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How Many Windows?

youthoftoday asks: "As part of a recent piece of coursework (I'm a student) I talked to a number of people about how many windows they typically have open at any one time. I received a startling range of responses, and that got me thinking about what people consider a 'normal' working environment in terms of the number of windows they have open and what they like to get done. I usually have about 25 windows open and about 15 tabs in my browser (over two monitors) as a standard working environment in Mac OS X. I usually keep a set of windows in position for about 5 days between restarts. Others prefer to close windows for applications they're not using right at this minute. And we all know people who are scared to have more than one window open. So, how do Slashdot readers use their OSes?"

5 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Windows by LighterShadeOfBlack · · Score: 1, Insightful

    What is the point in shuting your machine down?

    Because it's a horrible waste of energy? Because of the whole 'global warming thing'? Sorry but SETI@home and torrents are not a valid reason to keep your computer running all the time and I think it's nothing short of grossly irresponsible of people like you who run your system 24/7/365 when it is completely unnecessary.

    I don't care if you're folding proteins to cure cancer, searching for aliens, sticking a finger up at the RIAA or just keeping it running to tell all your friends about your big swinging dick uptime - it's all a waste. Programs like those should be used to make use of spare processing power - when your computer would otherwise be on and doing nothing, those five-to-fifteen minute breaks where it'd be disruptive to turn it off but a shame to have it sitting there. By keeping your system running solely for those reasons you're doing a lot more harm than good. Switch it off.

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  2. Forget the environment then... by brunes69 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    .... argue money. That always gets people interested.

    Do you realize that an average 300+ watt machine running 24/7 costs you about $15-$20 a month in electricity?

    If you don't believe me get a power usage meter.

    You're basically paying $20 a month for the privilege of contributing to Folding@home or whatever. You're trying to say that money wouldn't do more good being given to your local food bank or something?

    No thanks.

  3. Re:Windows by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I wish Windows had a feature like Fedora's multiple desktop stuff with the 4 thumbnails, as this would help me split stuff up better since half my taskbar is taken up with quick launch shortcuts or status bar icons I need on display.

    they do, it's the virtual desktop manager (VDM) power toy, and it's a free download for Windows XP.

    I love the way people who don't know shit about windows love to criticize microsoft for bullshit reasons. There are plenty of reasons to blame them, you don't have to make shit up.

    And I love the way people who insist they know about Windows and *nix are quick to point out similarities which aren't similar at all. Put another way, Microsoft's VDM is a toy along the lines of notepad. It sucks. YMMV, but its approach of "hiding" open windows doesn't count for much. Unless, of course, you can't tell the difference.

    That argument is not even remotely applicable to this conversation. Windows does have a feature like "Fedora's multiple desktop stuff with the 4 thumbnails" which they didn't invent anyway. It might not be a great desktop manager, but it does work and it does provide what the guy asked for. And, by the way, it works which is more than I can say for, say, litestep which has only ever caused me horrible problems.

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  4. Re:Windows by kisielk · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's only like Fedora's multiple desktops in the same way that an Atari 2600 is like modern PC laptop.

  5. Re:Windows by lahvak · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The VDM power toy is nowhere near in functionality to any decent unix window manager with virtual desktops, and litestep is a total pain. Probably the best virtual desktop manager on windows is VirtuaWin (http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/), but still it lacks lot of useful features of my ancient fvwm setup.

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