If you utilize the Desktop Switcher applet in Linux, instead of using the mouse to select the desktop to view, try using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + [Left or Right Arrow]. If you are in the middle of typing something and need to jump to your web browser, music library, or whatever, you can do so without taking your hands off the keyboard.

This keyboard combination should work no matter what distro or GUI (GNOME or KDE) you use.