[j_baker]

I use anything: http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/Anything

And then I have this in my .emacs:

    (require 'anything-config)
    (global-set-key "\C-c\C-a" 'anything)
    (global-set-key "\C-c\C-e" 'anything-for-files)

I try to get in the habit of using C-cC-e instead of C-xC-f or C-x b. Anything is just too useful as a file/buffer finder.

[yummyfajitas]

Near as I can tell, there is only one reason not to simply rebind C-x C-f to anything-for-files: it doesn't create files. That's fixable:

    (defun anything-for-files-create-if-not-found ()
  "Just like anything for files, but gives the option to create a file."
  (interactive)
  (anything '(anything-c-source-ffap-line
              anything-c-source-ffap-guesser
	      anything-c-source-regular-filename-completion
              anything-c-source-recentf
	      anything-c-source-file-not-found
              anything-c-source-buffers+
              anything-c-source-bookmarks
              anything-c-source-file-cache
              anything-c-source-files-in-current-dir+
              anything-c-source-mac-spotlight)))