I'm also curious - what about Windows Explorer makes it a painful experience? I learned how to use computers using DOS/Windows and it's what my idea of "correct" is. I'm curious about the other perspective.
Yeah, but in Windows it's usually supported officially (and documented) and you know they won't completely pull the rug out from under you on the next release. Apple on the other hand will break the API without even telling anyone. How could you depend on such a company?
The worst thing of new versions of WinExplorer in my opinion is that you can't position files at the location you want (with the exception of the desktop). I have some folders in my Mac that I organize strictly by location, and that is impossible to do in recent versions of Windows.
For me? Lack of tabs and lack of right-click open-in-terminal. I don't use Windows much anymore, but I remember those, so I guess they're the worst ones. But nevermind the file manager, it's the Windows terminal that really sucks.
* Directories are sorted separately as if they're some mystical entity that can't be mixed with files. Makes navigating by typing a PITA.
* List views can't show or sort by the size of directories.
* No spring-loaded folders makes drag and drop a huge PITA.
* I find the disclosure triangles to view multiple subdirectories in a single window extremely useful http://www.bgcarlisle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Fi...
Just lots of little stuff like this.