I want my desktop back! (also known as minimizing full-screen apps)

[GreyFox503]

I've seen this mentioned a couple other times in the forums, but with no satisfactory answers. Preface:

Under windows, when running just about any game, you can get back to the desktop by:
-pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete
-pressing Alt + Tab
-just pressing the windows key by itself

However, in Ubuntu, I can't seem to figure out how to minimize my games. Specifically, I play UT2004 and Stepmania. Anyone have any suggestions?

[lol]

AFAIK, some games cannot be minimized. My suggestion is to start the game on another X server.

Using gdm, what I usually do is "New login" (in the system menu), and then log on using a failsafe xterm session, which I use to start my game. You can then switch between the game and all the other apps with Ctrl - Alt - F7 or F8...

[GreyFox503]

Thanks for your answer. Although it takes slightly longer than I would like, it accomplishes what I wanted to do. I knew you could have several virtual terminals, but I didn't know that they could be graphical or that there is a link in the Gnome panel!

More specifically, its in Applications > System Tools > New Login.

Or enter 'gdmflexiserver'

[BanskuZ]

There's nice howto: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=51486&highlight=x.et :wink:

[Dolphin]

I'm using Kubuntu and I can alt+tab out of games with no fuss.