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.)

• Improved Go To Folder with autocomplete
• Smart Folders – Path Finder can now read Finder-created Smart Folders
• New Size Browser for quickly viewing total file sizes of folders, bundles, etc.
• Added rotate buttons to the integrated PDF viewer
• Path Finder can now preview PDF bundles (often found on OS X install disks)
• Added preview support for Help Viewer bundles
• Path Finder now displays if an application is PPC, Intel, or Universal Binary in the info panel
• Path Finder can now previews NEF files
• Added preliminary “email to” support for Microsoft Entourage and Eudora
• Updated Chinese, Japanese, Russian, French, and German localizations

Path Finder

• A new crash reporter
• Plugged memory leaks (yay)
• Fixed an issue where you could accidentally arrow into the preview column and not get out
• Transparency and float state now saved for text editor and image editor window