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Add to SafariWhen comparing Avanquest PowerDesk vs Q-Dir (the Quad Explorer), the Slant community recommends Q-Dir (the Quad Explorer) for most people. In the question“What are the best file managers for Windows?” Q-Dir (the Quad Explorer) is ranked 4th while Avanquest PowerDesk is ranked 21st. The most important reason people chose Q-Dir (the Quad Explorer) is:
Every window can be separately customized. You can choose between different views from 1 to 4 windows, and every window can have multiple tabs!
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro In split verticle view, it has a tree & details view for each side
Font size is perfect and allows at least 65 lines on a 1920 X 1200 monitor.
Pro In split verticle view, it has a tree & details view for each side
Font size is perfect and allows at least 65 lines on a 1920 X 1200 monitor.
Pro Has a powerful file sync capability
Powerful file sync capability for keeping directory trees on two different drives in sync. Great when working with external drives or for backing up a laptop or smartphone to your PC Hard drive. Two vertical panes make it easy to copy files from one place to another using drag & drop
Pro Highly manageable multiple windows
Every window can be separately customized. You can choose between different views from 1 to 4 windows, and every window can have multiple tabs!
Pro You can view 4 windows simultaneously
Pro You can use tabs in every window
Pro Portable
Pro Free
Pro Does not use a lot of RAM
Q-dir with 4 windows and with 4 tabs in every window uses only 39mb of RAM on Win10x64.
Pro Fast and stable
Pro Very customizable
Pro Q-Dir allows you to save folder combinations as a favourite to open any time
Up to 64 folder combinations can be saved in a favorite, since each of the four windows is equipped with tabs (ie 4 x 16 tabs 4 x Tree View plus 4 x Address Bar).
Cons
Con Lacking support / updates in recent years
Lacking signs of active support in recent years, which is too bad because it was the best Windows File manager out there back in the Windows 7 era. Avanquest had really blown it. But if you have unused licenses, it is still usable.
Con Slow & bug-ridden
This program used to be an outstanding file manager for the Windows platform (Mike Kronenberg's "WizManager"). Several acquisitions later, it's slow, bug-ridden & has had almost no developer input for many years. Don't waste your money on this one!
Con Another acquisition, no redemption in sight
PowerDesk 9 has this really neat annoyance that causes it to go back to its (current?) mothership and request that you re-enter the serial number so that you can continue using the program. It's hard to determine what causes this program to do this, but it does happen. If the serial number re-entry doesn't work, and oftentimes it doesn't, Tech Support recommends that you uninstall the program, then go to the Tech support website to get the "latest" edition that supposed to reinstall with the original serial number, but it doesn't work. This was once a great program but now VCOM owns them and no sign of updates, corrections, bug fixes, even low level customer notices.
Con Sometimes may have bugs
Con Needs modern UI design
Con No search
Con Does not work with Quicklook
