Stage Manager Should just Exit, Stage Left
Whereas it is literally the only way I can do multitasking on my iPad, I do have quite a few more choices on the Mac–anything from virtual desktops with Mission Control to hard-core fully keyboard-controlled window tiling using Amethyst (I mostly just use Moom, but do dip into both extremes).
Let’s start with the positives because, well, it has some. I’ve found it to be a decent way to do context switching between several tasks I have to do concurrently–and I do a lot of context switching throughout the day.
And, of course, unlike in iPadOS, I can arrange windows exactly the way I want them when they’re on the desktop (which I am mostly doing using Moom for). Something that was a bit unexpected is that I am now back to using Parallels daily, and Stage Manager works pretty well will Windows applications in Coherence mode. I can even set up window groups with applications from both platforms.
The one thing I find useful in it is the ability to switch between contexts quickly while keeping an eye on apps–you start researching something, get your notes and a browser window going, then switch away to handle e-mail, a call or check on an ongoing 3D print, etc., but if you have a large display (and I have two of those now), you can still keep an eye on things.
