Q-Dir

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on May 28, 2009

Q-Dir gives you the ability to view the properties of up to four files all at once for side-by-side comparisons. We were unimpressed by its tiny, unintuitive command buttons but, overall, it did its job well.

The user interface opens as four panels, each with the same commands, and each with the ability to browse for a specific file. At the top of the window reside tiny, almost microscopic buttons that let you choose your view. We had to hover our mouse over each one to learn its function. Still, we were able to quickly search for, and pull up, specific files and folders. Each window contains commands to run, delete, copy, and paste files. In terms of extras, we especially liked the zoom feature that offers a magnifier for the visually impaired. It does offer a hot-key combo so you don't have to worry about searching through the tiny command buttons to activate it.

The Help feature is pretty brief, and merely includes hot-key combinations and brief descriptions of some of the features. However, if you're looking for a free program that lets you view and manage multiple files at once, we recommend Q-Dir as a capable program despite its design flaws.