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I’ve been learning my way around Windows 7. So far, there’s not much to learn, but I’ve been chaffing under the “libraries” overlay in Windows Explorer.

So I went looking for some new file managers.

Back in the olden Windows 3.1 days, I had Windows File Manager configured to show two panes on startup. When Windows File Manager morphed into Windows Explorer, that was no longer an option.

For a long time, I ran a commercial program called Power Desk, which was what Windows Explorer should have been and worth every penny I paid for it.

I found two freeware file managers worthy of consideration. One of them is Free Commander; the other, File Organizer, will be the subject of a future post (there apparently is at least one other shareware/commercial program called File Organizer).

Free Commander by default offers a split vertical view:

Each pane can be navigated independently of the other pane and files can be dragged and dropped from one pane to another.

Under the “View” menu, there is a “Quickview” option that allows a selected file or directory in one pane to be previewed in the other:

Free Commander also is able to see across your network by selecting the “Network” icon in the icon bar (I name all my computers after sea creatures–it’s a long story):

You can also right-click on the address bar, select “Edit Address Bar,” and enter a folder path or local IP address (this appears to work only with local addresses). Once you are connected to the network share, you can drag and drop files between the panes:

By going to Extras–>Settings, you can configure the tool bars, view settings, and many other items. The program includes menu items for synchronizing folders, comparing files and folders, finding files, and many other useful tasks.

Plus there’s none of the silly “Library” overlay. To see your “Pictures Library,” for example, you navigate to the C: drive, then to the Users folder, then to the [username] folder, and finally to the Pictures folder.

The only thing I’ve found so far that Free Commander cannot do in Windows 7 is view certain system files and folders that can be viewed in Windows Explorer. For example, in Explorer, I can see the etc folder in the drivers folder in the System32 folder in the Windows folder (the location of the HOSTS file).* I cannot see that folder in Free Commander.

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*I spelled this out in such a convoluted fashion because, when I tested this post, the backslashes did not display.

My previous post has been my first post here in weeks.

I have not abandoned Geekazine, but I am in a semi-hiatus. I have decided to study for some certifications and this has taken away, not the time to write posts, but the time to research for posts. And I don’t think many readers would be interesting in the finer points setting up LVGs in CentOS.

But I shall be back from time-to-time.

I had been warned that FedEx was on the way. The package arrived yesterday. I waited until both of us were present to open it find a Lenovo ThinkCentre M90Z, from a benefactor (I don’t know whether he wants to be named–I will leave that to him). So I was up until much later than I am used to setting it up.

I love setting up a new computer and I had been wondering for some time what strategy to adopt to learn Windows 7 without spending gobs of money, so this was double the fun.

I took it up to my computer corner and dug out a hub and couple of cables, since the existing hub was full; the box has built-in wireless, but I prefer cables when I can use them. I moved the printer to another location to make room on the walnut desk I inherited from my father, then set to work exploring.

I must say, this is a nice box. You can see the tech specs here.

One thing I noticed is that, underneath the glitzy desktop, Windows 7 looks and acts a lot like Windows XP. I understand now why persons say that it is what Vista should have been. The main difference I have found is that C:Documents and Settings has been replaced by C:Users. C:Documents and Settings still exists in name, but my research indicates that it’s a dummy location for backwards compatility. (See Note Below.)

It’s inaccessible through normal means. Instead, the crucial directories for storing a user’s settings are in C:Users. If, for example, I wanted to find my Opera mail store, I would look in
C:Users[username]AppDatalocalOperaOperamail.

I see that, in Windows Explorer, certain directories show as “Libraries.” This is sheer marketese and nothing else. As this picture shows, underneath, they are still “directories” accessible from the command line with standard commands.

The first thing I did was download a HOSTS file and put it in place in C:WindowsSystem32driversetc. This blocks most advertising pop-ups; unlike browser add-ons, it does not place extra load on the processor. (I recommend this HOSTS file.) CLick for a larger image.

Next, I removed the jerkware. Since this computer was designed for a business market, there was a lot less bloat than there would have been on a machine for the home market (I have seen home machines come with three different DVD/CD burning programs). I removed everything Bing! and everything Apple, since I know I will never use them; I’m reserving judgment on some other programs.

Then I set my view options to show file extensions and hidden files by opening Windows Explorer and going to Organize–>Folder and search options. I don’t like working with files unless we’re properly introduced with both first and last names.

After I saved my changes, I clicked “Apply to Folders” to make the settings global.

Now it was time to install the programs I knew I wanted to use in addition to the default load:

The LibreOffice office suite.
Real Alternative media player, to use with real media formats. Unlike Real Player, it doesn’t phone home and doesn’t put hidden programs in place.
The Winamp Media Player.
The Foxit PDF reader, a small, fast PDF reader which lacks the bloat of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Pegasus Mail, because I could.
7-zip, a free and open source compression utility that, in addition to zip, handles several other widely used compression formats, including formats common in my Linux world.

Finally, because the screen is so big–22 inches diagonal–I moved the taskbar from the bottom to the right side; it seemed a better use of the real estate.

I know I’ll do more tinkering, but the box is pretty much set up to use.

I look forward to more exploring.

Note Below: I do not know why the backslashes are not displaying in the path statements below; they are showing in the editing panel.

I’ve been really deep into geek and haven’t had the time to post here the past week. I’ve resurrect my old P3, threw a third hard drive into it, installed CentOS, and am working on making it dual boot with the existing Slackware system.

But this report from one my local televisions stations caught my eye: A local father with an autistic son is developing a iPad app for use in reaching and teaching autistic children; he got the idea from observing his son’s fascination with the Angry Birds game:

Joe Hill’s autism app idea is not the first, but here’s what makes it unique: – His concept for interactive flash cards using the camera on thie iPad 2. – Parents can take pictures of people, toys, juice, anything specific to an individual child. – When the child touches the screen a voice will say the word and even help form a sentence.

It can’t be tested until it’s developed.

Given how difficult it is to reach autistic kids, I hope it works.

And, if it works, I hope it spreads to more affordable platforms.

Turnabout, as reported in the Seattle Times:

Microsoft plans to file a formal antitrust complaint Thursday in Brussels against Google, its first against another company. Microsoft hopes that the action may prod officials in Europe to take action and that the evidence gathered may also lead officials in the United States to do the same.

It should be interesting to see how this turns out.

Google has certainly gotten big–some feel, uncomfortably big. I try to avoid using Google stuff simply so as not to feed them any more information about myself than I already have. I use Startpage for my default search engine, rarely use Gmail (using my Android G1 necessitated a Gmail account), and never use Google Docs. I do use the calendar and occasionally use Google Maps.

I don’t refuse to use Google stuff when it is the best alternative because, by and large, they seem to try to live up to their “Don’t be evil” motto. The times they’ve made mistakes, as with the startup of Buzz, they seem to have genuinely been mistakes.

Google has crushed the competition by making stuff that works, that persons use willingly. Google stuff is free in terms of money, and most users seem willing to pay the cost in privacy.

This differs from Microsoft’s model of copy, co-opt, and crush.

So it’s hard for me to feel sympathy for Microsoft.