Xplorer2 Lite is a free filemanager that can be used to replace Windows Explorer and saves a lot of time for anyone who has at least one hard drive and any removable storage media. If you frequently have to move files from one device to another, this tool can save you a lot of time.

I've used other (more expensive) tools such as Powerdesk 6, but X2 just offers more, even with the free version. Dual panes and tabs are the key features and the make it easy to drag and drop, automatically remembering the last state on closing. When you reopen X2, your tabs and views are restored. You can even copy all the file paths in the current tab to the clipboard, a developer's dream.

The options are rich and deep. You can set file protection warnings, have the tree view either follow or ignore (shift focus on) the path to the current tab location and dynamically resort files on folder updates.

Not to be a nit-picker, but there are a few things that bug me. I don't mean the fact that the free version uses the lame Windows search tool. That's the whole point of making a retail product. No, first I mean the "lock files" feature. This should be off by default. If you're in Photoshop and want to delete a comp to keep your files clean, you have to make sure this feature is off or the application is closed, because it will hold onto the file like glue. This is unset in the advanced features tab of the options menu. Another quirk that probably doesn't bug others as much as me is the lost connection between network drives when booting up. If you're on a file-sharing local network, when you first start the application the tabs that were pointing to network locations the previous day will now point to the desktop. I mean, it doesn't crash. It's just a bug. :)