VividDesktop

Working with a single desktop can make you feel a little limited, but Windows managed to solve this inconvenience with the latest iteration of the operating system. However, third-party applications like VividDesktop were around for quite some time, providing comfortable sets of features, such as hotkey controls, and customization.

With installation over in a short while, you can launch the application to see what it’s all about, and you don’t even have to go through a system restart to make it work. By default, you get an extra desktop, which you switch to from the associated tray icon. However, you can also assign hotkey commands to easily jump between desktops.

The application allows you to add more desktops, and even delete the ones you don’t need. As mentioned, switching is either done through the tray icon, or hotkey commands. Every desktop allows you to open new windows. Whenever you close the application, you need to decide whether to send all active windows to the main desktop, or discard everything.

Unfortunately, you’re not able to choose a default action when you close the application, so you need to select it every time. What’s more, you can’t create a profile with particular windows to show up when accessing desktops, so you need to configure your layout every time. On the downside, you can’t send windows across desktops.

On the bright side of things, there’s an option to let the application start with Windows, so you have all virtual desktop ready on startup. Shortcuts are the same throughout all desktops, but you do have the possibility to choose a different wallpaper for each.

All things considered, we can state that VividDesktop does manage to provide more comfort in your work by making it possible to extend your desktop with more instances. Sadly, it’s devoid of some advanced options, such as moving windows across desktops, or creating profiles for each.