Virtual desktops

[clark]

The people at Nyro.com are porting virtspace to macosx ( a virtual desktop manager for NeXT) whit help from apple. Anyone whit access to the core graphics API would be able to write a virtual desktop manager, but apple keeping them private for some reson. I hope apple realese these API's to the public.

[kilowatt]

I like having virtural desktop space, because its like having more resolution. Like more monitors. I mean, not wanting more virtural desktops becuase you can just resize windows and dock the apps your not using is completely wierd. I mean, yall might as well be stuck in 640x480 on my sister's Performa 636.

On a side note, has anyone looked into virtural consoles? It appears that the BSD backbone would support it. Has anyone else checked out /etc/ttys?
I've got my serial console running, but here's what I would like to know:
<snip>
# Hardwired lines are marked off, by default, so getty(8)
# is quiet when they don't exist.
tty00 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" vt100 off secure
tty01 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" vt100 off secure
tty02 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" unknown off secure
tty03 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" unknown off secure
tty04 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" unknown off secure
tty05 "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600" unknown off secure
I tried turning those tty00 and tty01 on, and getty was running with them, but I didin't know how to get to them. Any ideas?

[rharder]

Man, I haven't done any serial hookups, but then I don't have any serial ports (besides USB). What are you using to get serial ports? Some PCI card with a snake of cables?

-Rob

[kilowatt]

I'm running a beige g3 266. Its got two serial ports built in, and I have a null modem cable running to a serial switcher, and the switcher to a terminal. Its like having two more cli interfaces.
I have no idea how to get a usb serial port so that getty could use it.

If this were red hat, I'd say 'kernel hack time'. But I haven't even looked at darwin's kernel yet.
Check out the 'Terminal madness' article at http://www.macaddict.com for a picture of a really crazy terminal (not like mine...).

Oh, and if you are able to get a serial port card or usb deal going, please let me know!

Keep it rocking

[rharder]

I can't find that article. Bummer.

-Rob

[plaidpjs]

Originally posted by strobe
I suggest people sit down and figure out a more ideal system before fawning over the virtual screen hack.

As for Apple I can thing if a billion things higher on their priority list. Hopefully fixing multiple monitor support is much, much higher than this.

I've been away from these fora for maybe two or three weeks and you're still on multiple monitor support issues? Damn, things never change, do they? LOL

I promise you man, they're fixing it, they're fixing it!

[iamnoel]

I'd like the option, though. If it ought to be 1st in order of importance or not isn't the issue, IMO. One of the issues I've got in osX is that I'm on an iMac giving me only 1024x768 (i.e., the overall look-&-feel of 8x600 in osX). Other things, too...like the Finder not being in one layer, etc. inspire me to like the idea of virtual desktops in osX.

Noel

[jove]

Strobe,

You obviously see the use of having multiple monitors. I have an iBook now - no feasible multiple monitor solution. Virtual desktops is the closest I can get to having multiple monitors.

I don't mean to sound accusatory, but gees, you always insist YOUR workflow is the only valid workflow. Give it a rest man. If somebody finds the desktop, virtual spaces and etc useful don't tell them they are wrong.

BTW - the Space dockling is more of a Dock manager than a virtual screen.

Jove