For a long time, I was thinking "why would someone create a new file manager when there is Total Commander", but then I found out that Directory Opus has a lot of followers, and other commercial file managers are also strong on the market. Anyway, until we get to talk about one of the two programs mentioned above, today I decided to check another one, called EF Commander.


Setup
EF Commander's last version is 6.10, and this version was released yesterday, so this is a really fresh product! The trial period is as long as 30 days, but you'll also have to face a nag screen that really stands for its name, because from time to time, the same window pops up and tells you that you're using a trial version. The install process is really quick, since there's only one screen you have to face during this time, and the setup package has 5MB in size.


Interface
EF Commander follows closely the success recipe of the old Norton Commander and, to get into the present time, Total Commander. We get a customizable toolbar, the two panel file explorer, and a lot of useful tools that can be found inside this program's menus, or started using the keyboard shortcuts available, like the FTP client or the multi-rename tool. To make a long story short, I have to say that beginners shouldn't have any special problems moving from Windows Explorer to EF Commander.


Features

Oh, my, it seems I was already talking about features a bit earlier, wasn't I? Well, when talking about file managers, and not only them, the perfect solution used to create a successful product is to blend as meny features into the interface as possible, while keeping it simple and well organized.

Now, I should tell you about the tools intergrated into EF Commander, but to do this, I should write a bible. Of course that some features I found in this program are pointless for me, but this doesn't take away the fact that EF Commander is a really good file manager. Just check the screenshots below to get a better idea on what to expect...


For example, who would use the file manager to shut down the computer? Come on, we're in 2007, and most computers can be setup to automatically shut down when the power button is pressed!

Anyway, I'll leave the talk aside. This program's feature set can be easily extended using various plugins, and its easy integration with IrfanView, XnView or Nero make it a really interesting choice for those that are not sure yet what to use for their file management needs.


The Good

EF Commander is fast, looks good and its feature set is complete, but if you're not happy with what you get, you can use additional plugins. Being a highly customizable software, I am sure that power users will love it.

The Bad

Now that Total Commander 7 is out, and got an improved interface, together with a smaller memory footprint, EF Commander's looks seem a bit outdated, and some tools don't have the best possible interface (the multi-rename tool or the built in media player, for example). The nag screen is a real success - it can become the most annoying thing of your day!

Conclusion

Now, I don't want to think about the fact that Total Commander exists. Would I spend 35$ on EF Commander, in this situation? The answer is "Yes", without any doubt. Unfortunately for EFSoftware, Total Commander does exist, so they have to work much harder, or cut the price in half, to be an interesting choice for those having their eyes on Total Commander or Directory Opus...

Developer: EFSoftware
Price: 35$
Trial Link: Download