Rec: Power Desk

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I was enticed into buying PowerDesk version 3 a year or two ago, and I was troubled by the number of bugs in it.

You’re right, the functionality is incredible, but just too many bugs for me.

I didn’t try the new version 4, which I do hear is much better. But doesn’t the free version have a big ad on it?

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[Edited by Leif 05-Dec-02 to update link and version info.]

Title: PowerDesk
Version: 5.0
Platform: Windows 95B/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Rating: ZdNet 5* and User 5*
Description:
PowerDesk is a powerful and versatile file-management utility that’s everything Windows Explorer should have been and then some. It is without a doubt one of the finest free software packages you’ll ever see. In addition to all that Explorer offers, PowerDesk offers the powerful menus and toolbars that old-timers got accustomed to with File Manager. You can choose to use the familiar Explorer-style interface or opt for a double-pane view. A total of six customizable toolbars are available (including your own custom launch bar), which you can show or hide as you like. A fully integrated archive manager treats every major compression format as folders, with automatic spanning of oversized files across multiple disks. A powerful File Finder offers enhanced features such as text content searches, logical search operators, and multiple-disk searches. Other features include secure file wipes, encryption/decryption, folder comparisons, and email client integration. A separate Dialog Helper adds recently used file and folder lists to all Open and Save dialog boxes. A professional version with FTP support, folder synchronization, and powerful integrated file viewers is also available.

Download (free trial) from: VCom

Comments from the VCOM site:
PowerDesk

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Got it.
Love it.
No big ads that I can see.
Thanks.

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Did you get the free version, or buy the full version?

I could have sworn that the free version has a long banner ad along the bottom of the window for the full version.

But I only looked at on a friend’s computer when it first came out… it may have changed since then.

I did love all the functionality when I used version 3… it made some things so much easier (just couldn’t handle the problems with that old version).

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I have the free version. It does have an annoying splash screen whenever starting & stopping. I had trouble using the search engine–I could have sworn it wasn’t working properly on two different versions. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. I’ll give it another try.

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I see the splash screen when I exit but not when I start. Not a big issue to me as I always have it running.

I assume you mean the File Finder by Search engine. Tested all functions and cross checked with Windows FF. Saw only one problem. The help is not properly linked from the FF window, but, it is available from the main PD help. Only other thing I saw was that multiple file specs had to be separated by semi-colons.

Other than that, no problems I have seen so far and as I said I have it running full time.

And yes, there is a small ad at the bottom, about the size of status bar as Lief said.

Running primarily on W98(FE)/IE5.5 fully updated as of 2001-01-03 on my Toshiba Notebook. PD v4.0.8.0

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Hi Ian:

I must be going for the record for making the most mistakes in a day (I’ve been making them in other forums, too). Maybe I should stop posting today.

First, you’re right, of course, about the splash screen–only rears when you exit. Would you believe that in ALL the time I tried using Power Desk, I ASSumed that I could separate search criteria by a comma, just like Explorer. I just tried using a semi-colon as you mentioned and…duh!

I must say, however, that I just looked thru their help for about 15 minutes & could not find instructions on using multiple search criteria. I finally found it under “Filtering the File Pane” by using the back door (searching for the word, “semicolon”). Not exactly intuitive. I think I’ll give Power Desk another shot, however.

Thanks for the tips.

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Everybody has those days. Sometimes I just give and play bridge. Sometimes I just give up.

One other point worth noting. With the

– full coverage of OS with PD4,
– Free license, and
– small distribution size (will fit on floppy)

you can learn the one tool and use it on any Windows system. Can make your life a lot easier.

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Free version.
Yes – there is a banner along the bottom of the screen, but it is only about the height of the status bar and I can live with that.
As for the splash screen. Definitely none when I start Power Desk. The first time I quit yesterday, there was a half-second splash, then nothing. Tried again today and again, the first time I quit there’s a splash, but nothing after that.
Maybe it’s a once-a-day ad?
BTW, running it on W2K.

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Have any of you heard of Smeadlink? Integrated Document Management Software. The rep was in last week and I wasn’t really impressed. Our VP wants to initiate a paperless office. Scan archived files from 50 years ago and keep these files in the same system as a MS Word docs, Excel, etc. Does this free product do the same thing?

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Melanie:

PowerDesk is a replacement for Windows Explorer. IDMS software is a completely different beast.

I suggest that you use Copernicus 2000 to look up references to “Smeadlink” and “Document Management Software”. You will find lots of reference material.

The freeware version should be great for your research needs.

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I have tried powerdesk in Win 98 and liked it. I now use W2K and Power desk is looking for quick view, which apparently came with W98 but not W2K. Is there a MS source for Quickview?

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Check the thread that I started under the Windows 2000 area about April 23rd or so. Your answer may be there. If you go the the Windows 2000 area and search for Quick View, you should find it. HTH

Ron M

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PowerDesk version 4.0.12.0 is now available from http://www.ontrack.com/freesoftware/>OnTrack.">Whats New for details.

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No doubt about it: Power Desk 4 (freeware) is a tasty piece of kit.

• the ‘banner advert’ in not obtrusive (I thought it was the title)
• I did manage to get it to crash my win 2k system : I tried to decode when there were no encoded files. Required a log-off to put right (no big deal)
• with the commercial version, is QuickView+ incuded free? I ask because on its own QP+ is around

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The commercial version of PD4 includes a superset of the INSO QV drivers.

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..which makes Power Desk a bargain even in its commercial clothes.

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Edited because I was asleep when I posted and didn’t check dates.

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