Though I’ve been extremely happy with leopard (in fact, why I finally bought a Mac), little quirks with spaces were frustrating. Specifically, spaces seems to have been designed for users who want to place a separate application in each space. I use spaces in a task-oriented manner where each space typically has a Firefox window, tabbed terminal, and TextMate. Command-Tabbing and others workflow situations were just quirky. Also, a huge annoyance was going into the terminal, typing “mate .” and having it open up a new TextMate window in whatever space already had a TextMate window.
I’m very pleased to report that 10.5.3 solves all of these problems, with one new option in the spaces dialog called “When switching to an application, switch to a space with open windows for the application.” In fact, you want to uncheck this option if you are working in a task-oriented manner like me. There were also some bug fixes in 10.5.3 which transcend this new option.
With these frustrations gone I feel very solid working with 3-5 project workspaces at once and can move efficiently within and among them.
Upgrade to 10.5.3 now if you haven’t already done so!
Not that 10.5.3 is not a great upgrade…I agree that it is…but I’m seeing very strange behavior with the new “When switching to an application, switch to a space with open windows for the application.” option. Sometimes, when switching to Safari using the standard AppleKey-Tab shortcut, it doesn’t move to the space with the open window.
Great Blog Ben…I’m an aspiring web developer/entrepreneur of sorts. I also enjoy your respect for Sowell in RepsectCaptialism. I certainly wouldn’t agree with everything Sowell stands for (when do two people always agree?), I find him to be a force for true openness in the academic world.
Well a consequence of this is that if you enable the feature, clicking once on a dock icon will NOT change spaces. However, this is exactly what I want. I want to be able to move to a new space, click on terminal then do Apple + N to create a new window right in that space. Before, I had to go to an open space with a terminal, do Apple + N there, then manually move the window into the new space. You can still move to the space with the open window by clicking twice on the dock icon.
Almost all the time I have 5-6 spaces each with a copy of a 4-tabbed terminal, FF3, and textmate.
Glad to hear you appreciate Thomas Sowell! He’s a gem who is rarely properly recognized.
I would highly recommend you try an application called “Witch” which is another application switcher that I use to move only within windows in the same space. Hard to explain but once you install it and start using it I’m sure you’ll find ways for it to improve your workflow/productivity navigating spaces.