I would agree with this if stage manager did not have the window set feature. That is a great deal!
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Stage manager isn’t for me regardless, but I’m not sorry it exists. It’s cool that there are so many alternative, parallel ways to work with macOS, so different people can find workflows that suit them.
Windows and Linux users often think macOS is rigid the way iOS is, but that’s not the case at all.
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+1
I’ve not used an external monitor on my 13" MacBooks in years. I tried stage manager on my 11" iPad Pro recently and almost immediately turned it off. After a while using spaces on a MacBook and using an iPad (without Stage Manager) almost feels like the same operating system.
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After this thread over the summer, I have been experimenting with Stage Manager on the Mac, and I am a convert. I find it clean and nice to use, and I’ve actually been using the dock less because I just don’t need it with Stage Manager running (I am a big dock fan generally, even though I launch apps from Alfred!).
I also really like that my iPad and Mac therefore have similar set-ups when I’m working. I don’t know that this is much of a priority for most people, but transitioning between the two devices (e.g. if you’re switching from reading and annotating on iPad, back to working on a Mac) is satisfying when Stage Manager is running on both (I don’t think I’m articulating that well but it’s less… jarring? to move across both systems).
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I agree with this. My hypothesis is that this is the primary reason it was added to the Mac.
You know, this did not occur to me because my dock is on the right side of an external monitor but I don’t believe I have used it for some time since I started a Stage Manager life! I am going to hide the dock and see if I notice it or not. That would give me some “space”. Thanks for mentioning this!
I’ve done the same. I’ve never hidden my dock before, but now that I’m using Stage Manager regularly I just don’t need it. At first I was a bit unsure (I like seeing what’s open I think) but I’ve got used to it now. I’ve also ticked the box that hides desktop items in Stage Manager. I use the desktop as a temporary dumping ground - I tend to clear it during the week but there are always a few items accumulated by Friday that need to be dealt with. It’s nice not seeing them when I’m focused on a task.
Turns out those folk over in California do know what they’re doing sometimes 
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I switched from Spaces to Stage Manager for all Mac use (work: MBP + external monitor, keyboard, and mouse with MBP open on a stand) (home/travel: MBP 16). I keep my dock hidden until I mouse down to it.
I would rather use Spaces, but I need Spaces to be truly separate desktops. I want all apps to open separate instances and documents, and I never want to be automatically switched to a different space because I click on an app that’s open elsewhere. The lack of these makes Spaces too much of a headache.
Stage Manager is a bit cumbersome, and doesn’t have the functionality I want in totally separate desktops, but it still helps me focus and keep some organization in apps, files, and projects.
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Apparently, MacSparky had run Stage Manager exclusively for a month. I don’t have Lab Members, so can’t tell if he likes it or not.
He said he liked it, but would probably go back to his prior system because he uses so much automation. I think I am representing what I recall correctly.
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Thanks for sharing! I am using it for almost 3 months. I think SM is good if you have a fixed set of windows/apps that you use for reference, reading, etc. But, if your workflow requires you to opening (and close) many documents, excels, previews, etc, the animation and losing your way gets real.
After using SM exclusively for 6 months, I decided to turn it off. SM is nice when I am using the computer casually, having a fixed set of apps opened for a specific projects and then swapping between projects and have the apps pre-opened and available. But when the the work gets hectic and I have a lot of unplanned stuff to do, such as opening a Word doc, have a Preview doc here, needing to have Excel and Powerpoint and then swapping to Whatsapp to have a quick instant message, all these swapping in and out (the animation) and needing to constantly click to add an app to the desktop and then adjusting it - it takes heavy toll on the mind and nerves. I find that there are some calmness to a cluttered desktop when the work is chaotic. Good bye, SM. You were nice for casual activities but you are just not up to it when the shit hits the fan.
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