'PowerDesk': A Swiss army pocketknife utility program

By Omar Harris

JAKARTA (JP): Have you ever wished that you could manage your files and folders in your overstuffed hard drive more efficiently? There are literally dozens of desktop enhancer software around that can help you to do just that, namely Dashboard 98, Norton Commander 4, Windows Commander 3.52, WinCommander 5 and PowerDesk 98. But I found one of them, PowerDesk 98 from Mijenix, especially handy for finishing daily chores of file-keeping management.

Like Windows Explorer from Microsoft, PowerDesk is a Desktop Enhancer. It has more than all the features of Windows Explorer. In addition to the usual features of drag and drop between files, it also has forward, backward and undo buttons. You are not only able to undo any previous file operations but it will help you navigate through the last accessed or opened folders.

PowerDesk's windows-style interface consists of folder lists that can be expanded into branches of sub folders from a sub menu and a file list on a separate window. With separate windows (up to 4 different windows can be viewed at once) file operations are a breeze. For example, suppose you just want to see the contents of a compressed file such as ZIP file format from Nico Mak Computing without actually uncompressing it. With PowerDesk your ZIP file will be treated just like any other folder. In fact, PowerDesk has its own Zip utility function so you don't have to buy a separate file compression utility program. And better yet, it is even fully-compatible with WinZip, the most popular file compression utility program around.

In addition to the usual drop-down menus, PowerDesk also adds a launchbar, toolbar and drivebar with icons on them for easier file opening and operations. It even allows you to customize each toolbar with your own favorite settings.

And if you want your files to be saved from unwanted prying eyes there is even File Encryption and File Destroy features. File Encryption will encrypt and decrypt your files with a password key. It is very important to remember the password key because it not only serves as a password but it also codes your data. For file deletion, File Destroy will not just delete your file but it will literally "destroy" your file beyond recovery. So it is impossible to recover your files even if you use Norton Unerase from Norton Utilities.

Another useful feature from PowerDesk is called Folder Synchronizer. I find this feature very handy mainly because I often use it to update my sound card and video display card device driver files, which I downloaded from the Internet. With it I can skip copying files with the same name and version to save time. And it could even offer to copy or move newer files to replace older ones with the same name and extensions to the selected folder.

Even if you are an avid computer user who uses DriveSpace 3 from Microsoft Plus to compress your hard drive you won't be disappointed with another feature from PowerDesk, because the compressed hard drive will be shown on the drivebar as host drive and compressed drive.

But PowerDesk 98 is not without its shortcomings. Unlike Windows 98 Explorer, PowerDesk 98 doesn't have a separate thumbnail display for graphic (BMP, JPEG, GIF) file. This feature would be quite handy if you wanted to preview an image without having to open a separate graphic editor software. You could, however, install another popular, all-purpose file viewer software, Quick View Plus, as an add-on for PowerDesk 98. But you have to dig deeper inside your pocket just to have this functionality.

Beside that, PowerDesk 98 generates a message "D is not accessible. The device is not ready", whenever you eject your CD- ROM, even though you are viewing files in drive C. This message is quite annoying if you are not fast enough in inserting another CD-ROM to replace the one you have already ejected.

Now, we come to the interesting part. At this point, you are probably wondering to yourself: Should I buy this software? Before you dash to the nearest software shop to buy PowerDesk 98, you should consider the other desktop enhancer software mentioned above. Some of them are very good and some are just plain nice to have. If you have an Internet connection, you could download a trial version from their respective http address and try them out before you make a decision. But if you don't, ask some of your friends who have already them installed in their PC. You may get a variety of answers about each product's superiorities and weaknesses.

Just remember though that each of them has different interfaces, functionalities and styles. Choose one that best suits you.