I found a useful virtual desktop manager called VirtuaWin on SoureForge. The following is my VirtuaWin settings.
I use 4 desktops horizontally. Desktop wrapping is enabled so that going eastward from the fourth desktop will lead to the first desktop.
Holding down Alt+Win and pressing F1, F2, F3, F4 will allow me to switch to the first, the second, the third and the fourth desktop respectively.
Holding Shift down and moving the mouse cursor against an edge of the screen will allow me to switch desktops.
