14 DAY TRIAL // I am addicted to Total Commander and nothing's going to change that for a long time, and probably I'll die using this program, but nothing is written in the stars for me, so everything can be replaced, at least when we talk about software. Some of the programs I use are easier to replace than others, and the fact that I review file managers from time to time doesn't mean that I am looking for a new one to satisfy my needs, because I don't wish for anything else than what I have inside Total Commander, at this time.
A lot of people use Windows Explorer and are happy with it, but most of them didn't see better, and that's why they stick with the default file manager, and my goal is to help them escape and achieve a higher level of knowledge. Today it's the time to check a free file manager, because free programs start with an advantage over commercial ones - their price. What we have to see is if this advantage can be kept to the end or not, and the athlete running for the free team today is called XPlorer.
The last release of this program is dated almost one year ago, and it's a Beta, 0.50.113. As I said, this is a free program, so you can lose only your time with it, in the worst case scenario. There's no installation to be done, just download the archive with the program's files, unpack them to a folder on your hard drive and run the executable file. The size of the archive to download is only 585KB, so everything's just fine with this part. Now, as usual, let's move to the interface and features, shall we?
The interface of this program makes me think about another kind of Windows Explorer...and for me, this is the same with another kind of hell. Looking on the bright side of life, XPlorer offers a skinnable tabbed interface, easy to use, highly customizable and well organized. OK, so we have a good interface, but what about the rest of it? After all, getting back to Total Commander, I know that it is not the best looking file manager, but has exactly the features I need and helps me save a lot of time, and this is why you should start using XPlorer...of course, if it manages to comply with our requirements, of course!
XPlorer can open as many file browsers as you like, each one inside its own tab, but it can't use two side by side panels for file transfers. Most operations use the default Windows keyboard shortcuts, and even the tools used are those of the operating system, instead of built in ones.
But what is really hidden behind this program? Unfortunately, all I was able to find were a lot of errors that popped up every few minutes and about half of the features that should have been here are "Not implemented yet". Anyway, there are five skins available...what a pity, what a pity!
Really...if you run into any trouble, use the Help file. It may not help you, but can add a tiny white ball to this program that would have been an interesting choice in other conditions, but this way...
The Good
XPlorer is easy to use, has a good interface that supports skins and can open countless file browsing windows.
The Bad
I will be honest - to me, this program is featureless, buggy as hell and I wouldn't use it again until its fifth or sixth final version!
The Truth
The truth about XPlorer can be reduced to a single word: next! Really, don't waste your time with this, unless you want to replace your time wasted playing Solitaire with something even more pointless!
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
