Setting the stage seems like an important step, I'd like a way to load up a web development environment with all the trimmings on my win7 machine.
A browser profile with it's own bookmarks/extensions, a separate virtual desktop workspace, and perhaps launch a set of other apps with windows arranged to suit my multi-screen setup.
I'm sure it can be done, but it's not simple or intuitive.
Actually, I think that's just an excuse to waste more time. It only takes a few clicks and a few keystrokes to get all your tools up and running, and I think the process of setting the stage is important, as you're telling your brain "I am getting ready to get shit done".
That is real easy and simple, install VirtualBox (or another VM flavor) and create an image just to do development in. Plus with this you get the benefit of being able to recreate it quickly, move it to other machines, and to save "snapshots".
A browser profile with it's own bookmarks/extensions, a separate virtual desktop workspace, and perhaps launch a set of other apps with windows arranged to suit my multi-screen setup.
I'm sure it can be done, but it's not simple or intuitive.