Why windows went for so long without Virtual Desktops? [closed]

Windows has lacked Virtual desktop since it's origin (although Windows 1.0 had a tiling window manager :), and has required always the use of a third party application or a PowerToy (Windows XP+).

Does anyone know why this is the case? Do people in Redmond think it's bad? Is it too hard for new users to grasp the idea? Any other explanation?

Solution 1:

Windows had Virtual Desktop support in its API since at least Windows NT 4¹. There were multiple 3rd-party programs that made use of it, although some resorted to hiding/showing windows and keeping track of the desktops themselves.

As for why MS never included such a tool, I can only speculate, but is that something you'd sell the average customer and he'd be like "Oh gosh, I really can use this"? Heck, even I as a pretty computer-literate user never got used to multiple desktops. I simply doubt it'd be a feature the majority of users would want and/or use.

Also, not including such a tool should definitely cut down on the "Where are my windows gone?" questions the support people have to answer.

¹ I am only talking about the NT line of operating systems, as the API on Win 9x was very different and much more limited.

Solution 2:

As someone pointed out, the API to support this feature has been around since the days of WIndows NT.

However, Microsoft did implement virtual desktops themselves, since at least the launch of Windows XP. It's an optional Windows XP Powertoy download called Virtual Desktop Manager.

You can still download it at the Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP website.

Direct download link : Deskman.exe

Nonetheless, Microsoft never promoted it and very few people know about it until this day. I've used it for a couple of years when I was using Windows XP and it was pretty good (and free too).

Update (since the questions has changed): Last year, the Microsoft Sysinternals team released Desktops 1.0 which will supersede Virtual Desktop Manager (MSVDM): Microsoft releases Desktops, new virtual desktop manager

Short of getting hold a Windows program manager to tell us the rationale, I guess we can infer from the release of MSVDM as a Powertoy and now Desktops as a Sysinternals tool that Microsoft thinks that virtual desktops are only of interest to, or suitable for highly technical users. Microsoft describes its Sysintersnals as targeting the "IT Pro or a developer".

Another Update (As Of 2015) In 2015, Microsoft released Windows 10 and if you type [Win]+[Tab], it will bring up an [Alt]+[Tab] like menu, but at the bottom-right of the screen, it says "New Desktop", and if you click it, a new desktop will open, but you can break it by adding too many Virtual Desktops. (It depends on your CPU[Most likely 150])

Solution 3:

I imagine it was simply a case of:

• Users not requiring it in most cases
• Those that do could do so with 3rd party software. Some of which Microsoft sold (don't want to undercut their own products now)
• Given the above they probably judged it a waste of development resources.

Solution 4:

I think it's one of those things that are hard to get exactly right.

First of all, most users won't have a need for it at all, so they'll just never use it. This is probably the main reason why MS never made an effort here.

For the remaining users, you need to be very careful in order to make them really trust the mechanism. All virtual desktop tools I have used on windows have some issue that breaks the trust. Windows suddenly moving to other desktops or just disappearing, notifications not appearing, delays in drawing the taskbar, etc.

On the mac there is a sliding animation when you move between desktops so that you have a feeling of moving in physical space. This is not just a visual effect, it speaks to the brain in a fundamental way that makes it easier to remember (more like "feel") where you and your different windows are.

You also have an easy way to see all desktops and move windows between them, and there are just no unexpected strange issues with the whole thing. No strange pauses, no weird re-draws of windows, no stutters or stops. It doesn't feel like a "hack", and I think this is essential in order to make people use it.