diff --git a/data/themes/Makefile.am b/data/themes/Makefile.am
index c4a508c97..10984ce59 100644
--- a/data/themes/Makefile.am
+++ b/data/themes/Makefile.am
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ default_preview.edc \
 default_cslider.edc \
 default_spectrum.edc \
 default_color_well.edc \
-default_sys.edc
+default_sys.edc \
+default_deskpreview.edc
 
 default.edj: Makefile $(EXTRA_DIST)
 	$(EDJE_CC) $(EDJE_FLAGS) \
diff --git a/data/themes/default.edc b/data/themes/default.edc
index 51ad5dbea..587d3876d 100644
--- a/data/themes/default.edc
+++ b/data/themes/default.edc
@@ -75,5 +75,6 @@ collections {
 #include "default_spectrum.edc"
 #include "default_color_well.edc"
 #include "default_sys.edc"
+#include "default_deskpreview.edc"
 }
 
diff --git a/data/themes/default_deskpreview.edc b/data/themes/default_deskpreview.edc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36f52a909
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/themes/default_deskpreview.edc
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+group {
+   name: "e/widgets/deskpreview/desk";
+   parts {
+      part {
+	 name:          "clip";
+	 mouse_events:  0;
+	 type:          RECT;
+	 description {
+	    state:    "default" 0.0;
+	    rel1 {
+	       offset:   2    2;
+	    }
+	    rel2 {
+	       offset:   -3   -3;
+	    }
+	    color: 255 255 255 255;
+	 }
+      }
+      part {
+	 name:          "overlay";
+	 mouse_events:  1;
+	 description {
+	    state:    "default" 0.0;
+	    rel1 {
+	       offset:   1    1;
+	    }
+	    rel2 {
+	       offset:   -2   -2;
+	    }
+	    image {
+	       normal: "e17_pager_desk.png";
+	       border: 2 2 2 2;
+	       middle: 0;
+	    }
+	    fill {
+	       smooth: 0;
+	    }
+	    color: 255 255 255 255;
+	 }
+      }
+      part {
+	 name:          "e.swallow.desk";
+	 mouse_events:  0;
+	 type:          SWALLOW;
+	 clip_to:       "clip";
+         description {
+	    state:    "default" 0.0;
+	    rel1 {
+	       offset:   2    2;
+	    }
+	    rel2 {
+	       offset:   -3    -3;
+	    }
+	    color: 0 0 0 0;
+	 }
+      }
+   }
+}
diff --git a/src/bin/Makefile.am b/src/bin/Makefile.am
index 142778d39..c7f0eabb8 100644
--- a/src/bin/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/bin/Makefile.am
@@ -172,7 +172,9 @@ e_fdo_menu_to_order.h \
 e_sys.h \
 e_obj_dialog.h \
 e_int_config_transitions.h \
-e_fwin.h
+e_fwin.h \
+e_widget_aspect.h \
+e_widget_desk_preview.h
  
 enlightenment_src = \
 e_user.c \
@@ -321,6 +323,8 @@ e_sys.c \
 e_int_config_transitions.c \
 e_obj_dialog.c \
 e_fwin.c \
+e_widget_aspect.c \
+e_widget_desk_preview.c \
 $(ENLIGHTENMENTHEADERS)
 
 enlightenment_SOURCES = \
diff --git a/src/bin/e_bg.c b/src/bin/e_bg.c
index 6d81f1d3c..2dc4c0db1 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_bg.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_bg.c
@@ -10,22 +10,24 @@ static void _e_bg_signal(void *data, Evas_Object *obj, const char *emission, con
 
 /* externally accessible functions */
 EAPI const char *
-e_bg_file_get(E_Zone *zone)
+e_bg_file_get(E_Zone *zone, E_Desk *desk)
 {
    Evas_List *l, *ll, *entries;
    int ok;
    const char *bgfile = "";
+
+
+   if (!zone) zone = e_zone_current_get(e_container_current_get(e_manager_current_get()));
+
    ok = 0;
-   for (l = e_config->desktop_backgrounds; l; l = l->next)
+   /* look for desk specific background. if desk is NULL this is skipped */
+   for (l = e_config->desktop_backgrounds; desk && l; l = l->next)
      {
 	E_Config_Desktop_Background *cfbg;
-	E_Desk *desk;
 	
 	cfbg = l->data;
 	if ((cfbg->container >= 0) && (zone->container->num != cfbg->container)) continue;
 	if ((cfbg->zone >= 0) && (zone->num != cfbg->zone)) continue;
-	desk = e_desk_current_get(zone);
-	if (!desk) continue;
 	if ((cfbg->desk_x >= 0) && (cfbg->desk_x != desk->x)) continue;
 	if ((cfbg->desk_y >= 0) && (cfbg->desk_y != desk->y)) continue;
 	entries = edje_file_collection_list(cfbg->file);
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ e_bg_file_get(E_Zone *zone)
 	  }
 	break;
      }
+   /* fall back to default bg for zone */
    if (!ok)
      {
 	entries = edje_file_collection_list(e_config->desktop_default_background);
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ e_bg_zone_update(E_Zone *zone, E_Bg_Transition transition)
    else if (transition == E_BG_TRANSITION_CHANGE) trans = e_config->transition_change;
    if ((!trans) || (strlen(trans) < 1)) transition = E_BG_TRANSITION_NONE;
 
-   bgfile = e_bg_file_get(zone);
+   bgfile = e_bg_file_get(zone, e_desk_current_get(zone));
 
    if (zone->bg_object)
      {
diff --git a/src/bin/e_bg.h b/src/bin/e_bg.h
index dd0c1e2a8..594844f09 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_bg.h
+++ b/src/bin/e_bg.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ typedef enum {
 #ifndef E_BG_H
 #define E_BG_H
 
-EAPI const char *e_bg_file_get(E_Zone *zone);
+EAPI const char *e_bg_file_get(E_Zone *zone, E_Desk *desk);
 EAPI void e_bg_zone_update(E_Zone *zone, E_Bg_Transition transition);
 EAPI void e_bg_add(int container, int zone, int desk_x, int desk_y, char *file);
 EAPI void e_bg_del(int container, int zone, int desk_x, int desk_y);
diff --git a/src/bin/e_includes.h b/src/bin/e_includes.h
index b20404340..21a08f27c 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_includes.h
+++ b/src/bin/e_includes.h
@@ -149,3 +149,5 @@
 #include "e_int_config_transitions.h"
 #include "e_obj_dialog.h"
 #include "e_fwin.h"
+#include "e_widget_aspect.h"
+#include "e_widget_desk_preview.h"
diff --git a/src/bin/e_int_config_desks.c b/src/bin/e_int_config_desks.c
index e765233a6..db55c25d5 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_int_config_desks.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_int_config_desks.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ static int _basic_apply_data(E_Config_Dialog *cfd, E_Config_Dialog_Data *cfdata)
 static int _advanced_apply_data(E_Config_Dialog *cfd, E_Config_Dialog_Data *cfdata);
 static Evas_Object *_basic_create_widgets(E_Config_Dialog *cfd, Evas *evas, E_Config_Dialog_Data *cfdata);
 static Evas_Object *_advanced_create_widgets(E_Config_Dialog *cfd, Evas *evas, E_Config_Dialog_Data *cfdata);
+static void _cb_slider_change(void *data, Evas_Object *obj);
 
 /* Actual config data we will be playing with whil the dialog is active */
 struct _E_Config_Dialog_Data
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ struct _E_Config_Dialog_Data
    int flip_mode;
    int flip_interp;
    double flip_speed;
+
+   /*- GUI -*/
+   Evas_Object *preview;
 };
 
 /* a nice easy setup function that does the dirty work */
@@ -186,11 +190,19 @@ _basic_create_widgets(E_Config_Dialog *cdd, Evas *evas, E_Config_Dialog_Data *cf
    of = e_widget_framelist_add(evas, _("Number of Desktops"), 0);
    
    ot = e_widget_table_add(evas, 0);
-   ob = e_widget_slider_add(evas, 0, 0, _("%1.0f"), 1.0, 12.0, 1.0, 0, NULL, &(cfdata->y), 150);
-   e_widget_table_object_append(ot, ob, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1);
-   ob = e_widget_slider_add(evas, 1, 0, _("%1.0f"), 1.0, 12.0, 1.0, 0, NULL, &(cfdata->x), 200);
 
+   ob = e_widget_desk_preview_add(evas, cfdata->x, cfdata->y);
+   e_widget_table_object_append(ot, ob, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1);
+   cfdata->preview = ob;
+
+   ob = e_widget_slider_add(evas, 0, 0, _("%1.0f"), 1.0, 12.0, 1.0, 0, NULL, &(cfdata->y), 150);
+   e_widget_on_change_hook_set(ob, _cb_slider_change, cfdata);
+   e_widget_table_object_append(ot, ob, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1);
+
+   ob = e_widget_slider_add(evas, 1, 0, _("%1.0f"), 1.0, 12.0, 1.0, 0, NULL, &(cfdata->x), 200);
+   e_widget_on_change_hook_set(ob, _cb_slider_change, cfdata);
    e_widget_table_object_append(ot, ob, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0);
+
    e_widget_framelist_object_append(of, ot);
    e_widget_list_object_append(o, of, 1, 1, 0.5);
     
@@ -253,3 +265,12 @@ _advanced_create_widgets(E_Config_Dialog *cfd, Evas *evas, E_Config_Dialog_Data
    
    return o;
 }
+
+static void
+_cb_slider_change(void *data, Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Config_Dialog_Data *cfdata = data;
+
+   e_widget_desk_preview_num_desks_set(cfdata->preview, cfdata->x, cfdata->y);
+
+}
diff --git a/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.c b/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e5d15dd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.c
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+/*
+ * vim:ts=8:sw=3:sts=8:noexpandtab:cino=>5n-3f0^-2{2
+ */
+
+/* TODO: support different preference modes ala edje */
+#include "e.h"
+
+typedef struct _E_Widget_Data E_Widget_Data;
+struct _E_Widget_Data
+{
+   Evas_Object *obj;
+
+   Evas_Object *child;
+   int aspect_w, aspect_h;
+   int aspect_preference;
+};
+
+
+static void
+_e_wid_del_hook(Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+
+   free(wd);
+}
+
+static void
+_e_wid_reconfigure(E_Widget_Data *wd)
+{
+   int px, py, pw, ph;
+   int cx, cy, cw, ch;
+   double ap, ad;
+
+   if (!wd->obj || !wd->child) return;
+
+   evas_object_geometry_get(wd->obj, &px, &py, &pw, &ph);
+
+   ap = (double)pw / ph;
+   ad = (double)(wd->aspect_w) / wd->aspect_h;
+   if (ap >= ad)
+     {
+	ch = ph;
+	cw = (ch * wd->aspect_w) / wd->aspect_h;
+     }
+   else
+     {
+	cw = pw;
+	ch = (cw * wd->aspect_h) / wd->aspect_w;
+     }
+
+   cx = px + ((pw - cw) / 2);
+   cy = py + ((ph - ch) / 2);
+
+   evas_object_resize(wd->child, cw, ch);
+   evas_object_move(wd->child, cx, cy);
+}
+
+static void
+_e_wid_resize_intercept(void *data, Evas_Object *obj, int w, int h)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+
+   evas_object_resize(obj, w, h);
+   _e_wid_reconfigure(wd);
+}
+
+Evas_Object *
+e_widget_aspect_add(Evas *evas, int w, int h)
+{
+   Evas_Object *obj;
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   obj = e_widget_add(evas);
+   wd = calloc(1, sizeof(E_Widget_Data));
+
+   wd->obj = obj;
+   e_widget_data_set(obj, wd);
+   e_widget_del_hook_set(obj, _e_wid_del_hook);
+
+   evas_object_intercept_resize_callback_add(obj, _e_wid_resize_intercept, wd);
+   e_widget_aspect_aspect_set(obj, w, h);
+
+   return obj;
+}
+
+void
+e_widget_aspect_aspect_set(Evas_Object *obj, int w, int h)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+   
+   wd->aspect_w = w;
+   wd->aspect_h = h;
+   _e_wid_reconfigure(wd);
+}
+
+void
+e_widget_aspect_child_set(Evas_Object *obj, Evas_Object *child)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+
+   wd->child = child;
+   _e_wid_reconfigure(wd);
+}
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.h b/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea8023843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bin/e_widget_aspect.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef E_WIDGET_ASPECT_H
+#define E_WIDGET_ASPECT_H
+Evas_Object *e_widget_aspect_add(Evas *evas, int w, int h);
+void e_widget_aspect_aspect_set(Evas_Object *obj, int w, int h);
+void e_widget_aspect_child_set(Evas_Object *obj, Evas_Object *child);
+#endif
diff --git a/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.c b/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e7ec584a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.c
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+/*
+ * vim:ts=8:sw=3:sts=8:noexpandtab:cino=>5n-3f0^-2{2
+ */
+
+#include "e.h"
+
+typedef struct _E_Widget_Data E_Widget_Data;
+struct _E_Widget_Data
+{
+   Evas_Object *obj;
+   Evas_Object *aspect;
+   Evas_Object *table;
+   Evas_List *desks;
+
+   int w, h;
+   int desk_count_x, desk_count_y;
+};
+
+
+static void
+_e_wid_desks_free(E_Widget_Data *wd)
+{
+   Evas_List *l;
+   for (l = wd->desks; l; l = l->next)
+     {
+	Evas_Object *desk = l->data;
+	e_widget_sub_object_del(wd->obj, desk);
+	evas_object_del(desk);
+     }
+   evas_list_free(wd->desks);
+   wd->desks = NULL;
+   if (wd->table) 
+     {
+	e_widget_sub_object_del(wd->obj, wd->table);
+	evas_object_del(wd->table);
+     }
+   wd->table = NULL;
+   if (wd->aspect) 
+     {
+	e_widget_sub_object_del(wd->obj, wd->aspect);
+	evas_object_del(wd->aspect);
+     }
+   wd->aspect = NULL;
+}
+
+static void
+_e_wid_del_hook(Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+
+   _e_wid_desks_free(wd);
+   free(wd);
+}
+
+/* 
+ * XXX break this into num_desks_set and _reconfigure calls 
+ * XXX don't completely redraw on change just add/del rows/columns and update min sizes
+ */
+void
+e_widget_desk_preview_num_desks_set(Evas_Object *obj, int nx, int ny)
+{
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+   Evas_Object *o;
+   int x, y;
+   int aw, ah; /* available */
+   int mw, mh; /* min size for each desk */
+   int tw, th; /* size to thumb at */
+   E_Zone *zone;
+
+   wd = e_widget_data_get(obj);
+   if (!wd) return;
+
+   wd->desk_count_x = nx;
+   wd->desk_count_y = ny;
+
+   _e_wid_desks_free(wd);
+
+   zone = e_zone_current_get(e_container_current_get(e_manager_current_get()));
+
+   o = e_widget_aspect_add(evas_object_evas_get(obj), zone->w * nx, zone->h * ny);
+   e_widget_resize_object_set(obj, o);
+   e_widget_sub_object_add(obj, o);
+   evas_object_show(o);
+   wd->aspect = o;
+
+   o = e_widget_table_add(evas_object_evas_get(obj), 1);
+   e_widget_sub_object_add(obj, o);
+   evas_object_show(o);
+   e_widget_aspect_child_set(wd->aspect, o); 
+   wd->table = o;
+
+   evas_object_geometry_get(wd->aspect, NULL, NULL, &aw, &ah);
+
+   if (ny > nx)
+     {
+	mh = ah / ny;
+	mw = (mh * zone->w) / zone->h;
+     }
+   else
+     {
+	mw = aw / nx;
+	mh = (mw * zone->h) / zone->w;
+     }
+   /* this happens when aw == 0 */
+   if (!mw)
+     {
+	mw = 10;
+	mh = (mw * zone->h) / zone->w;
+     }
+   e_widget_aspect_aspect_set(wd->aspect, mw * nx, mh * ny);
+
+   if (mw < 50)
+     tw = 50;
+   else if (mw < 150)
+     tw = 150;
+   else
+     tw = 300;
+   th = (tw * zone->h) / zone->w;
+
+   for (y = 0; y < ny; y++)
+     {
+	for (x = 0; x < nx; x++)
+	  {
+	     Evas_Object *overlay;
+	     Evas_Object *dw;
+	     const char *bgfile;
+	     E_Desk *desk = NULL;
+
+	     if (x < zone->desk_x_count && y < zone->desk_y_count)
+	       desk = zone->desks[x + (y * zone->desk_x_count)];
+	     bgfile = e_bg_file_get(zone, desk);
+
+	     /* wrap desks in a widget (to set min size) */
+	     dw = e_widget_add(evas_object_evas_get(obj));
+	     e_widget_min_size_set(dw, mw, mh);
+
+	     o = edje_object_add(evas_object_evas_get(obj));
+	     e_theme_edje_object_set(o, "base/theme/widgets", "e/widgets/deskpreview/desk");
+	     e_widget_resize_object_set(dw, o);
+	     e_widget_sub_object_add(dw, o);
+
+	     evas_object_show(o);
+	     e_widget_sub_object_add(dw, o);
+	     overlay = o;
+
+	     o = e_thumb_icon_add(evas_object_evas_get(obj));
+	     e_icon_fill_inside_set(o, 0);
+	     e_thumb_icon_file_set(o, bgfile, "e/desktop/background");
+	     e_thumb_icon_size_set(o, tw, th);
+	     edje_object_part_swallow(overlay, "e.swallow.desk", o);
+	     e_thumb_icon_begin(o);
+	     evas_object_show(o);
+	     e_widget_sub_object_add(dw, o);
+
+	     e_widget_table_object_append(wd->table, dw, x, y, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1);
+	     wd->desks = evas_list_append(wd->desks, dw);
+	  }
+     }
+}
+
+Evas_Object *
+e_widget_desk_preview_add(Evas *evas, int nx, int ny)
+{
+   Evas_Object *obj, *o;
+   E_Widget_Data *wd;
+   Evas_Coord iw, ih;
+
+   obj = e_widget_add(evas);
+   wd = calloc(1, sizeof(E_Widget_Data));
+
+   wd->obj = obj;
+   e_widget_data_set(obj, wd);
+   e_widget_del_hook_set(obj, _e_wid_del_hook);
+
+   e_widget_desk_preview_num_desks_set(obj, nx, ny);
+
+   return obj;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.h b/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5fcbb684
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bin/e_widget_desk_preview.h
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#ifndef E_WIDGET_DESK_PREVIEW_H
+#define E_WIDGET_DESK_PREVIEW_H
+Evas_Object *e_widget_desk_preview_add(Evas *evas, int nx, int ny);
+void e_widget_desk_preview_num_desks_set(Evas_Object *obj, int nx, int ny);
+#endif