Spaces

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
:Blushing:
I apologize for my slowness.

quite embarrassing actually

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.

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...

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

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

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?

nackteziege said:

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?

Click to expand...

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.

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.

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

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...

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

douga said:

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

Click to expand...

wat is the apple key?

thanks everyone by the way

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

Zeels90 said:

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

Click to expand...

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

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

It really comes in handy on a 13" MacBook screen. I use spaces all the time.

Yeah, my friend on an MBP was almost offended when I said that there was no apple on the "Apple Key", so I looked up a picture. I wish I had an apple instead of the weird swirly thing. Why the change?

I'm not sure, guess they just liked the idea of a command key more. I mean yeah it makes more sense I guess cause you press the button and a list of commands come up...not apples.

It could say "Command" and keep the apple!

True that. We should work at Apple