1. A computer implemented method performed at a server for providing access to portal content through a portal comprising one or more computer programs and information, the method comprising: receiving a request from a client computer, the request specifying a user; identifying portal content to which the user has subscribed; organizing the subscribed portal content into at least two workspaces according to a first context for presentation to the user using the subscribed portal content, each one of the workspaces being organized into folders according to a second context, the second context being a specific context within the first context; defining a user interface for the at least two workspaces, wherein each workspace is presented to the user as a different view on a portal desktop display and comprises a web page; generating, for the client computer, the portal including the user interface, the portal operating in conjunction with an operating system of the client computer and replacing a local desktop associated with the client computer; providing the user with an ability to specify an executable user-specified application to be executed when launching the portal; launching, for the client computer, the portal including executing the executable user-specified application when launching the portal; presenting to the user a first instance of the executable user-specified application and data related to the first instance of the application via a first folder and a second instance of the executable user-specified application and data related to the second instance via a second folder; monitoring the subscribed portal content including the first and second instances of the executable user-specified application in the first and second folders, the subscribed portal content being distributed throughout a network; and in response to detecting a change of state of the subscribed portal content, sending notification of the change of state to the client computer to update a status indicator displayed within the portal, the status indicator providing a graphical representation of the state of the portal content.