08-06-2008, 01:28 AM

this is supposed to be a really cool feature

can someone explain this to me as you would explain it to a very dumb person?
i've read about it on the apple website etc... but I'm not too savvy with the mac yet i dont know all the terms.. I'm just not getting it

I apologize for my slowness.

quite embarrassing actually

08-06-2008, 08:52 AM

Spaces is just a set of virtual desktops. Look under System Preferences/Expose & Spaces. You'll see a key assignment to "Activate Spaces". When you hit this key, you'll see all of your virtual desktops. You can click on one to switch to it.

You can run different applications in different spaces, and when you switch to an application using the Apple-Tab key combination, it will take you to the space that the application you chose is running in. There are some other neat features, like being able to assign a space to an application (when you start the application, it will run in the space you've assigned to it), but I'm a noob too. I don't know everything about this feature.

Hope this was helpful.

08-06-2008, 09:14 AM

Envision a "space" as it's own desktop. You can have safari, email, and itunes running in one space, while in having idvd and iphoto open in the others.

The best part is: you don't have to close windows or programs to quickly switch to the other spaces. You can set them up in system preferences using custom hot keys, or just use the Apple+Arrows to quickly jump to each one. I think you can have up to sixteen different "spaces".

Expose is pretty cool too. Don't be afraid to mess around with everything. It won't bite...

08-06-2008, 09:32 AM

I use it to run OS X in one space, then VM Ware Fusion (Windows XP) on a different space.

08-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Basically spaces is like running 4 different desktops all on one computer. It's really just a feature to help avoid clutter and is all visual. In one desktop you can run as many applications you like or you can run them all individually on their own desktop across the 4 provided with spaces. It's a pretty simple program that makes clutter way less of a problem on macs and is beyond simple to use once explained.

To set up spaces:
1) Go to system preferences
2) Towards the top find Expose and Spaces and click it
3) Under the spaces tab click enable spaces

Under the spaces tab you select all kinds of things. You select which keys and commands bring you to which desktop controlled by spaces, or you can assign which applications open on which screen. It's a really great feature of leopard and definitely one that takes getting used to. You can also add rows and columns so your not just limited to four desktops!

Do you have any other questions about spaces?
Hope I helped a little

08-06-2008, 01:12 PM

Your dock must stay the same through all Spaces, right? How do I assign programs to a Space? If I'm listening to iTunes in one Space, can I hear it if I switch Spaces?

08-06-2008, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by nackteziege

Your dock must stay the same through all Spaces, right? How do I assign programs to a Space? If I'm listening to iTunes in one Space, can I hear it if I switch Spaces?

If you go to the Spaces menu in System Preferences you can assign specific spaces to applications.

Yes you'll be able to hear it, everything is still running there in the background. Maybe think of it more like minimizing groups of things without clicking loads of buttons?

Just have a play with it and you'll get it, nothing bad can come of it.

08-06-2008, 01:53 PM

Ah, this is fun.

I have things all set up, so I hope it does make stuff easier. I love just watching it switch back and forth.

08-06-2008, 01:55 PM

It's really good for those things you may not want others in your home or office to see on your desktop....

08-06-2008, 02:24 PM

Yeah, I can imagine it's a lot better than the old Windows trick of minimizing a Word document. My mom caught on to that one after awhile...

08-06-2008, 03:02 PM

Haha very nice. It serves a purpose other than organization then. Brilliant. Thanks Apple

08-06-2008, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by douga

You can run different applications in different spaces, and when you switch to an application using the Apple-Tab key combination

wat is the apple key?

thanks everyone by the way

08-06-2008, 11:55 PM

It's the key with the apple on it right to the left of your spacebar

08-07-2008, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by Zeels90

It's the key with the apple on it right to the left of your spacebar

New Apple Keyboards do not have the Apple Key. It's also known as the Command Key.

08-07-2008, 12:57 AM

Oh, I always call it the apple key, my apologies mate