Okay, so I’m trying something new: not using virtual desktops.
I normally have 6, for various tasks (email, irc, im, web, coding and local terminal work).
Not feeling as cramped as I was expecting to, though I’m very tempted to get my six desktops back…
Why do you need/want separate desktops just for email/irc/im?
Well I used to run with 4: IM/IRC, Mail, Web, Development. Then I started joining enough channels on IRC for the window tabs not to fit without the window being maximised. I like being able to see everything I want to see, all at once.
I also like being able to hit a key-combo and go straight to a certain task, without having to cmd-tab/alt-tab a nonconsistent number of times to get the window I want at the front.