[iOliverC]

What would you like to see on the Finder in future versions of X?

I want:

• Colour coding file list, (like iTunes or PathFinder).
  
• Improved navigating speed.
  
• Saves positions EVERY time.

[BTP]

I'd like to see the Finder not become unresponsive when doing certain tasks. I like that we have the option of going to an app, unlike in 9, but some things, like networking, can cause the Finder to become unresponsive.

So, if I connect to an iDisk or some other type of networking, at times, I have to sit and wait for it to do its thing.

[MacManMikeOSX]

how bout a true native finder not this carbon ****. Carbon is only there to make transitions easier I hope they kill it soon.

[theory]

It is not true that Carbon is used only for transition. There important things that Cocoa can't do yet. If you wan't more info
check the dev docs.

[theory]

It is not true that Carbon is used only for transition. There are important things that Cocoa can't do yet. If you wan't more info
check the dev docs.

[TheIceMan]

iOliverC: Have you tried
PathFinder ? It's like Finder, only better. Kinda hard to explain. Here is a description of it from the website:
"a supercharged Finder replacement that boasts tons of features that — we dare say — should be in the regular finder. From accessing any program from the menu bar to the amazing Preview pane — which enables you to view images, play movies, and read the contents of text documents without opening another
application — the features of SNAX [now called PathFinder] will knock your socks off."

Give it a try. I only have Pathfinder running on my computer. No Finder here.

[suhail]

Also…

- SPEED SPEED SPEED

- Printing a directory

- No desktop bug, where sometimes the desktop icons can't be selected and can't be placed in some locations

- No OS bug, where Adobe products lose their shortcut keys

- A different minize feature… But I don't like the current minize feature

- Network Trash where you can place Server files in the trash, like OS9 and XP

- Option Click another App, actually hides your current app even if it is buisy.

[Millennium]

Originally posted by MacManMikeOSX:
how bout a true native finder not this carbon ****. Carbon is only there to make transitions easier I hope they kill it soon.

Carbon is not only there to make transitions easier. This is a common misconception, and if I remember correctly, one which has repeatedly tried and failed to get through your skull.

In fact, Apple is known to be trying to merge the two, though it's unclear at this point whether they're rebuilding Cocoa on top of Carbon or vice versa (the former would be considerably easier, however, and so it is probably more likely).

Cocoa is native. Carbon is native. Yes, it is much easier to write a bad Carbon app than a good Cocoa app (and harder to write a bad Cocoa app than a good Carbon app). But neither system is inherently any better or worse than each other.

Repeat after me: "Cocoa for Cocoa's sake is pointless."

[Graymalkin]

I use Path Finder myself and it is much speedier than using Apple's Finder on my G3 Powerbook. As advertised it DOES have the features that Finder ought to have, namely an Application menu that means I don't need to fill my dock with crap and thus taking up a lot of valuable screen real estate. The Dock is great when you have a 1280x1024 resolution screen or higher but it can be a PITA when you've got a 1024x768 screen. Path Finder also has the added bonus of being a Cocoa app and thus compatible with all the cool Cocoa enhancers like CocoaGestures. w00t Path Finder. When are we going to see a clone of Workspaces from NeXTStep?

[KaptainKaya]

Originally posted by iOliverC:
What would you like to see on the Finder in future versions of X?

To actually work.

[trusted_content]

They need to port the file manager from BeOS... i dun remember what it wsa called, but it own3d the finder.






</informative post>

[clarkgoble]

I think that most of the responsiveness problems with the Finder are due to lack of good multithreading. It really isn't related to either Carbon or Cocoa APIs. What they ought to do as well is have all copying functions or related activities take place in their own threads and then send some sort of "update" message to the relevant windows. Right now if one window is doing something you can't do anything with the Finder. It is the #1 most frustrating feature of the Finder. The best you can say is that it isn't as bad as the 10.0 Finder.

Next up is the browser in the Finder. It is good, but unless you use the keyboard, it isn't very effective because you have to use the scroll bars to go back and forth. But they "move" the panes "graphically" rather than by a whole pane. Yet if you are using it to browse you really want "one click up a level" and so forth. It slows me down a lot and is rather frustrating.

I think that the preview pane is flawed as well. I like the way PathFinder does it, although even that needs some work. Also in the preview pane it appears inconsistent as to whether you can drag and drop the preview as an object. If it is a movie or sound, for instance, you can't drag the preview as if it were the original icon. Yet for other objects you can.

I don't mind the lack of lables, but I would like to have comments show up in list view and be editable there. Also the pop-up folder mechanism doesn't allow you to scroll up the window. This renders it far less effective.

If I could wish, I'd like to have the Finder handle zip and tar.gz files the way XP handles zip files. I know a few people don't like that though, so make it optional.

Finally I wish there was an easy way to sort columns in browse mode and an easy way to open a new window from a folder within browse mode. i.e. right click on a folder and select "open in new window." I honestly can't figure out why they don't have that.

[krove]

Originally posted by suhail:
Also…

- Printing a directory

It can be done! Open Print Center, double click a printer and drag the folder from the Finder whose contents you wish to print. Voilà!

[clebin]

- Saved files appear on Desktop and Finder windows immediately.

Who'd have thought it? Every OS ever expect Windows and OS X manages to display folder contents in real-time... and then it turns out it actually can't be done. I must've been dreaming!

Chris

[headbirth]

REPLACE IT with a totally contextual and pop-up based system!! Why travel to the menubar constantly. I would rather those menus pop-up under my cursor with a keystroke or mouse click. Build menus that are either contextually-based, application based, user defined....

I know there are apps out there that do this, but why not just build it into the OS so we don't have to deal with the current Finder at all.

Oh I wish there was a KeyQuencer for X. None of this slow Applescript crap :-)

[lookmark]

I don't get all the furious "Finder is worthless" criticism. Yes, it has some rough spots; its prefnesia can be infuriating (although much improved from before 10.2); and hanging for certain tasks (iDisk access, networking, FTP) can be exasperating.

These should all be fixed, the sooner the better. More multithreading would solve a good deal of it.

But worthless? Scrap and rewrite it? C'mon, folks. The Finder team just needs more resources.

Besides, column view alone is worth it.

Oh I wish there was a KeyQuencer for X. None of this slow Applescript crap :-)

Good old KeyQuencer.

Check out Keyboard Maestro or Youpi Key, though. They're both getting very good.

[headbirth]

Yeah...I've been using Youpi Key and communicating with it's author. The next version should see some nice new features, but I find it's responsiveness slow at times and the author doesn't intend to allow third party shortcut modules any time soon.

These canned Macro apps still just don't hold a candle to KQ :-)

As far as the Finder....adding some sort features to column views as well as coloring it's background would be nice.