As I use booth Windows and Linux as a desktop and server system I often find myself wondering why a feature that is useful in Linux isn't found in Windows or vice versa.

One of the greatest functions off a Linux desktop environment is Virtual Desktops. This allows me to keep my mail open on one desktop, music player on another, IDE on a third and so on. I guess you got the point.
This is also one of the features I've been waiting for the most while using Microsoft Windows. And now thanks to Microsoft's CodePlex program and Z-Systems we are finally able to use a useful Virtual Desktop manager. I admit it's not as fast and slick as they are in Linux but it works. Keep in mind this is still beta software.

I myself have only had the time to test this software for a few hours now but it has worked almost flawlessly and it does what it's supposed to do. The only trouble it has given me yet is that sometimes when I jump from one desktop to another the windows on the new desktop wont render properly. A refresh or minimize/restore has done the trick so far.

Some of the features in Vista/XP Virtual Desktop Manager

• Full screen desktop/window manager/preview with full drag and drop managing
• Desktop switch indicator
• An infinite number of desktops
• Watch the windows move in real time as you drag them around in the window manager
• Multiple monitor support
• Window menus
• Tray icons for each desktop
• Per-desktop backgrounds
• Configurable colors, fade speeds, hotkeys, etc.
• Uses Vista's live thumbnails
• XP support

Here is a screenshot of VDM in action

To find out more about this project visit their website at codeplex.com/vdm