I've tried various virtual desktops and they seem to do what they advertise.
However, my problem is coming up with a good set of rules, like which set of windows should I keep on each desktop. I typically have programs like these running: VS.NET, Explorer, Browser/mail, Task manager, command windows etc.
So the question is: How do you split your windows between virtual desktops (as to minimize hunting for lost windows and maximizing benefits of virtual desktops)?
To me the best is to split based on context. You may split like coding related windows, browsing, email. However, there is usually too much overlap between these context that hunting for windows across virtual desktops becomes inevitable. May be the best is to use a large monitor and have everything available immediately.
I'm stuck with one smallish monitor, so I typically make use of three desktops when developing:
I sometimes keep an extra one for email and/or music, but it's not essential.
In essence, though, I basically split up each desktop into a few windows (maximum) to alt-tab between, to avoid the hunt-for-the-window problem you get with a single desktop. Split it too much and it becomes hunt-for-the-desktop instead, but at that point you're trying to multitask too much.
Ideally, I'd have two monitors side-by-side and have my current work (a browser window and a couple of code windows) open and accessible on one desktop, with reference docs and email/music each on their own desktops.
Personally, I have focus issues. One trip to google reader, and I'll be sucked into it for a considerable time. So I usually have a virtual desktop setup for personal - non work related stuff and put everything on it that I consider an attention sink.
While doing web development, here's the desktop setup:
Desktop1:
VS.Net
MSDN, or web browser for testing
Desktop2:
email app
web browser for news or fun
Desktop3:
explorer windows (file management)
svn / cvs synch
I run four virtual desktops.
The first holds my administrivia programs. Mail, messaging, calculator, Word, Acrobat, etc) - everything needed for work but not my primary job role.
The second holds stuff I need to do my job - multiple instances of Eclipse and RAD, putty to connect to all my systems for dev/test, bug tracking and so on.
The third holds VMWare Workstation and all its minion virtual machines (although I can only run about 6 at a time given memory constraints).
The fourth is dedicated to important stuff (mostly Firefox) for looking at StackOverflow, Slashdot and other such important information. But I don't look at that desktop very often :-).
I like to think of desktops almost like eclipse perspectives, where each desktop is set up for a different roll. One for writing code one for email/internet, one for graphics work, and so on, so I can switch to a desktop when I need to accomplish a certain task.
The only exception to this is when I'm using desktops as remote desktops to other systems.
First, I'd highly recommend setting up some good hotkeys. I don't mean right-left-up-down hotkeys. I mean numbered hotkeys. I set these up with Blackbox for Windows, but I'm sure other virtual desktop managers will do it.
And, second, the other key to making this work is to get your shell to automatically place those windows in the right virtual desktop. So, whenever the virtual desktop sees an IE/Firefox/Chrome window, it gets placed in desktop 4. (If you click on a link that happens to open a new browser window, it's nice to have it appear in the right place.) If you do this, you'll never lose windows and you'll find yourself very organized.
Lastly, the icing on the cake is working out an Alt+Tab replacement that cycles only the windows on the current desktop.
I have following practice of using virtual desktops that have developed throughout my years on Linux:
I use VirtuaWin, which was the first manager I have seen where I haven't found annoying bugs. As shortcut keys I use the numeric keypad since I never use it normally. The desktops are arranged as a 3x3 array (keys 1 to 9). Thus I can have a spatial notion of the desktop arrangements, which helps to remember where I put each window.
I usually have the mail program on 1, the browser on 2, the IDE on 4, consoles on 7, windows that I rarely interact with at 8 and the desktop search program on 9; and the other desktops are grouped as needed.