We’re all used to the Finder--it’s what makes a Mac a Mac--and we appreciate its features while bemoaning its failings. And while we do that, developers write Finder replacements like Disk Order.
Just like Finder windows, the Disk Order interface has a customizable sidebar, but that’s where the similarities end. Disk Order’s side-by-side view makes it easy to check the contents of two folders at once. Developer LikeMac Group takes great pride in stating that you can do everything via keyboard shortcuts, but this isn’t unique: the Finder has always been extremely keyboard-friendly. I can switch between open windows, copy files, even move them around, without touching a mouse. The Finder does lack Disk Order’s tabbed-window feature, which really makes for a cleaner, more organized environment. Being able to connect to a server via FTP is handy too--you can even connect to multiple servers simultaneously. Unfortunately, Disk Order won’t synchronize your files, unlike a dedicated FTP app like Transmit ($34, www.panic.com).
An FTP client and tabbed browsing are very useful features.
Since its introduction in Leopard, Quick Look has been a godsend. Disk Order has “Quick View,” but it’s slow, and you can’t move through multiple previews by pressing the arrow keys.
One major advantage of Disk Order is its ability to see the contents of an iOS device--well, most of the contents. You can access the music, podcasts, films, and TV shows, but not the photos, which is a puzzling omission.
The bottom line. A Finder replacement must offer serious advantages, and sadly, Disk Order doesn’t measure up. The free trial period is 30 days, but you may well end up back with your Finder before then.
Disk Order 3.2.3
Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Useful side-by-side view of two folders. Tabbed browsing. Access content on iOS devices. Built-in FTP client.
Most of what it offers can already be done with the Finder. Its version of Quick Look (Quick View) is very slow. No column view. Not as elegant as the Finder.
CrazedLeper
October 02, 2012 at 5:44pm
The Finder is years behind Window's Explorer. It was probably great when hard drive sizes were still measured in megabytes but when there are thousands of items in a folder, sorting is not enough; filtering is needed. That said, $30 is more than the last upgrade price of the entire OS. I recommend taking a look at "XtraFinder" which adds tabs and other features to OS-X finder. It has a few bugs but it's free.
