Date: 2008-11-02 11:52:02 Created: null
If I were to think about software for Windows that's free (as in not even ad-sponsored) and that I use, and try to name the one I use the most, 2xExplorer would be so obvious that I might not even think to mention it. But there is no doubt about it, it is the free program I've used the most (probably by a very wide margin too), and probably the one I like the best too.
As the name implies, 2xExplorer replaces the standard Windows Explorer, the program you probably use to browse your files if you've grown tired of clicking through windows or starting from the desktop. Once you try 2x the old, grey Explorer fades off into distant memory, becoming something you only reluctantly use on computers where you haven't had the time or chance to install 2x.
To say "install" is to make it sound overly complicated though. What you do is this: unpack the downloaded zip file wherever you want. Done! I've got a shortcut to it in the quick launch bar of course, but you can place yout shortcut wherever you like :-) ...
Then you just start it. Go ahead. After you've done so, proceed to forget all about vanilla Explorer and realize this is what you wanted all along. Not one, but two window panes, that's the main thing. Two views to folders at the same time, plus tree view of course. Just think about it, never a problem fitting two windows next to eachother when you want to copy or move things. This is the really big thing, the thing I can't live without. But there's a ton more to 2x that I haven't even tried for myself. Take a look in the documentation and on the website, it's almost scary how many thoughtful features that are crammed into that thing. I'm not even using one percent of them, but I still love it. This is what all software should be like.
And there's a text editor available as well, but I haven't tried it out anything. Yet. I don't have a decent editor installed right now, so this might be the right opportunity ... Not to mention there's a new, revolutionary version of 2x in the works as well. Can't wait ...