Some people want their Finder replacement to be like Finder, but more, others don't see what the Finder fuss is about.

But there are those of us who are looking for a file manager for OS X, and only an OS X file manager. We don't need doodads and buttons and whizbang graphics - we want to manage files and we want a tool that will let us do that in the most straightforward and trouble free way possible.

People who use their computer as a tool, who enjoy quality tools that are made to do one thing and do it really well will be well served by trying the free trial of Xfile, my favorite file manager for Mac OS X.

Everything about Mac OS X is dazzling. Even Finder's Cover Flow and Quick Look are dazzling. But you're being given a shiny facade on what's really on your computer; and when it comes to the crunch your Finder doesn't go any lower or get any better.

The ultimate irony is that Apple engineers who for so long eschewed the 'command line' today have to resort to that command line to get anything done. There is no 'in between' for them. Being as they today support a Unix platform they're mostly unique in the world of Unix in not having a powerful file manager with a graphical interface. All they have is their Finder - and when they need to get down and dirty have to go back to - you guessed it - the command line. Their Terminal.app.

Apple network administrators today work in a Neanderthal environment compared to their counterparts on other Unix systems who have programs such as GNOME's Nautilus and KDE's Konqueror to help them. Having a graphical overview of a file system or a local area network is absolutely essential. The original Unix command line was fine - back then. When systems were much simpler; when the world was much more innocent; before the advent of the Internet and the complexities and the dangers it brings.

It's actually amazing to fully grasp that although your Mac OS X is a Unix system with a file system behaving as a Unix file system that your Finder offers you no insight into this matter or means to control what's really going on.

There are myriad files on your computer Finder will never show you and myriad places Finder will never take you. And it's not just a case of not showing 'hidden' files - it's a case of Finder itself not being capable of doing any better.

This takes time to grasp: your default file manager Finder is ultimately incapable of managing your file system.

Oh yes - if all you need is graphics previews; if all you need is a 'workflow organiser': then your Finder is your tool. But organising a workflow is nowhere near performing as a file manager.

The question becomes: what to do?

1. Wait until Apple 'FTFF'. 'FTFF' has become an industry 'buzz acronym' which stands for 'Fix the F---ing Finder'. Can Apple fix it? Will they fix it?

The educated answers to both of the above are 'no'. They can't really fix it with their current technology. But that hardly matters: they don't really want to fix it either.

Apple don't want to fix Finder because they don't perceive a need. Let's face it: there are not many IT pros working exclusively with Apple systems today. Most Apple users are graphics and media pros. They have minimal system administration needs. And if such needs should arise - go to the command line.

2. Get an alternative file manager. The problem here is that there aren't many available as for example on Windows with its dozens of 'Explorer clones' built almost literally from the same base code as Explorer itself. When it comes to Mac OS X there are really only two alternatives. The one is 'more Finder' and the other is a bona fide file manager.

Path Finder - Finder, But More

Path Finder is an impressive project. Originally called SNAX it's bloomed into an application rivaling the biggest of Apple's own software titles in complexity and far surpassing Finder in the same regard.

The problem here is that Finder - amongst other things - is already notoriously slow and Path Finder is even slower.

There's no doubt a lot of work has gone into Path Finder but it's just too much - and when it comes to the crunch it doesn't perform well enough to serve you on a day to day basis.

Xfile - Bona Fide File Manager for OS X

Many Path Finder users also use Xfile. Xfile is the antithesis of Path Finder and the 'Path Finder approach'. Where Path Finder is bulky and slow Xfile is blazingly fast and lean. Instead of sucking up something like 40 MB on your hard drive it takes a mere 162 KB. And in performance this difference shows.

Xfile is relatively 'platform independent' and the authors concentrate on giving you exactly what your own file system shows you and has to offer. As for 'anomalies' introduced by Apple which make their file system diverge from standard Unix specifications: Xfile has a full dozen additional applications which take care of each and collaborate with Xfile to give you what you need.

Both applications are available in free trial versions. Path Finder is fully functional for three weeks; the Xfile 'test drive' is not fully functional but lasts forever - so if that's all you need you're welcome to keep it, free of charge.

The serious Mac OS X user should try both applications just to see what happens when one swallows the red pill.