Comments on Lite Version - Good and Bad

[transgenic452]

PROS
Very Good - that it retains the functionality of presenting files and folders in alphanumerical sequence rather than the stupid REVERSE  alphanumeric sequence WinXP has forced upon users.

Very Good - easy thumbnail resizing. (thumbnails can only be resized in Windows Explorer by modifying the registry)

Very Good - the extended menu real-time information presented in the status bar. Very helpful for newbies.

-----------------------
CONS
Very bad - misleading 'search' functionality information.
They don't just limit to the Windows Explorer-like 'search' functionality, they actually leave the X2 environment and USE the Windows Explorer Search function, and even worse....once you do, you are locked into the WE panels if you need to keep a cohesive relationship between those found files.

In other words, you must use the actual WE search panel to find a group of files...not a WE 'like' limited search panel. Then, when you have found the files/folders, you can't subsequently drop back to Xplorer2 (X2) presentation and manipulation functionality. Everything cohesive that you do with those files from that point on must be done in WE. You basically lose all the capabilities of X2.

So, it's misleading to claim that in X2 it's ONLY the search functionality that's constrained. It has severe follow-on consequences.

I wouldn't mind at all being limited to WE's search functionality if once I've found the files I can then work through them with X2...but that's not the case.

In my personal use situation, this means one of the primary uses of explorer is crippled, and all subsequent actions are therefore crippled. Xplorer2 Lite is thus rendered effectively unusable.

Even if after finding a file(s) you try to 'explore' them, WE will simply open up a new WE pane...you can't subsequently work directly on the file(s) in X2.

If however, they released an X2 Lite that simply LIMITED the search features to be the same as those of Windows Explorer, BUT KEPT EVERYTHING IN AN Xplorer2Lite PANE, it would be a legitimate claim, and much much better for the user/potential customer. It would also let the user get the look and feel of the X2 search function user interface, without giving away X2's superior 'search' functionality.

Because of this ONE issue, they leave me with a choice of either:
1) buying the Pro version for personal/educational use JUST to get the basic search function back, or
2) sticking with Windows Explorer.

I would bet most people don't need all of Xplorer2's extended search features, so my choice is to stick with basic Windows Explorer.

Because of this implementation, Xplorer2Lite left me with a bad taste for the full product.

What Xplorer2 team should have done is what other 'Lite' programs have done...that is provide the X2 interface and algorigthms, but 'grayed-out' and disabled the advanced functionality only available in the 'Pro' version. That way, the user would have the complete look and feel of the product, AND would have constant visibility into the advanced features he is missing out on by not buying the 'pro' version.

[nikos]

who's "they"?
xplorer2 isn't produced by microsoft or some other conglomerate, it's just me!

what have you done free of charge lately?

[transgenic452]

Nothing intended by it. Just using "They" as the common method of identifying a business team.

Didn't know for sure if you worked alone, or with multiple people, advisors, business manager, etc.

[transgenic452]

what have you done free of charge lately?

About 20 hours of free computer personal hands-on hardware and software consulting in last 2 months, NOT including the help I've provided on multiple computing fora...while continuing to recover from a broken back and an eye injury which renders me effectively blind in one eye.

[nikos]

you had to think a while on this answer there

this is a world bent on self interest. It annoys me when people expect or even demand things to be free. Mother teresa (RIP) aside (and you perhaps ) noone can "demand" such things on some sort of obscure moral fibre. I've done more than my fair share for helping others, is it too much to ask a honest living out of xplorer2?

[transgenic452]

you had to think a while on this answer there :)

Actually, I didn't notice that question when first I looked at the reply. Also, I don't think it's particularly relevant as it has nothing to do with talking about the functionality of a program. But, when I revisited the thread I saw it was asked and so I answered.

[transgenic452]

It annoys me when people expect or even demand things to be free.

Same here. In this case, I am not expecting something for free. I was simply remarking about how one function of the free version was being represented., and suggested an alternative. I think it's a solid piece of programming, but does have a few very minor quirks.

As for the 'free'-ness of it, I would hope you continue to offer it free to individual users for personal use. It's a nice gesture, and can increase the visibility of the product to small businesses. An employee using it for personal use may consider the purchased version for his business or suggest it at his place of employment.  Word of mouth 'advertising' can be useful in this environment.

[jfv60]

I have been using 2X for years, an one of the main reasons for using  it(among many others) is its valuable search tool.
Satisfied as I am with 2X, I was attracted with the promise that X2 lite was beter than 2X in every feature.
I found it is true in many aspects but it is false for the search tool.

[nikos]

there's good and there's better. xplorer2 pro is better in all respects than the old 2x; what if it costs a few dollars? it's worth it, no?