Re: File managers for Win10

Robert Baer <[email protected]> wrote:

>    Using DuckDuckGo wqith search string as per subject, I found:
> 
> Top 12 Best Free File Managers for Windows 10
> 
>  *   Directory Opus - Old-time file manager
>  *   ExplorerMax - Easy and efficient
>      FreeCommander – Convenient interface
>  *   Total Commander - Program with classic layout
>      WinDirStat - Intuitive interface that’s easy to use
>  *   One Commander – Minimalistic user interface
>      Multi-Commander - Extensive number of tools and plug-ins
>      FileVoyager - Has an extensive collection of tools
>  *   Xplorer² - Dual-pane interface
>      Q-Dir - Offers a four-pane interface
>  *   XYplorer - Has multilingual support
>      Files & Folders Lite - Super easy way to access your files

* = Payware, or trialware but payware to keep using, or demo/crippleware   
    to lure you into buying the full version, or subscriptionware.  
    Result: You pay to use.
    
However, free or paid was not a criteria specified by you.  File
Explorer is free, so I guessed you were looking for freeware, but you
include payware in your list.

>    Which ones act like the Windows Explorer in Win7?

Probably Explorer++ (free) that you don't have in your compiled listing,
except it has tabs to let you see multiple navpaths at a time, a tab at
a time.

You want something like File Explorer, so use File Explorer.  You go
with an alternative file manager when you want something different than
File Explorer.  You want something different, but say what you want that
is different.  That means YOU will have to test various alternatives to
see what differences YOU like.  I suggest you save a full image backup
before testing each one, and restore after testing but dumping a
candidate alternative.  Some are available as portable or USB versions,
so you don't have to install, so nothing to uninstall.  Take a full
image backup, test the candidates that look interesting to you, restore
the full image backup, and then go with the one you liked best.

Some of your candidates are donationware.  You don't have to pay, the
product is not crippled, but the expectation is eventually you'll donate
after deciding to continue using the product.  Do you donate if you
keep?

Take a look at the screenshots for WinDirStat (https://windirstat.net/).
Very different GUI than what you see in File Explorer.  Did you look at
these candidates even just to see their GUI before asking here?  Since
you are looking for an alternative, look at their screenshots to see if
look similar enough to File Explorer to please you, or if how they look
different is okay with you.

One you mention, Files&Folders Lite, is a UWP (Universal Windows
Platform) app, not a Win32 program.  Is an app okay with you, or do you
want a program?  Usually apps are much more limited in their feature set
than for programs.  For example, you can add a program as a startup
program, but you can't with apps.

> Is there any gain to be had via Amazon, getting an API as Free
> Download "Available instantly on compatible devices"?

No idea what you are asking about.  What does "API as Free Download"
have to do with file manager alternatives?