Adding a second monitor to your PC can boost your productivity like you wouldn’t believe. But if there’s no money in the budget (or room on the desk) for another LCD, try the next best thing: a virtual desktop. Microsoft’s oldie-but-goodie Virtual Desktop Manager, for example, lets you manage up to four “desktops” on one monitor. It’s a great way to declutter your desktop, organize your icons, and “compartmentalize” your workspace. (Throw your e-mail client into one desktop, for instance, and it won’t distract you while you’re using one of the other desktops.)
Virtual Desktop Manager, a Windows XP PowerToy, is free and very easy to use. If you want something a little more robust, check out Dexpot (pictured), another freebie. For a VDM with a little pizazz, check out Otaku Software’s DeskSpace. It delivers the same functionality as Virtual Desktop Manager and Dexpot, but with a 3D twist: The four desktops reside in a rotating 3D cube, thus giving you a slick visualization of your virtual space. DeskSpace costs $19.95, but there’s a 14-day trial version available for download.
