diff --git a/common.nix b/common.nix
index 1def7aa..3a2aa27 100644
--- a/common.nix
+++ b/common.nix
@@ -195,17 +195,22 @@ isoConfig // {
         fi
       }
 
-      desktop() {
-        echo "🖥️  Starting GUI session..."
-        if [ -z "$DISPLAY" ]; then
-          startx &
-          export DISPLAY=:0
-          sleep 3
-          echo "✅ GUI started. Run 'browser' to open Firefox"
-        else
-          echo "ℹ️  GUI already running"
-        fi
-      }
+       desktop() {
+         echo "🖥️  Starting GUI session..."
+         if command -v startx &> /dev/null; then
+           if [ -z "$DISPLAY" ]; then
+             startx &
+             export DISPLAY=:0
+             sleep 3
+             echo "✅ GUI started. Check QEMU window or run 'browser'"
+           else
+             echo "ℹ️  GUI already running"
+           fi
+         else
+           echo "💡 GUI available in QEMU window (Alt+Tab to switch)"
+           echo "🖱️  Click on QEMU graphics window to use desktop"
+         fi
+       }
 
       help() {
         echo "CODE CRISPIES Workshop Commands:"
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 59906f6..5a139cd 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -76,22 +76,27 @@
              networking.networkmanager.enable = true;
              networking.firewall.enable = false;
 
-             # Serial console configuration - the RIGHT way
+             # Hybrid console configuration - serial primary, GUI available
              boot.kernelParams = [ "console=ttyS0,115200" "console=tty1" ];
 
              # VM specific settings
              virtualisation.memorySize = 4096;
              virtualisation.diskSize = 40000;
 
-             # Force serial console as primary
+             # Hybrid mode: GUI available but serial console primary
              virtualisation.qemu.options = [
-               "-nographic"
+               "-display" "gtk"
+               "-monitor" "stdio"
              ];
              # Fix the auto-login conflict with mkForce
              services.displayManager.autoLogin = lib.mkForce {
                enable = true;
                user = "workshop";
              };
+             # Keep GUI session commands for when GUI is used
+             services.xserver.displayManager.sessionCommands = ''
+               ${pkgs.xfce.xfce4-terminal}/bin/xfce4-terminal --fullscreen --title="Workshop Terminal" &
+             '';
           })
         ];
       };