When comparing Avanquest PowerDesk vs Directory Report, the Slant community recommends Avanquest PowerDesk for most people. In the question“What are the best file managers for Windows?” Avanquest PowerDesk is ranked 21st while Directory Report is ranked 27th. The most important reason people chose Avanquest PowerDesk is:
Font size is perfect and allows at least 65 lines on a 1920 X 1200 monitor.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion 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 Offers good options for quickly dealing with duplicates
Once duplicates are found you can choose to select certain files based on criteria like when was it created, when was it last modified, size, folders they're in or if the folders they're in contain a particular string.
Pro Reasonable rules for finding both duplicate files and folders
The program can find duplicate files based on any combination of size, name, CRC. It can also compare files byte by byte. Also, it can compare folders (with or without subfolders) based on any combination of size, name, CRC as well as file count.
Pro Gives a clear overview of found duplicates
It shows duplicate items grouped with every second group highlighted.
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.