6 - command-c, command-option-v
7 - Don't know if that's what you mean, but you can hide everything on the view menu.
8 - If you mean spotlight index, yes
7 - Essentially is the default view of Windows Explorer, files are listed from top to bottom and wrapping around to next column. This is the most compact way to browse a lot of files when you are not worried about their size/type and only interested in the names.
But even if some of the problems can be fixed by installing extra software or obscure shortcut the fact remains finder is simply painful to use as is to manage or work with files. It can't even find files unless someone provides an index and it's named finder.
Apple and OSX has a lot to love from build quality to universal copy-paste (a sore issue in linux). But I find in some failures/limitations apple is by far the worst player around.
But to me, it is still far better than any of the alternatives. I like the way it protects the user from doing potentially dangerous actions by hitting a single key and I'm not bothered by command-o, command-delete at all.
It finds files on unindexed disks for me, it just takes longer (as expected). You might have a permission problem or using an unsupported format (like NTFS, through FUSE)
You can also get crazy file density in the Finder: http://i.imgur.com/wLW9WvF.jpg
What danger is finder saving a user from that other file managers aren't?
Its great for you that you don't mind command-o for open and return for rename. But please don't ask me not to think that making the most used file browser operation to be multi-key shortcut isn't beyond insane. This is exactly the thing that I hate most about this ... 'you are holding it wrong' is the kind of feedback I get from most OSX users.
> You can also get crazy file density in the Finder: http://i.imgur.com/wLW9WvF.jpg
I'm honestly not sure whats the point of this. I don't want to fit many files just for the sake of it. I want it to be useful like this http://imgur.com/EqB1drO
Accidentally deleting a file by pressing a single key
But please don't ask me not to think that making the most used file browser operation to be multi-key shortcut isn't beyond insane.
What do you think is more likely: that other people have different trade-offs and are perfectly happy with the way things are or that they are all beyond insane?
This is exactly the thing that I hate most about this ... 'you are holding it wrong' is the kind of feedback I get from most OSX users.
Some things can be objectively measured, others can't. The funny thing about the 'you are holding it wrong' comment is the absurdity of thinking that there is a right way to hold it. There isn't (or there shouldn't be).
In the right click menu (where you'd normally go to "get info"), hold option/alt. You'll see "get info" (cmd+i) change to "show inspector" (cmd+opt+i).
Couldn't agree more that it's dumb, but there's your multi-file properties window.
Some of these are also found from other people's comment but I want to highlight that they also matter for me.
1. The fact that most file browser has editable auto-complete location field. 2. That it doesn't show the size of the selected files in status bar. 3. That when you try to fix it by opening the info menu on the selection it does the most idiotic thing possible (in my judgement) and open a separate info window for each file. As far as I know I have no way in finder to find the size of a selection (to guess the time for a copy operation or space needed). 4. That the most basic operation in a file manager getting inside a folder or getting back requires a two key action (cmd+enter, cmd+delete). Seriously? 5. That opening a file is not the default but renaming is. Again seriously? 6. No cut-paste. 7. No compact view. Without it browsing a large selection of files quickly and organise cut/paste don't really work for me. 8. Zero find ability without index. Am I suppose to index all my portables?
I have been using xtraFinder so I don't know if I remember all the problem correctly. But I was almost ready to rip my hair off when I first moved to OSX specially when it felt like most people were happy with finder. It feels to me that for apple finder is kind of a file viewer in a limited sense and you are suppose to only organise files through the respective programs iPhoto, iMovie etc. I will shy away from calling finder a 'File Manager'. The way I try to manage/organise my files, finder is a nightmare.
The gold standard for me right now is Nemo. Handles all the above case and as a bonus (for me)
Just start typing and the cursor moves through sub selection starting with that prefix. Very helpful with a quick find or selection.