Runecats Desktop Manager

The recent installment of Windows introduced a powerful new addition, allowing you to work more comfortably on multiple desktops. The idea isn’t new, with various applications like Runecats Desktop Manager that made it possible to quickly switch to a new, empty workspace, keeping the other for a different activity.

On launch, the application directly minimizes to the system tray area, but there’s a balloon notification to let you know it’s there. Double-clicking it brings up a small panel where you get to choose the desktop to jump to, but this menu can also be accessed from the tray icon context menu.

There’s a slight difference between the two launch methods, but it doesn’t affect practicality at all. In other words, the desktop panel gives you the possibility to also rename each desktop to your liking, while the tray icon is only used for navigation. What’s more, there are up to ten different desktops you can use to your advantage.

At a second look, the application leaves more to be desired. This is because the development process didn’t include any other options. As such, there’s no possibility to configure hotkeys to easily switch to other desktop, so there needs to be some time involved in working with one of the two methods.

This isn’t the only concern. Runecats Desktop Manager doesn’t support managing desktops, in the sense that windows opened in a particular workspace remain there for the duration of the session, and can’t be moved around, nor can you view windows in other desktops without accessing them. Luckily, a prompt comes up on exit, letting you decide where to move windows from other desktops.

Bottom line is that the possibility of working on multiple desktops and one monitor has been around for quite a while. Runecats Desktop Manager is one application to prove this, but it comes rather poorly prepared. Sure enough, you can have all other windows brought to the main desktop, but this happens only on exit, while other accessibility options are missing as well.