Windows Explorer vs Mac OS X Finder

[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?

*img81.imageshack.us/img81/2459/nocutoptionql4.jpg

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?
*thehotfixshare.net/download/index.php?dir=Language%20Neutral/Vista/&file=Windows6.0-KB931770-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 : *support.microsoft.com/kb/931770

 

[aryayush]

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?

*img81.imageshack.us/img81/2459/nocutoptionql4.jpg

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.

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.

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?

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.

2) Details view, tree view, List view.

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

3) Nope

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

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

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

6) Nope. Does that makes things easier?

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

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:
*img227.imageshack.us/img227/9029/picture1bd9.png

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

16) Same here.

What "same here"!

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.

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.)

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.

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.)

22) Not a feature of File manager

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]

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:
*img227.imageshack.us/img227/9029/picture1bd9.png

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]

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???

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!

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]

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.

 

[sakumar79]

Regarding spring loaded folders in Finder, I havent used it but the gist I am getting from this discussion is that it is basically to allow easy transfer of files from one folder to another right? Is this both copy files as well as move files or just one of the two? Cause, with explorer it is much easier...

Heres what I do in explorer. Open it. If you open explorer, you will get folder tree in left menu. If you open "My computer", you can get the folder tree through View->Explorer Bar->Folders. There are two ways to transfer the file.
1. Navigate the main screen to the folder from which you want to take your files. On the folder tree, use the + symbol to get the tree to show the destination folder (if you click on the folder instead of the + near it, the folder contents will open in the main window, but you can set that right with backspace). Now, drag and drop files. In addition, if you use right-click-drag and drop, you will get option to copy, move and create shortcuts for the file in the destination folder.

2. Just like spring-loaded folder, you can use the tree. Holding the dragged file over a folder will expand the tree allowing you to navigate. If you mistakenly navigate into the wrong folder, you can easily backtrack because other folders are also available... This way, you can navigate to the destination folder in the folder tree while drag-and-dropping, but it is slower than the first method due to the time delay (may be customisable, but I dont know) waiting for the folder to expand when you hover over it in the tree...

Please explain if the spring loaded folder does something else also, because that info doesnt seem to be available here...

Arun

 

[gxsaurav]

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.

Subjective & ir relavent.

3. When you are downloading something in Safari, the icon in the Finder shows a live progress indicator.

This is feature of Application not finder. iGetter does it too.

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.

Already available in Vista. Should I post a video?

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.

You means filmstrip...i mean coverflow

@ Arun

With springloaded folder, it is mainly what tree view does. You drag some files over a folder & hover your mouse over it for 1 second, that folder automatically opens. You can do this in windows too using enter key on that folder. Nothing novelty

 

[aryayush]

This is feature of Application not finder. iGetter does it too.

Yes, but it is possible because the Finder supports it.

Just like spring-loaded folder, you can use the tree. Holding the dragged file over a folder will expand the tree allowing you to navigate. If you mistakenly navigate into the wrong folder, you can easily backtrack because other folders are also available... This way, you can navigate to the destination folder in the folder tree while drag-and-dropping, but it is slower than the first method due to the time delay (may be customisable, but I dont know) waiting for the folder to expand when you hover over it in the tree...

Try pressing space bar when you drag something over that tree. On a Mac, pressing space bar immediately open the folder, bypassing the delay.
The only difference now between Explorer in Vista and Finder is that the Finder follows the Fitt's law. The targets are a lot bigger so it is easier to hit them. The tree view in Leopard is very tiny. But still, the feature does exist so I am removing this from the list too.

 

[sakumar79]

^^^ But, if you go by my first method (navigate to destination folder in tree first and then drag-drop), it is faster than using spring-loaded folder, right? Why do something the slow way when you can do it the faster way? Even if you consider pressing the spacebar to speed up, my method will be faster, right?

Arun

 

[aryayush]

How exactly? The Windows method is definitely slower because you will constantly be overshooting the small targets and will have to be very precise. How is the Mac way slower?

 

[gxsaurav]

Arya, take a look at the video I made & you will understand whether it is slow or not. unless you use it, you can't say.

In spring loaded folders, once you go inside a folder you cannot go backward to the previous folder

 

[sandeepk]

Thanks for this great review..

 

[blackleopard92]

How exactly? The Windows method is definitely slower because you will constantly be overshooting the small targets and will have to be very precise. How is the Mac way slower?

he means, first explore to the folder where u want the file to go, and then simply ctrl+x ,ctrl+v. of course it's faster.

 

[aryayush]

How though? That only increases the time spent to press the shortcuts on the keyboard. You still have to navigate to both the folders like you have to when you use drag-and-drop.

In spring loaded folders, once you go inside a folder you cannot go backward to the previous folder

You can. Either drag the file out of the window or press 'Command + Up' (which is the better option).

 

[sakumar79]

Windows (from what I do): 1. Open Explorer. 2. Navigate to destination folder in tree on the left side (Click the + sign to browse subfolders instantly). 3. Navigate to source in main window. 4. Drag files from source and drop on subfolder.

Mac (from what you seem to say): 1. Open Finder. 2. Navigate to source. 3. Drag file, use spring-loaded folder concept to navigate to destination, using spacebar to instantly springload desired folder.

Both should take about same time, but pressing spacebar to instantly springload for each folder is a bit more cumbersome than navigating to destination folder using + sign (the former requires mouse+keyboard action, wheras the latter can be done with either mouse only, keyboard only, or mouse+keyboard)

One more thing that I would like a mac user to confirm... In windows, we have option called ClickLock. Using this, I dont have to hold mouse button down while dragging. If I hold it for n seconds (configurable), it locks it for dragging... Is similar feature available in mac? I hope so, otherwise, drag and drop will be a pain...

One more thing regarding duplication of files. In Mac, you said Alt+Drag creates copy. In Windows, Ctrl+Drag creates copy of file. Of course, if you do this with apps there often will be problem.

Arun