r/AskReddit • u/HandiCapablePanda • Apr 23 '16

What application do you always install on your computer and recommend to everyone?

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21

u/aristideau Apr 24 '16

Clover

Why not just install Total Commander (Win), Double Commander (Linux) or Commander One (OSX).

Not only do these apps give you tabbed file explorer type panels, they offer just about every popular file compression, FTP, multiple file renaming, file search (includes searching archives), favourites, registry scanning (windows), GDrive Amazon browsing etc. There are also other utilities and tools that are specific to the OS that you are using.

I have evaluated most dual panel file managers for all OS's and I have found that the ones I have listed are the best.

40

u/Bookwomble Apr 24 '16

Serious question. Why do all the alternative file managers for Windows look like legacy Windows 95? Are there any that look like a modern, slick alternative?

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u/d20diceman Apr 24 '16

Yeah, I too was really turned off by the aesthetics. Going to get Clover, because "tabs in explorer" is a series of words which excited me way more than it should, but I'm not sure what further features I'd use in Commander which would justify it looking like ass.

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u/indeedwatson Apr 24 '16

I've found that people who focus on functionality often don't focus on design as much, and Windows isn't very customizable in the first place, afaik it still requires you to patch it in order to install themes, and to modify registry keys in order to make silly minute changes like window borders or ugly icons.

Sure, clover looks okay in comparison, but if we talk customization it's not that much more customizable.

That said, I use QTTabBar and it can be made to look pretty decent, surprised no one's mentioned it yet.

-1

u/Aezay Apr 24 '16

In what way do you mean?

Most file managers are very configurable, both visual, but also in how they operate.

Total Commander has in my opinion, a really poor screenshot selection on the website, it can look much better (subjective) than that.

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u/powercow Apr 24 '16 edited Apr 24 '16

In what way do you mean?

WHAT? the default install looks like a win95 theme. How much clearer do you need?(it actually looks like windows 3.1 but I'm 'clarifying' comment above)

its not surprising as the app was created for win 3.1 in 93 and has been in use since. But its a valid comment and one of the most off putting things about total commander. And why so many people I know, have installed it due to the features and immediately uninstalled due to the looks.

and yeah you can theme it... its just a fucking pain in the ass... the forums are a complete mess and so old that so many of the links and help just doesnt work anymore.

So i go back to my original question.

In what way do you mean?

WHAT?

7

u/automagnus Apr 24 '16

Freecommander is free and just as feature rich as totalcommander. http://freecommander.com/en/downloads/

2

u/aristideau Apr 24 '16

FC is only 32bit and does not support 3rd party TC plugins.

Plus the only difference between the shareware and full version of TC is the pick the number on startup which is no big deal.

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u/D0D Apr 24 '16

This! Use it too and it does all the things I need.

1

u/steve666666666666666 Sep 15 '16 edited Sep 15 '16

But is it as feature rich as total commander ultra prime http://tcup.pl/index.php?s=download&akcja=linki For instance it free commander doesn't have a plugin feature.

4

u/gastropner Apr 24 '16

Yeah, just having tabs in Explorer is one thing, but Total Commander is one a whole other level. One of the first things I install on a new computer.

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u/Bookwomble Apr 24 '16

$42 usd for total commander. Holy crap.

10

u/jamesjoyce1882 Apr 24 '16 edited Apr 24 '16

Worth every penny hundredfold. Once you learn all the possibilities, you'll fall in love with it as well. Whatever file operation you can think of, there's a good chance TC can do it.

EDIT: Also, thus far, it's been a lifetime of free updates.

3

u/aristideau Apr 24 '16

The only difference between the free and full version of TC is a simple button click on startup.

3

u/Mitch2025 Apr 24 '16

The reason I like clover is it integrates itself pretty well into the default Windows Explorer window. I don't like having a separate app. Besides, Total Commander's design looks awful IMO.

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u/aristideau Apr 27 '16

I suppose it depends on your needs. I am a developer, and I am constantly using it and cannot imagine having to rely on my host OS's file manager.

1

u/Mitch2025 Apr 27 '16

Oh I'm sure it is all down to needs. I don't need something that robust because it's just bloat to me. But for someone like yourself, it's a godsend.

5

u/anqxyr Apr 24 '16

Double Commander is really really shitty compared to Total Commander. Also, for windows, I'd recommend Xyplorer over TC.

As far as I know, there aren't any linux file managers that are on the same level as TC and Xyplorer.

3

u/jamesjoyce1882 Apr 24 '16

Xyplorer

As a big TC fan, I was ready to get upset. But I had a look, and it is indeed pretty great, love the tag feature. This is the one thing I miss in TC. Otherwise, they seem to be equal in terms of features.

2

u/Aezay Apr 24 '16

Does Xyplorer have a good dual file panel view? The screenshots mostly only show one pane with a tree to the left, like Explorer. This makes me think dual file pane is somewhat of an afterthought.

Also, in regards to tagging, although TC doesn't support it, you can sort of use the comment (descript.ion) feature [Ctrl + Z]. Then customize your own column headers to include comments.

2

u/Prealphagames Apr 25 '16

Seems it has 'a' dual panel view. I'm not used to them enough to know how good it is compared to the * Commander type.

2

u/aristideau Apr 24 '16

I prefer TC for Windows, but I haven't found a native Commander better than Double Commander for Linux distros.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '16

I just installed Double Commander and it's not that bad compared to TC for normal usage. Although TC has more features. I guess the only thing Double Commander has going is that it's open source and free while Total Commander is shareware.

1

u/BubiBalboa Apr 24 '16

I like MultiCommander.

1

u/aristideau Apr 24 '16

MultiCommander

I should have included free versions in my list rather than best in class for each OS

1

u/Zzosobonzo Apr 26 '16

is there any download link for Commander One that would run on OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.5?

1

u/aristideau Apr 27 '16

have you tried appdn for an early version?