops many times a day every day. I find it a useful way of organizing applications related to a particular task.

Yep, virtual desktop user here too - couldn't do without them!

I use them too. I like to have one application maximized, each on a seperate desktop...

For Windows, it's never had virtual desktops by default. The only way to get them is through a third-party program/tool. From what I've heard, most (if not all) are free and open source.

I have a Windows 7 computer.

I do have a tool installed on it to create multiple desktops. I forget what it's called and I'm not going to boot over into Windows to check because I'm listening to a Sherlock Holmes Old Time Radio episode on it right now, but I think it's this one. It works nicely, if you must use Windows.

Seldom need to use them, but handy to have if I don't want to keep shuffling apps; usually 2 are enough.
When not using X/GUI, I would use several VT's, or else I would use 'screen' or 'tmux' multiplexers.

I use workspaces constantly.

As for Windows, they tried to implement them, but too many existing programs were incompatible, so they released an add-on program instead. As far as I know, it was only available for XP. There is talk that Windows 9 will have them. Then there's VirtuaWin, but I don't think it has all the functionality that you get in Unix.

I never use virtual desktops either. I appreciate them being an option but my use of computers has never led me to even look at them.

can't work without virtual desktops, I always have always 4

when I have to use Windows 7 I use this
http://windowspager.sourceforge.net/
it's easy, fast and works great,
does not work on windows 8,
there I use http://dexpot.de/, free for personal use,
a bit slow on startup and the menues are one level deeper
(right click, dexpot, move to desktop , desktop
but it works good with short cuts

I don't use them that often because most programs have tabs. Lilyterm, Geany, Firefox all have tabs. However, I do have 2 virtual desktops and use the other one when things get too crowded on the first or strategically when I'm supposed to be working

Working with more than 2 virtual desktops is too complicated IMO.