Microsoft Wants Your Vote On How Virtual Desktops Will Work in Windows 10
Although the underlying technology for virtual desktops has been available in Windows for many years, Microsoft is finally bringing the feature to prominence in a big way in Windows 10. A key new Windows 10 feature is robust support for multiple virtual desktops and a powerful productivity-focused Task View that lets users easily see and manage their open applications and desktops. But many design considerations surround the implementation of virtual desktops, and Microsoft needs your help with one of them.
Richie Fang, User Experience Program Manager at Microsoft, explained in a blog post this week that the company is looking to users to decide how open applications are represented in the Windows taskbar when using virtual desktops in Windows 10:
One of the most divided opinions about virtual desktops is what windows are represented on the taskbar. On one side, some users want stronger separation between desktops and expect to see open windows that are only on the current desktop. On the flip side, other users expect the taskbar to always give them access to all their open windows no matter where they are.
Microsoft knows that no one answer will suit its billions of users, so both layouts will be available via an option in Taskbar settings, but the company wants users to weigh in on which layout will be included by default.
To make your voice heard, make sure to join the Windows Insider program, which lets you download and test pre-release versions of Windows 10 for free. If you’re already an Insider, create some virtual desktops. Microsoft is automatically A/B testing both layouts, so you’ll get a feedback notification asking you for your thoughts on the current layout assigned to your build. While Microsoft doesn’t explicitly promise that the layout with most user support will automatically be selected as the default when Windows 10 launches later this year, the company does state that user votes will “play a direct role in helping [Microsoft] decide.”
As Linux and OS X users know, virtual desktops provide a huge boost to productivity and usability, and what we’ve seen thus far suggests that Windows 10 will feature great multitasking and virtual desktop capabilities. User feedback has been an important part of Windows 10’s development thus far, and this is one more way that you can have a say in how the operating system looks and feels when it launches later this year.
Want news and tips from TekRevue delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for the TekRevue Weekly Digest using the box below. Get tips, reviews, news, and giveaways reserved exclusively for subscribers.
