Path Finder 5.0 is available, more file-management power
Cocoatech's Path Finder is the Mac OS Finder replacement that many users love (including us). If you haven't used it, you are missing out on something. A tabbed interface, insane customization options, powerful search (you can completely override Spotlight if you like) and so much more will have you ditching the Finder in no time. Path Finder can be run in conjunction with the Mac OS X Finder or on its own.
Today, it gets even better with the release of version 5.0. There are cool new features like a dual-pane file browser, which lets you display two folders simultaneously in one window and move files between them. Other new features include sidebar, Favorite Places and shared network places.
Many so-called "power users" complain about the Finder's limitations. If that's you, chances are Path Finder has the fix. It requires Mac OS 10.4 Leopard 10.5, and costs $34.95$39.95 for a single license. (Cocoatech let us know that they're working on the server issues that blocked access to the PF5 pages earlier.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Merlyn3D said 1:15PM on 10-23-2008
does it do cut-n-paste yet?
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grotsasha said 1:22PM on 10-23-2008
Yes, Path Finder 5 does cut-n-paste now!
grotsasha said 1:55PM on 10-23-2008
Just wanted to correct - the price is actually 39.95$ for full version and 19.95$ for upgrade, and Path Finder 5 requires Mac OS 10.5 Leopard.
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Janichsan said 2:05PM on 10-23-2008
Still the same overburdened, convoluted user interface, still the same bugs since version 4, just slower than any Path Finder version before.
And a dual-pane display as great new feature? Something that other file managers have since 1984? Is this a joke?
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horb said 3:23PM on 10-24-2008
I've never much cared for Path Finder, myself, and when I need to do something that the Finder doesn't handle very well, I turn to ForkLift. It's been dual-pane from the beginning and the latest betas introduce tabs.
Jimmy said 2:24PM on 10-23-2008
"Still the same overburdened, convoluted user interface, still the same bugs since version 4, just slower than any Path Finder version before."
err no o.
The new version is out now for a few hour. How could you test this?:
"still the same bugs since version 4"
I had never bugs in pathfinder. I'm happy with the new release.
Everyone who doesn't lik pf, use the normal "feature rich" finder ;)
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Janichsan said 3:21AM on 10-24-2008
"The new version is out now for a few hour. How could you test this?:"
Download version 5 and stumble over the same bugs as in version 4 after roughly five minutes?
Jash Sayani said 2:23PM on 10-23-2008
I am just waiting to get my hands on the new Cocoa based Finder.....
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Nitai said 5:37PM on 10-23-2008
I am a long time user of PF. Just installed PF 5 and now the app does not work anymore. No window, all menus greyed out, nada. I miss this thing.
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Ross said 3:09PM on 10-23-2008
I got path finder before simply so I could have my folders appear above all other files in column views (why oh why Apple don't you at least offer that as a non-default option in Finder?). That was brilliant. But when it came to end of my trial I didn't really find I was using or relying on any of the other features (which gave an uneasy feeling of bloat), so I didn't bother continuing.
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kennyt said 3:17PM on 10-23-2008
This Path Finder is an over priced piece of software, a quarter of the price of a whole operating system like Leopard, I don't think so.
May'be if you offered it at $5 to $10 like an App for the iPhone, you would make more money, as people would give it a go, instead of being greedy. Greed brought down the capitalist system, moron.
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Rae Whitlock said 4:17PM on 10-23-2008
I'm pretty sure capitalism is still up and running.
Nate said 4:29PM on 10-23-2008
I've tried using Path Finder since before version 4. Now that was a big upgrade. I'm testing out Path Finder 5 now but I feel I'll once again return to the native Finder. I honestly feel there are no new features in this version. And what's been my biggest problem with the program, the U.I. is their most-touted feature. Except, the only visual change is the sidebar is a so-so imitation of Finder's sidebar.
But, I understand someone that doesn't care about that and likes a more powerful file-browser. I just find myself not liking how it feels and works. Not worth the price.
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Emile said 4:44PM on 10-23-2008
I love it. It has it quirks and should be even more customizable but generally I prefer it above Forklift which was my previous file manager of choice. For simple day to day chores it might be overkill but when managing three different computers from one location a tool like this is simply wonderful.
Agreed about the price though: quite stiff for the offering. Still, if it helps me be more productive, I buy it.
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Dave Barnes said 6:21PM on 10-23-2008
I personally find that Path Finder is worth it. I just upgraded (paid my $16 USD) to PF5.
Enough new features to keep me happy.
I don't find it to be bloated. I find it to be useful even though I don't use every feature.
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onefish2 said 11:33PM on 10-23-2008
I had been using Macs part time since 2001. Mostly to play around with OS 9 and OS X.I decided to dump XP after a slew of disasters 2 years ago. Pathfinder is the ONE app that allowed me to switch to Macs permanently. Finder is garbage, plain and simple. I live in Pathfinder its always running. If I could get rid of Finder, I would do it. So thanks Cocoatech for setting me from from Microsoft.
Having said that I am having a hard time adjusting to version 5. I played around with it for a few hours today but I am back to version 4 for the time being.
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Jan Rychter said 4:24AM on 10-24-2008
I am disappointed, because the built-in terminal drawer still doesn't have anything to do with the browser. I've been asking for years for a feature where one can synchronize the path between the two.
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Allan White said 1:54PM on 10-24-2008
Downloaded it, playing with it now. I can't find a changelog - anyone?
I'm a bit disappointed they're following the Finder's lead with the Sidebar. The Shared computers list is a mess on a big network (too long!). Nice to see saved searches (smart folders) make their way in, though - those are super handy.
I like the two-pane action. I like their search tools. But, it is a bit steep. I'd like to see more customizability, too. I'll play with the trial and see how it goes.
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Allan White said 1:56PM on 10-24-2008
"Download version 5 and stumble over the same bugs as in version 4 after roughly five minutes?"
Can you be more specific? Which bugs?
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cristiana said 4:58PM on 10-24-2008
I am a long time user of PF, I found it when it was called Snax, and started using it a while after, which was probably in 2002 or 2003. I installed version 5 yesterday, and I can't find a single new feature that I liked. And I am extremely disappointed in this upgrade, I wonder who they asked for these new features, because they certainly did not ask me.
New Sidebar:
I hate the finder sidebar, that's why i use PF, the new one is just like the finder, including its lack of customizability. In PF4 I had 3 things in my sidebar, the drop stack, 'Volumes' and the 'Shelf'. Now in 5, I have to have 'Shared' and 'Search For' in it, and I don't care about either of those. I also liked that the sidebar in 4 had distinct areas for each, now they just are kind of lumped together.
Dual Pane
I never liked dual pane in anything, including ftp clients
Cut and Paste on files
I haven't used cut and paste on files since I last used windows on my main machine over ten years ago, I prefer the Mac way, with using spring loaded folders, or the drop stack.
Coverflow
Marginally useful in iTunes, totally useless in finder, and totally useless in PF
Enhanced Image Editor
It doesn't seem to do anything that Preview can't, and I have PhotoShop for anything heavy duty
Network Share Browsing
I don't find it useful at home or at work. At home, I control everything, so I know what to look for, and at work, there are hundreds of shared computers listed, again, useless. I prefer to find shares manually
The only other thing listed is 'tons of other fixes' but, they don't name them, and I have no idea what they are. They also did not fix the one persistent bug that I reported, and even showed them another application that seemed to exhibit the proper behavior, and they ignored my message. The bug is that when displaying the Pathfinder Desktop, and then you trigger Expose, the Pathfinder desktop flies away when it should just stay in place.
I am not giving a review yet, because maybe I will find something I like, but, as it stands, the upgrade is not worth anything to me, and even goes backward in some places. In terms of new features, I would give it one star, and overall I would give it three stars, and that is in comparison to the 5 stars I would give PF4. I really hate slamming a product that I really like, and use everyday, but this upgrade is almost worthless.
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