Norton Commander
Norton Commander is a file manager program for DOS that was released in 1986. It uses a two-pane interface to allow basic file operations like copying, renaming, deleting files and launching applications.
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Norton Commander: Classic File Manager
Norton Commander is a file manager program for DOS that was released in 1986. It uses a two-pane interface to allow basic file operations like copying, renaming, deleting files and launching applications.
What is Norton Commander?
Norton Commander (NC) is a file manager program designed for DOS that was originally released in 1986 by Peter Norton. It uses a two-pane interface that allows users to easily visualize the directory structure and perform basic file operations using the keyboard.
Some key features of Norton Commander include:
- Copy, move, delete, and rename files and directories
- View file contents and attributes
- Launch applications and batch files
- Compare directories and files
- Search for files meeting criteria
Norton Commander became very popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s among power users and was known for its speed and efficiency at file management. Its two-pane file manager concept inspired many later file manager designs. While the DOS version is no longer developed, Norton Commander inspired open source clones like Midnight Commander that keep its two-pane file management concepts alive today.
Norton Commander Features
Features
- Two-pane interface
- Basic file operations like copy, move, delete, rename, etc.
- Built-in text editor
- File searching
- Archive support
- Plugin architecture
Pricing
- Freeware
- Open Source
Pros
Efficient two-pane interface
Lightweight and fast
Keyboard-driven for efficient use
Extensible via plugins
Works well even on old hardware
Cons
DOS-based so limited capabilities
Lacks features of modern file managers
Not being developed anymore
No mouse support
Steep learning curve
The Best Norton Commander Alternatives
Top File Management and File Managers and other similar apps like Norton Commander
Here are some alternatives to Norton Commander:
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Total Commander
Total Commander is a highly popular and versatile file manager and file explorer for the Windows operating system. Originally released in the 1990s as Windows Commander, it was later renamed to Total Commander.Some key features of Total Commander include:Dual-pane interface to allow fast file transfers by dragging-and-dropping between panesTabbed interface...
Midnight Commander
Midnight Commander (also known as mc) is an open-source visual file manager and shell for Unix-like systems. It provides a text-based user interface that allows users to efficiently manage files and directories, copy/move/delete files, view file contents, edit files, and execute shell commands.Some key features of Midnight Commander include:Two-panel interface...
Double Commander
Double Commander is an open-source, cross-platform file manager software that provides an orthodox file manager interface with two panels side-by-side, inspired by Total Commander and featuring some new ideas.It allows all the basic file operations like copy, move, delete, rename, create directory etc.Double Commander comes with multi-rename tool that enables...
FreeCommander
FreeCommander is a powerful, lightweight, yet easy-to-use file manager for Windows. It has been around since 2004 and has gained popularity as a free and open source alternative to commercial file managers like Total Commander.Some key features of FreeCommander include:Dual-pane interface to easily copy, move, delete, rename, etc. files and...
Far Manager
Far Manager is a free and open-source file manager for Microsoft Windows. It provides a dual-pane interface that allows easy navigation through the file system, with a number of convenient features for power users:Multiple tabs for accessing different foldersPowerful search and replace functionality across filesBuilt-in text, hex, image and media...
OneCommander
OneCommander is a powerful yet easy to use file manager for Windows. It provides multiple tabs to work with different folders at the same time, and supports all common file operations like copy, move, rename, delete, zip, extract and more.Key features of OneCommander include:Multi-tab interface to work with multiple folders...
TrolCommander
trolCommander is an open-source network monitoring and management platform designed for large enterprise networks. It provides a single pane of glass for monitoring, managing and troubleshooting the health and performance of complex network infrastructures.Key features include:Automated discovery of routers, switches, servers and other devices on the network.Network mapping and topology...
Multi Commander
Multi Commander is a advanced file manager for Windows that provides more flexibility and features compared to the default Windows Explorer. Some key features of Multi Commander include:Dual panel interface with multiple tabs - Easily view and transfer files between different folders and drivesCustomizable interface with different themes and layouts...
MuCommander
muCommander is an open-source, lightweight file manager and explorer aimed at power users. It provides a simple yet efficient way to handle files and folders on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.Some key features of muCommander:Dual-pane interface allowing easy copy/move operations between foldersTabs for handling multiple locationsBookmarks and history for quick...
Nimble Commander
Nimble Commander is a free and open-source dual-pane file manager for Windows. It is designed to maximize productivity with an intuitive and customizable interface.Some of the key features of Nimble Commander include:Dual-pane view for easy file transfer and comparisonsMultiple tabbed browsing for accessing different foldersSupport for archives (ZIP, RAR, etc)...
GNOME Commander
GNOME Commander is a powerful and versatile file manager for the GNOME desktop environment on Linux operating systems. It features a dual-pane interface that allows users to easily navigate directories, move files, and perform advanced management operations.Some key features of GNOME Commander include:Tabbed interface for working with multiple foldersAdvanced file...
