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> the Finder "was" your files, it wasn't just "a browser for" your files I don't see the difference. When I open Finder I see _my files_, I don't even think ab

> the Finder "was" your files, it wasn't just "a browser for" your files I don't see the difference. When I open Finder I see _my files_, I don't even think about the Finder as a browser.

rmckayfleming 12y ago
Another benefit of the mapping is that the window's properties such as height, width, display style (list or grid) remained the same even after closing, they are properties of the directory, not of a specific file browser instance.
- zaroth 12y ago
  But that requires opening each subfolder in its own window, right? I can say ever since Win95 I've been setting that stupid Folder Options > 'Open each folder in the same window' setting because I could never stand having the next level down appear someone random on the screen and just clutter up the entire desktop.
  - iSnow 12y ago
    Usually, I'd navigate to a folder and then have the content in list view (which was really useful, like windows' "detailed" view, only better) and then drill down to the subfolders via the collapsible tree. So, yeah I miss the spatial finder too, but after 10+ years, I have gotten over it. People blow this out of proportion.
    - rmckayfleming 12y ago
      Yeah, having said all this I do really like Miller columns for navigation.
jakobegger 12y ago
But you can have two windows open showing the same file. Which one is the real file? In the spatial Finder, a file could exist only once.
- wingerlang 12y ago
  If I delete it in one of the windows it will be gone in the second one, I really don't see the issue/difference/problem here.
- welly 12y ago
  They're both the real file. The file does exist only once. Are you saying in the spatial Finder you can't have duplicate views of a particular directory open? Or are you referring to the files themselves? So if you open up somephoto.jpg in Preview, you couldn't open it up a second time? I'm struggling to understand you here.
  - joshuapants 12y ago
    The behavior you're describing is the behavior of a browser. The parent post was talking about maintaining the desktop metaphor; my actual desk has one drawer with pens and sticky notes in it. I can't open another drawer that also has the exact same pens and sticky notes in it. I'm not necessarily siding with the parent post, but I think the point was fairly clear.
    - welly 12y ago
      Now I've seen the video below, I understand the point. It's been a long, long time since I used earlier versions of MacOS and I was never a regular Mac user back then. I'm not sure if that was a better or less convenient method of browsing files. I can see the benefits of both Finders to be honest.
  - hartator 12y ago
    https://vimeo.com/7816626 https://vimeo.com/7816626

> the Finder "was" your files, it wasn't just "a browser for" your files I don't see the difference. When I open Finder I see _my files_, I don't even think about the Finder as a browser.

rmckayfleming 12y ago

Another benefit of the mapping is that the window's properties such as height, width, display style (list or grid) remained the same even after closing, they are properties of the directory, not of a specific file browser instance.

zaroth 12y ago
But that requires opening each subfolder in its own window, right? I can say ever since Win95 I've been setting that stupid Folder Options > 'Open each folder in the same window' setting because I could never stand having the next level down appear someone random on the screen and just clutter up the entire desktop.
- iSnow 12y ago
  Usually, I'd navigate to a folder and then have the content in list view (which was really useful, like windows' "detailed" view, only better) and then drill down to the subfolders via the collapsible tree. So, yeah I miss the spatial finder too, but after 10+ years, I have gotten over it. People blow this out of proportion.
  - rmckayfleming 12y ago
    Yeah, having said all this I do really like Miller columns for navigation.

jakobegger 12y ago

But you can have two windows open showing the same file. Which one is the real file? In the spatial Finder, a file could exist only once.

wingerlang 12y ago
If I delete it in one of the windows it will be gone in the second one, I really don't see the issue/difference/problem here.
welly 12y ago
They're both the real file. The file does exist only once. Are you saying in the spatial Finder you can't have duplicate views of a particular directory open? Or are you referring to the files themselves? So if you open up somephoto.jpg in Preview, you couldn't open it up a second time? I'm struggling to understand you here.
- joshuapants 12y ago
  The behavior you're describing is the behavior of a browser. The parent post was talking about maintaining the desktop metaphor; my actual desk has one drawer with pens and sticky notes in it. I can't open another drawer that also has the exact same pens and sticky notes in it. I'm not necessarily siding with the parent post, but I think the point was fairly clear.
  - welly 12y ago
    Now I've seen the video below, I understand the point. It's been a long, long time since I used earlier versions of MacOS and I was never a regular Mac user back then. I'm not sure if that was a better or less convenient method of browsing files. I can see the benefits of both Finders to be honest.
- hartator 12y ago
  https://vimeo.com/7816626 https://vimeo.com/7816626