Windows Explorer vs Mac OS X Finder

[gxsaurav]

Well, this was coming from many days & since now WWDC is over with finder not having any compelling new feature its about time I post it here.

Microsoft completely overhauled Windows Explorer with Windows Vista. Not only the look is changed but the way you manage your files is also changed. It is a very powerful file browser & manager now which makes it very easy to manage files.

On first look, this is how the default Windows Explorer looks like. My Computer of Windows is now replaced with just “Computer” which shows all your fixed, removable & optical drives at one place.



The default look is not only enhanced but also it is logically more unified. You no longer get the classic menu bar by default, & come to think about it, when was the last time you used it? You can still get the Menu bar by pressing & releasing the keyboard Alt key.

The Explorer is divided into parts such as address bar, search box, favorite links & the viewport area.

The address bar is no longer like the one in Windows XP. It is a breadcrumb bar & from one folder you can jump to any other folder on the path backward using the breadcrumb arrows. It makes it easier to go back as many steps as you want. However you cannot drag a file to address bar, hover over an arrow & open that folder with drag selected. You can instead simply do a Cut & go to that folder & Paste.





In Windows XP, clicking on the address bar pull down menu used to give a display of all the drives & navigation folders which was a really good feature. It is omitted in Vista & now the address bar pull down menu shows a history of some recently opened folders & URL links. More like IE 7’s address bar. The Windows XP method was a good feature which was removed for no reason.



Below the address bar is the Tasks toolbar. This is a context sensitive toolbar which changes according the folder you are in like if you click on an image, the icons change to tasks which will assist you in doing picture related stuff. If you select a Video it will offer you video related tasks such as making a DVD or playing it in WMP11 etc.

You can navigate back or forward using the usually identifiable back & forward buttons which are on left side of address bar.




Explorer now has search integrated in it. You can search for anything from anywhere in Explorer. Just write the word & Windows Explorer will display it in search instantly or if the files are not indexed, a bit slow. It searches in the folder in which you are currently & the index. Search is a big feature in Windows Vista & makes it easy to find a particular file.



Now let us come to the favorite links sidebar. Well, nothing much to talk about. Just drag the folder you want to add to this favorite link sidebar & it will make a shortcut. One shortcoming though that you cannot increase the icon or font size of Sidebar, but it is possible using registry hacks. The Explorer Tree navigation is below the favorite bar & is displayed when you click on “Folders” button.



At the bottom is the File details pane which is an enhancement of the Windows XP shell style info pane. Just click on a file & it will show all the possible info it can about that file such as author, date etc. You can also edit the file description depending upon which file it is, like if it is a Word 2007 document you can easily change the author etc.



These were the basic Windows Explorer definition in Vista. Now coming to how explorer makes like easier.

In Windows Vista, by default the Pictures, Music, Movies, Contact etc are stored in the users own folder. However he can simply change the location of these folders to somewhere else like some other partition & still refer to them at the original location. Suppose I have my music on my E:\Drive. All I have to do is to go my user’s folder, right click on the “Music” Folder & change its location to that of E:\ drive. Now all Windows application whether third party or Windows integrated will refer to the new location of E:\Drive. You are not forced to use Windows the default way, you can use it the way you want. You can change the location of Movies Folder, documents & pictures just like this. This comes in handy if you save your data on another hard disk or partition.

You also have some saved searches called “Live Folders”. These are virtual folders which are more like containers which refer to files complying with specific criteria. For example, in you user folder there is a folder names “Searches” which houses some commonly used search terms like “All recent files, made in the last 2 days” & other criteria’s like this. You can also make your own live folder using the Windows Search. Just perform a search & save it. For example, if I search for all files created since Monday to today all I have to do is to go to search panel, select the criteria & save it as a search. Since all the files are indexed, any new file created will be added to this live folder easily. You can simply drag this Live folder to favorite links sidebar for easier access.



One thing enhanced in Windows Vista is the inbuilt preview in Explorer. Now it is called Windows Preview. By default Windows shows thumbnails of all the files it has in a folder such as videos or images. You can simply turn on the Preview function from the organize button found at the top toolbar & now you will be greeted by a simple preview panel in the side of explorer in which you can see the preview of any file. Windows Explorer shows preview of many files such as Video or Audio or Images right there in Explorer itself. You can even play videos in here without opening any media player. The file types that Windows can preview can be extended using plug-ins available. Recently with the release of Adobe Acrobat 8.1 you can preview PDF files in explorer too. You can preview just about any possible file in Explorer as long as the plug-in is installed including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint Slides.



Next to the organize button is the “Views” button which will resize the icons or thumbnails on Explorer in real time. It shows the content of the files up to a preview size of 256X256 pixels. You can easily use a bit display with high resolution & see what a file contains without even opening it. This is more like a Live Thumbnail.



There are different types of views in the Explorer viewport area such as the standard icon view as well as tiles or details or list views. One new enhancement in Explorer is that if you are in a folder having many files then you can simply click on the column at the top of viewport area to sort the files according to criteria as well as show only the files matching particular criteria. For example, you can click on the “Type” tab & select to show only JPG & Word documents & it will hide all the files in that folder other than those matching these file types. You can similarly click on the “Date” tab & select to show the files from a following date only. It makes navigation easier if you need to copy all the image files from a folder where there are many different files, just select to show image files then copy all the files which show up. You can even stack the files & save it as a “Live Folder”




Using the tasks toolbar you can also use the inbuilt CD Burning feature of Windows Vista to burn all the files you require. Help is available right through the tasks toolbar.

Let us come to the Windows shell. The Start menu is further streamlined for use with new Windows Vista technologies such as search & live previews. You can search for all files or anything right there from the Start menu “Instant Search” itself.

Alt+tab which now called FlipTab also shows preview of all Windows you have open. You can directly click on any thumbnail to jump to that particular window. Windows has a Tasks based approach towards navigation of open windows on screen. If you have five internet explorer Windows open then they show up as five separate entities & you can jump to anyone directly using FlipTab.



Taskbar now shows small preview of the Windows opened just by hovering the mouse over them. It also groups similar windows together which you can navigate to either by clicking on the taskbar button or using FlipTab.





You can customise a folder’s icon by right clicking on it, go to properties, customise tab & select an Icon.

Due to new technologies such as Volume Shadow copy, Windows can go to a previous version of your file if you have overwritten it with a new one. After that you can save the old version alongside the new version. If you deleted a file accidently, well….just use Windows backup & it will be there.

Windows Explorer supports full drag & drop. Not only that, if you have multiple files & folders in a folder, you don’t need to keep pressing Control key to select multiple files. Just turn on Checkbox from Tool->Folder Option & now you can simply click on these checkbox & drag & drop or cut-paste the selection at once. When you drag the files together, Explorer shows you a count of selected files.



Windows Explorer is just that, Windows Explorer. It lets you manage your files the way you want it to. You are in control.

The Finder part is something I would urge Arya to write, because if I do it, then it will be called a biased article. Both Explorer & Finder cater to the need of File management, it’s just that Explorer is Kick ass & highly extendable

[aryayush]

I did not bother reading the whole "article" but I noticed one comment towards the end that made me laugh my ass off:

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Windows Explorer supports full drag & drop.

Oh really? WOW! I never knew that. So, let's see - does it open a folder when you drag something over it, so that you can move further into the hierarchy?
No? Oh, but you just said that it "supports full drag & drop". Of course, you were lying as usual.

I am sure the whole post is full of random lies such as this one.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by aryayush

does it open a folder when you drag something over it, so that you can move further into the hierarchy?

Nope, that is a Apple Patented method of Spring loaded folders. A concept UI for something better in Windows is on its way

No? Oh, but you just said that it "supports full drag & drop". Of course, you were lying as usual.

I am sure the whole post is full of random lies such as this one.

Do read the post once, thats why I gave screenshots . I hope those lines which u call lies don't come out to be Finder pwning lines

Do come with your article about Finder

[gxsaurav]

Lolz...you expect him to know how windows works.

Arya, here is Sidebar drag for u



There is a saying which fits here.

"Don't argue with an Idiot, they first bring you to there level & then beat you by there experience"

I don't wanna argue with arya & reach his level of knowledge & experience

[Zeeshan Quireshi]

Of course explorer beats Finder Hands down .

my biggest gripe with finder: it does not show full file path so yo have to manually switch view in finder n then go all the way to the root to see where the file is present .

[gxsaurav]

Yo fellow members, public support for Arya writing a finder review. I don't wanna do it cos then Macboys will not agree to it, obviously. So let the Mac genius write it who thinks he knows about Macs after using it for 7 months

[anandk]

Cool review !!!

[sam_1710]

wooowww... cool review!! ..
dint know bout the last part!! thanks fot dat!!

[blackleopard92]

Originally Posted by aryayush

Oh really? WOW! I never knew that. So, let's see - does it open a folder when you drag something over it, so that you can move further into the hierarchy?

yes it does. except the fact that instead of we use left hand folder tree for this use. it's better than scrolling the whole window to find the required folder, and doing it again and again. in fact, using folder view(in lower left pane) u can drag items to a subdirectory located in a different drive too.it's more sophisticated and simple

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by blackleopard92

yes it does. except the fact that instead of we use left hand folder tree for this use. it's better than scrolling the whole window to find the required folder, and doing it again and again. in fact, using folder view(in lower left pane) u can drag items to a subdirectory located in a different drive too.it's more sophisticated and simple

Hey cool blackleopard, I didn't know about this trick. Just compleated making another UI concept for Vista. Posting in a while.

Fellow members, those who want to see this in action, this is how the tree drag feature works in vista. Just download the video

[blackpearl]

Cool review.

[gxsaurav]

Looks like I will have to do Finder review too....damn, this review is so biased without any macboy taking part

[iMav]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Yo fellow members, public support for Arya writing a finder review. I don't wanna do it cos then Macboys will not agree to it, obviously. So let the Mac genius write it who thinks he knows about Macs after using it for 7 months

dude digg this ... its 1 of the most comprehensive reviews iv seen in a lot of time .. amazing review ... btw il do a finder review if arya doesnt do it before me ... btw finder is no competition to explorer by any means its a very basic 80s genereation explorer

[gxsaurav]

iMav , you forgot.

Mac OS X Finder : It looks good & polished......................................that s it.

Can it manage my files? : Yes

Can it work the way I want : Nope

[iMav]

kaam shivaji style looks abhishek bachan style .... bole toh finder of os x

[goobimama]

I want just downloaded a file using my favourite web browser IE. Say I've set it to save to desktop. Now I want to move that file to somewhere in the D Drive > something folder > something else folder. I have to cut the file. Then I have to open explorer cause there's no spring loaded folders. Navigate using that sidebar. Paste the file. Close explorer.

On the Mac I just drag it to the HD icon, or whatever other folder I've left on the desktop springs open a window, drag it to the desired location and it automatically closes the window.

---------

One more complaint I have against explorer. Even when dragging a file within explorer, to navigate to the bottom of the 'tree' is such a pain as you have to go through all the explanded folders. Then at the opportune moment, just as you release the file to be moved, it scrolls a bit down making you transfer in the wrong place. And we all know how long Vista takes to cancel a file transfer...

Extra Large icons in Vista vs CoverFlow in OS X

- Making the previews bigger is closer to in Finder than going up to change the icon size
- It shows a preview of all files including Word, Excel, PDF, movies, and has the option of expanding this list of supported files by adding some kind of plugins. You can also play the movies or flip through pages of a document right there.
Explorer on the other hand can only preview Images, Video and PDF.
- While dragging a file, if Vista can generate a thumbnail of the icon, as shown in gx's screenshot, it sort of covers the mouse so its very difficult to see where exactly you are dragging a file to. OS X on the other hand, fades the icons along with their file names while showing you a prominent mouse pointer.

The rest of the comparisons are there in Tiger itself....

[Desi-Tek.com]

only problem with vista (explorer ) is it take ages to delete large file for example if u want to delete 1gb file it will take more than 5 min to delete that file specially if the file is distributed in many folders (subdirectory) eg folder of games . i hope microsoft will fix it in service pack 1

[gxsaurav]

Then I have to open explorer cause there's no spring loaded folders. Navigate using that sidebar. Paste the file. Close explorer.

Yup, Spring Loaded folders is a technology for which Apple holds a patent due to which it cannot be used in Vista. Deal with it....it is not Microsoft's fault that Apple patented "A method to drag & drop a file"

One more complaint I have against explorer. Even when dragging a file within explorer, to navigate to the bottom of the 'tree' is such a pain as you have to go through all the explanded folders. Then at the opportune moment, just as you release the file to be moved, it scrolls a bit down making you transfer in the wrong place.

I wonder why u r facing the problem, I don't face it here. Then again, Vista's doesn't search for files there too while it does here & in kenshin's case. Goobi Vista hates u

- Making the previews bigger is closer to in Finder than going up to change the icon size

Already there in Windows. It only plays when you want it to play.

- It shows a preview of all files including Word, Excel, PDF, movies, and has the option of expanding this list of supported files by adding some kind of plugins. You can also play the movies or flip through pages of a document right there.

Yup, everything is already possible in Windows Vista Explorer.

Explorer on the other hand can only preview Images, Video and PDF.

And anything for which you have a plugin installed. Coverflow in Finder is just a rip of Windows Preview + Windows XP Filmstrip view

- While dragging a file, if Vista can generate a thumbnail of the icon, as shown in gx's screenshot, it sort of covers the mouse so its very difficult to see where exactly you are dragging a file to.

Subjective, it does makes a pile of icons, yes....but a cursor is still visible. But ya I do agree that the pile should be less opaque.

Goobi, why don't u write a complete review of Finder.

only problem with vista (explorer ) is it take ages to delete large file for example if u want to delete 1gb file it will take more than 5 min to delete that file specially if the file is distributed in many folders (subdirectory) eg folder of games . i hope microsoft will fix it in service pack 1

This is already fixed. Download the Update

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

And anything for which you have a plugin installed. Coverflow in Finder is just a rip of Windows Preview + Windows XP Filmstrip view

WHAT! Come again. LOL!

Who is the poster... oh, you again! Carry on with the bullshit.

Cover Flow is a copy of something in Windows!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!


BTW, I read most of your review but I couldn't see anything that is there in Explorer and lacking in the Finder. I'll do a check-list for you right now, just wait...

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by aryayush

WHAT! Come again. LOL!

Cover Flow is a copy of something in Windows!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Oh, I guess U never used Windows XP either. Then how will you know about Filmstrip view of Windows XP Pictures folder which used to show preview of images & videos like this.



And Windows Explorer in Vista is already showing preview of many file formats out there since 8 months. Obviously a blind ignorent macboy like u won't understand.

Fellow members I ask you. Isn't coverflow showing preview right there in Explorer is something Windows has been doing since XP? as shown in the pic above

BTW, I read most of your review but I couldn't see anything that is there in Explorer and lacking in the Finder. I'll do a check-list for you right now, just wait...

How can I compare , I did wanted to write a finder article ....but then macboys would have called it biased, plz post the article here yourself. For starters

1) Finder has no Cut option

2) Finder has no address bar

3) Finder has no breadcrumb bar

4) Finder has no option to show just a particular file type in Viewport

5) Finder has no custom icon spacing.

6) You cannot resize any windows from any side. Just the south west

[aryayush]

Breadcrumb navigation - Check.
Context sensitive toolbar - Nope.
Back and Forward - Check.
Integrated search - Check.
Sidebar - Check.
Tree navigation - Check.
File details - Check.
Using a different folder for personal data - Check.
Live folders - Check.
In-built Preview - Check.
Live scaling of icons and thumbnails - Check.
256x256 icons - Nope.
Sort according to different criteria - Check.
Hide particular filetypes - Nope.
CD burning - Check.
Live previews in Flip - Nope.
Live preview in the taskbar - Check.
Group similar windows - Check.
Customising icons - Check.
Previous versions - Nope.
Full drag and drop - Check.
Selection checkboxes - Nope.

From your review, Finder lacks in the following areas:
It has no context sensitive toolbar, massive icons the size of my palm, cannot hide particular filetypes when viewing them in a folder, does not show live previews of windows when using 'Command + Tab', does not allow you to revert to previous versions of files and has no selection checkboxes for difficult selection.

All the points in your previous post are wrong, it has the cut option, has the functionality of the address bar and much better bread crumb navigation than Explorer. I listed the fourth point. The fifth one is such a moot option that I wouldn't give it the time of day but for your sake, I am including it in the list anyway.

As for what Finder has that lacks in Explorer, I could go on and on.

01. Spring loaded folders. (Update: Though it is not as advanced as in Mac OS X, sakumar79 pointed out that this feature does exist. Sorry for the goof-up!)
02. Column view.
03. Dragging stuff (such as text, links and images) from webpages directly onto the Finder without going through the 'Save As...' routine.
04. Show in Finder. (Update: Though it is not as advanced as in Mac OS X, gx_saurav pointed out that this feature does exist. Sorry for the goof-up!)
05. Setting pictures as icons.
06. Colour labeling.
07. Smart aliases. (The shortcuts in Windows are dumb.)
08. Adding applications to the toolbar. (You can add an application you frequently use and drop files onto the icon to open them with that application.)
09. Simple view. (A basic view without the fancy options. Very useful.)
10. Dragging folders from the toolbar.
11. Resizing the sidebar. (It proportionately increases and decreases the size of the icons.)
12. Dragging files/folders from the Finder into navigation dialog boxes (such as the Open and Save dialogs) to directly navigate to that position.
13. Very good results view when using the built-in Spotlight powered search.
14. Previewing Adobe's document formats (without installing anything else).
15. Searching within PDFs.
16. Long names of items are better truncated.
17. Have a particular file always open with a particular application without affecting the other files with that extension.
18. Dragging files onto applications to open them with that application. (Extremely limited support in Windows.) (Update: Though it is not as advanced as in Mac OS X, gx_saurav pointed out that this feature does exist. Sorry for the goof-up!)
19. Though not a feature of the Finder, the Dock is better for launching applications than the 'Quick Launch' area of the taskbar.
20. Flip does not allow you to close any of the windows unless you switch to them first.
21. Very quick and easy duplication of files (even applications). (Update: Though it is not as advanced as in Mac OS X, gx_saurav pointed out that this feature does exist. Sorry for the goof-up!)
22. The desktop picture can be set to rotate at regular intervals (with a beautiful dissolve effect). It is also integrated with iPhoto.
23. Pressing 'Command' and leaving a file aligns it to grid (without having to turn the option on for every file in the folder).
24. Hot corners. The corners of the screen can be set to trigger events such as Exposé, the Dashboard and screensaver.
25. Exposé. The ability to view all open windows in a neat and intuitive manner.
26. Exposé. Allows you to switch between active windows of particular applications without having to bother with the other windows.
27. Exposé. Shows the desktop in a way better manner.
28. Exposé. Spring loaded windows allow you to drag and drop stuff among them.
29. When command tabbing between applications, you can use keyboard shortcuts to quit or hide them too.
30. AppleScript and Automator support.
31. Secure empty trash.
32. Better screensavers (sorry, couldn't resist ).
33. When you are downloading something in Safari, the icon in the Finder shows a live progress indicator.
34. You can even relocate and rename busy files in the Finder. For example, you can rename a Word file even when it is open in TextEdit and you are editing it and you can move a file anywhere even when it has not been completely downloaded. Nothing will be interrupted.

I am sure there are other features too that I am missing here. When you say something sensible like WMP kicks the ass of iTunes and QuickTime Player, I'll completely agree with you. Who you post **** such as the posts in this thread... well, this is the best I can do.

[gxsaurav]

From your review, Finder lacks in the following areas:
It has no context sensitive toolbar, massive icons the size of my palm, cannot hide particular filetypes when viewing them in a folder, does not show live previews of windows when using 'Command + Tab', does not allow you to revert to previous versions of files and has no selection checkboxes for difficult selection.

All the points in your previous post are wrong,

ya Ya, thats what you said when you opened the thread in figt club section to bash windows, but chinked out when you saw plethora of flaws

it has the cut option,

Where, where, where? This proves nepcker is a lier cos he said Finder has no cut option. hey Arya, didn't you the screenshot I posted in the other thread? Where is cut here?

It has the functionality of the address bar

Nope, like zeeshan said, it doesn't show where I am right now so that I can copy paste the address to use somewhere.

and much better bread crumb navigation than Explorer.

While Nokia makes bread & Coca Cola Maken engine oil. I am not bashing finder here, If I wanted to do that I would have wrote the article myself.

01. Spring loaded folders. (Don't give me excuses about why it is absent.)
02. Column view.
03. Dragging stuff (such as text and images) from webpages directly onto the Finder without going through the 'Save As...' routine.
04. Show in Finder. (You can click on any shortcut in Mac OS X and have it shown in the Finder, unlike Explorer.)
05. Setting pictures as icons.
06. Colour labeling.
07. Smart aliases. (The shortcuts in Windows are dumb.)
08. Adding applications to the toolbar. (You can add an application you frequently use and drop files onto the icon to open them with that application.)
09. Simple view. (A basic view without the fancy options. Very useful.)
10. Dragging folders from the toolbar.
11. Resizing the sidebar. (It proportionately increases and decreases the size of the icons.)
12. Dragging files/folders from the Finder into navigation dialog boxes (such as the Open and Save dialogs) to directly navigate to that position.
13. Very good results view when using the built-in Spotlight powered search.
14. Previewing Adobe's document formats (without installing anything else).
15. Searching within PDFs.
16. Long names of items are better truncated.

1) Then even Finder has no cut option, reason be damned.
2) Details view, tree view, List view.
3) Nope
4) Right click on the shortcut->Shurtcut tab opens-> "Open File location"
5) Nope, only icons.
6) Nope. Does that makes things easier?
7) :ROFL" how come? If I uninstall an application by draging them to trash, the link in dock stays there. When I click on it, it shows a "?" sign & no erroe messege, you call this smart
8 ) Yup, judt drop a mp3 file over WMP icon & it will play in it.
9) Hmm...tell me one single use
10) Didn't get this.
11) Yup, Explorer does that already. Drag the sidebar to whatever size u want. The icons are indeed always 16X16
12) Sidebar, breadcrumb bar.....does that rings a bell?
13) Lolz..."very good result view" is a feature. Then you should also say that a red colour close button is also a very good result view.
14) Adobe sued MS for bundling PDF support in Vista. Sorry Microsoft is not allowed to make Windows better.
16) Same here.

Just 3 things which explorer lacks. Arya, I m not trying to bash finder here. Just a review thats why I urged you to write an article showing shortcoming & goods of Finder

[Desi-Tek.com]

@gx_saurav is this a official hot fix from Microsoft if yes than is it possible to download it through windows update?
http://thehotfixshare.net/download/i...931770-x86.msu

[gxsaurav]

Lolz.....CAT = Khisiyani Billi khamba noche.

17) Have a particular file always open with a particular application without affecting the other files with that extension.
18. Dragging files onto applications to open them with that application. (Extremely limited support in Windows.)
19. Though not a feature of the Finder, the Dock is better for launching applications than the 'Quick Launch' area of the taskbar.
20. Flip does not allow you to close any of the windows unless you switch to them first.
21. Very quick and easy duplication of files (even applications).
22. The desktop picture can be set to rotate at regular intervals (with a beautiful dissolve effect). It is also integrated with iPhoto.
23. Pressing 'Command' and leaving a file aligns it to grid (without having to turn the option on for every file in the folder).
24. Hot corners. The corners of the screen can be set to trigger events such as Exposé, the Dashboard and screensaver.
25. Exposé. The ability to view all open windows in a neat and intuitive manner.
26. Exposé. Allows you to switch between active windows of particular applications without having to bother with the other windows.
27. Exposé. Shows the desktop in a way better manner.
28. Exposé. Spring loaded windows allow you to drag and drop stuff among them.
29. When command tabbing between applications, you can use keyboard shortcuts to quit or hide them too.
30. AppleScript and Automator support.
31. Secure empty trash.
32. Better screensavers (sorry, couldn't resist ).

17) Right click -> Open With....
18 ) Limited, where? Did you even used it? No really tell me where?
19) You consider quick launch as an app launcher , no Wonder you are a ignorant i*d**. Start menu is for launching applications.
21) Very quick? Does it uses Light saber? No really this is just a biased statement. Fellow members you read & tell me here.
22) Not a feature of File manager
23) Right click in a folder-> Arrange icons by.....
24 25 26 27 28 ) Not a feature of file manager. Why are you bringing Aqua here, should I bring aero here?
29) Control+Tab -> ALt F4
30) Windows Shell script (zeeshan , enlighten us )
31) Shift+delete
32) Fanboy

Fellow members, other then Apple's patented Spring loaded folder method, which works in windows too but just using a different approch, is there anything better in Finder?

[sam_1710]

@desi-tek.com : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931770

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Where, where, where? This proves nepcker is a lier cos he said Finder has no cut option. hey Arya, didn't you the screenshot I posted in the other thread? Where is cut here?

I am sorry for wording my sentence wrongly. It has the cut functionality, but not the option itself. Hopefully, it has been fixed in the Leopard version. You cannot cut and paste with the keyboard but you can with the mouse.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Nope, like zeeshan said, it doesn't show where I am right now so that I can copy paste the address to use somewhere.

Please, and I am sincerely requesting you this, list all the functions/advantages of the address bar and I'll tell you the counterparts in the Finder. It will help you learn something. If, however, you are only interested in the usual flame wars, then go ahead and flame it for not having the address bar. However, I do request you to post all the uses of the address bar.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

While Nokia makes bread & Coca Cola Maken engine oil. I am not bashing finder here, If I wanted to do that I would have wrote the article myself.

Column view employs bread crumb navigation. You can go back one or several steps in the hierarchy as you please. Isn't it pretty obvious and self explanatory?

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

1) Then even Finder has no cut option, reason be damned.

LOL! I am talking eggs and you are talking cows. Finder has it, Explorer doesn't. Point noted; move on.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

2) Details view, tree view, List view.

... but no column view. What were you trying to say!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

3) Nope

Thanks for accepting atleast something without offering a baseless counter argument.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

4) Right click on the shortcut->Shurtcut tab opens-> "Open File location"

Sorry, never noticed this one. I've rectified my post.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

6) Nope. Does that makes things easier?

Of course, I use labeling extensively. All the funny things on my machine are orange, for example.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

7) :ROFL" how come? If I uninstall an application by draging them to trash, the link in dock stays there. When I click on it, it shows a "?" sign & no erroe messege, you call this smart

Another outright lie:


Aliases on Mac OS X remember the location of files even if you relocate, rename or delete them, unlike Windows.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

8 ) Yup, judt drop a mp3 file over WMP icon & it will play in it.

Can you keep a shortcut to the program somewhere in the Explorer window where it will always remain and I can drag files onto that icon to open them with that program? If yes, I'll take back that point.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

9) Hmm...tell me one single use

I have my downloads folder in simple view available on a corner of the screen at all times for immediately launching and arranging files I download.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

10) Didn't get this.

When you open a folder in the Finder, you can drag its icon from the toolbar to move it someplace else.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

11) Yup, Explorer does that already. Drag the sidebar to whatever size u want. The icons are indeed always 16X16

Yeah, that's what I meant. You cannot resize the icons.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

12) Sidebar, breadcrumb bar.....does that rings a bell?

Suppose you saved an image to '/Users/Aayush/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary/Aperture.aplib/ArchiveInfo' and have that folder open in the Finder. Now if you wish to upload it to ImageShack, you select the 'Choose' option in Safari and simply drag that image into the dialog box. The dialog box automatically jumps to that location and selects the image. Now hit 'Upload'. Works with every dialog box throughout the system. I'm wondering how I ever lived without this ever since I learned of this very useful feature.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

13) Lolz..."very good result view" is a feature. Then you should also say that a red colour close button is also a very good result view.

Yes, it is a very good feature regardless of whatever opinion you hold.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

14) Adobe sued MS for bundling PDF support in Vista. Sorry Microsoft is not allowed to make Windows better.

I don't care who sued whom. I just know that the Finder has it and Explorer doesn't.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

16) Same here.

What "same here"!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

17) Right click -> Open With....

You have to do that every single time you want to open that file with that application. Of you set it to always, then every file with that extension will open with that application. I want to open some PSDs with Preview and most of them with Photoshop, which is the default. I can do so on my Mac but not on Windows.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

18 ) Limited, where? Did you even used it? No really tell me where?

I was mistaken about this one too. I take it back and have corrected the original post. (It is worth noting though that Word files do not open with Word when dropped on its icon.)

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

19) You consider quick launch as an app launcher , no Wonder you are a ignorant i*d**. Start menu is for launching applications.

What is 'Quick Launch' for then? Staring at the tiny icons? It is there for launching your most commonly used applications and the Dock is there for the same purpose. But, of course, the Dock is much more advanced. Even the Start bar, quick launch and taskbar combined have nothing on the OS X dock.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

21) Very quick? Does it uses Light saber? No really this is just a biased statement. Fellow members you read & tell me here.

Mac: Right click >> Duplicate, or Alt + Drag and leave. (Even for applications.)
Windows: Select and copy. Rename. Paste. (Not possible with programs at all.)

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

22) Not a feature of File manager

Flip in Windows Vista isn't either. The desktop is a part of the Finder.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

23) Right click in a folder-> Arrange icons by.....

Again, that does it for all files. There is no way to arrange particular files by grid.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

24 25 26 27 28 ) Not a feature of file manager. Why are you bringing Aqua here, should I bring aero here?

You already have with Flip.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

29) Control+Tab -> ALt F4

You have to switch to the window first and then close it. It is slow. If there are twenty applications I want to quit, I can very quickly close them all with the help of 'Command Tab'. With Flip, I'll have to keep switching to them and closing them individually.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

30) Windows Shell script (zeeshan , enlighten us )

There is nothing like Automator in Windows. As for Shell Script - in my five years of using Windows, I never once came across a shell script or whatever that can be used in conjugation with the Finder to make things easier. In my nine months with Mac OS X, I've seen and used hundreds of useful AppleScripts.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

31) Shift+delete

That is not secure delete and you know it. It is just a shortcut that circumvents the Recycle Bin and directly delete the file. Nothing more and nothing less.

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Just 3 things which explorer lacks. Arya, I m not trying to bash finder here. Just a review thats why I urged you to write an article showing shortcoming & goods of Finder

I just showed the goods. If you acknowledge them gracefully, I'll post the cons too.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by aryayush

You cannot cut and paste with the keyboard but you can with the mouse.

i right click on a file, no cut option there.

Please, and I am sincerely requesting you this, list all the functions/advantages of the address bar and I'll tell you the counterparts in the Finder.

Oh well, My job is done here. We Windows users know the importance of address bar, you don't. One example....

I have a movies folder & under that I have a porn folder hidden (ya ya ), if I open the movies folder it shows no trace of any hidden file. Now to open it I don't have to go to toolbar -> folder option, I can just type "Porn" in the address bar & it will open.

Suppose I have to change icons for file types & those icons are saved somewhere deepn in e:\ drive. i can simply open that folder once or nevigate to that folder using the open dialog, click on the address bar & copy the address. Now I select some icons, then go to somewhere else & change some other icon. To go back the previous icon folder I don't need to nevigate again, just paste the address in open field & enter, it will directly open that folder.

Column view employs bread crumb navigation. You can go back one or several steps in the hierarchy as you please. Isn't it pretty obvious and self explanatory?

Its a view, why change from my current view? Breadcrumb is in Explorer.

... but no column view. What were you trying to say!

They provide same functionality of column view, just not the way Apple's method "looks" like

Of course, I use labeling extensively. All the funny things on my machine are orange, for example.

Good Feature

Another outright lie:


Aliases on Mac OS X remember the location of files even if you relocate, rename or delete them, unlike Windows.

Will post the video tomorrow, going to sleep now

Can you keep a shortcut to the program somewhere in the Explorer window where it will always remain and I can drag files onto that icon to open them with that program? If yes, I'll take back that point.

Yup, not explorer window but drag to start menu or quicklaunch icon.

I have my downloads folder in simple view available on a corner of the screen at all times for immediately launching and arranging files I download.

When you open a folder in the Finder, you can drag its icon from the toolbar to move it someplace else.

Hmm...nothing important or ground breaking, again...you call this a feature?

Yeah, that's what I meant. You cannot resize the icons.

Nor can you set the distance between 2 icons.

I don't care who sued whom. I just know that the Finder has it and Explorer doesn't.

Well, if you don't care who sued them, then it is irrelevant. Just install Adobe Reader

I want to open some PSDs with Preview and most of them with Photoshop, which is the default. I can do so on my Mac but not on Windows.

Again, nothing to be treated as features. Windows has been doing the same using "Open With...." which also shows frequently used apps which were used to open that file type...next.

Even the Start bar, quick launch and taskbar combined have nothing on the OS X dock.

Dock doesn't show any count of how many Windows of same App I have opened.

Windows: Select and copy. Rename. Paste.

Nope, simple ctrl+c ctrl+v. It automatically renames.

Again, that does it for all files. There is no way to arrange particular files by grid.

Yup, & thats why we have "File specific Sort"

You have to switch to the window first and then close it. It is slow. If there are twenty applications I want to quit, I can very quickly close them all with the help of 'Command Tab'.

Lie I guess, I was unable to do it here. Show a video plz

I never once came across a shell script or whatever that can be used in conjugation with the Finder to make things easier.

Lolz....I leave this to zeeshan

That is not secure delete and you know it.

The file is gone. now if some user can buy a app to recover a deleted file, then he can also buy a un-shredding application
I just showed the goods. If you acknowledge them gracefully, I'll post the cons too.[/quote]

i did not started this thread to bash finder. That is upto the users to decide whether they like a Windows XP era file manger or 2007 Era file manager. I guess Apple will not port iFinder to Windows

[blackleopard92]

Originally Posted by aryayush

I have my downloads folder in simple view available on a corner of the screen at all times for immediately launching and arranging files I download.

why? can't u minimise it???

Originally Posted by aryayush

Yeah, that's what I meant. You cannot resize the icons.

u can always use resize icons through view menu.infact, why would i want icons to resize when decreasing/increasing size of sidebar is beyond me!

Originally Posted by aryayush

There is nothing like Automator in Windows. As for Shell Script - in my five years of using Windows, I never once came across a shell script or whatever that can be used in conjugation with the Finder to make things easier. In my nine months with Mac OS X, I've seen and used hundreds of useful AppleScripts.

pwershell is a very advanced scripter for windows. it's just that mostly servers/admins and advanced home users use it. it's not for general public.

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by blackleopard02

why? can't u minimise it???

I (and most other Mac users) don't like minimising anything. Everything should be front and centre. And then Exposé does the job of managing windows brilliantly.

Two more features of the Finder:
33. When you are downloading something in Safari, the icon in the Finder shows a live progress indicator.
34. You can even relocate and rename busy files in the Finder. For example, you can rename a Word file even when it is open in TextEdit and you are editing it and you can move a file anywhere even when it has not been completely downloaded. Nothing will be interrupted.

Since Leopard is not out yet, I am not mentioning features of the Finder in Leopard. Whatever I've seen till now simply blows away anything Explorer has to offer.

[goobimama]

Look boys. The point of the whole thing as I see it, is not a feature by feature comparison of the situation. There may be some features that OS X lacks (like cut option) but as "I" see it, it makes up for in more than one ways.

ACCORDING TO ME:
Its easier to use. Now this is not really subjective. At first one is used to the windows way and it could get a bit crazy sometimes. But once you leave all that baggage behind, its beautiful. And even working between OSes is not interfering. I can't control+C in windows and Command+C in mac without thinking. its like shifting gears on the Bullet with the right foot and on the fiero with the left foot.

Its also more stable. It gives NO PROBLEMS. Works as they say it does. And if there is a problem, they fix it immediately. It is a zero maintenance affair (unlike a Bullet).

And I'm going to say this out loud, from what' I've seen about leopard, it simply blows Vista out of the way. Its way more than I expected...

I'm timing out from this kind of discussion. GX, take it over.