I’ve read and tried several programs, but just can’t find one that replaces “powerdesk”, which I have used for years. The problem is, that powerdesk can be slower than molasses, especially on folders containing more than 1,000 files.

One of the BIG things I like about powerdesk, is their launch bar, where you can easily put an icon for any executable file.

So my question is, I am looking for a filemanagement program that does some of the following things.

1. display 1,000’s of files in a folder INSTANTLY.
2. has a launch bar for executable files.
3. doesn’t have 15 million different settings to go through if I want to set the program up… a very good example being Directory Opus 9. I have installed that program, and it does #1 and #2 very good…. BUT, every damn time i go from one folder to another, the tabs change around, and show tabs i don’t want. I have changed settings in that program until I am now starting to HATE IT!

For now, I’ll switch between CubicExplorer and xplorer² (made them default for folders for a time)… both are great. The first is easier to use, the second is faster than Total Commander regarding any operation. Worth its price.

One of my basic needs that Windows Explorer doesn’t meet, is to print file lists, some of them very long. Besides that scrappy Alt+PrtScn, any method I have found on the web did not work right for me (for various reasons). There are some commercial utilities for the job but they usually cost the price of a good alternative to the Windows Explorer, so I looked if I could have an “all in one” package. But I found no mention about this possibility (or the lack of it) here and I ‘m really surprised since I thought it would be a very common need. If anyone knows about it, please tell me (us).

Excellent excellent post.
To me it was important to find a portable one that has some accessibility features – such as font size and background color.
A43 is the one – thanks for mentioning the “no installation” bit.

Thanks a lot.

thanks for the review