It's about time someone took this on for real. I really don't have any ideas for you, I just know there isn't anything out there I like at this time really. Netscape was another wasn't it? I don't remember, really I had something else once but went back to Explorer for obvious reasons. Really haven't looked for something else because I was scared it would just be too difficult to get to use it and learn it. Good Luck. Make it simple and easy to use and they will come.

Hi, it might be a good idea to have a panel on the left hand side (or wherever you want) that contains recent documents and favorite links (as used in Windows Vista). There have been a few other things that I have been looking for, so I'll create a list and send it later. I'm in SA, so later is very relative.

Oh and to mschleisner, epyk is talking about Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer, I Think.

Mschleisner, I think the OP is looking for a replacemetn to Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer.  Windows Explorer is everything from opening "My Computer" to searching to  . . well  . .  everything! 

epyk . . . what you are describing is an awesome undertaking.  Good luck.  There are a number of alternative Windows shells out there and tons of Linux.  There are even a few Apple.    Who's yoru target audience?  Try to focus on that and you may be more successful.  Artists may have other needs than trechnicians, ya know?

The biggest thing I miss in third party versions are the thumbnails for "other" programs. Example, I use AutoCAD and when I installed it, it made thumbnail views visible in Windows explorer, same with my Camera's RAW format (Sony Alpha ARW). When I installed the support software I suddenly got thumbnails. I'd like to have the ability to adjust thumbnail size on th fly as well. Maybe with a slider or something of that nature.

I like multiple panes visible for easier drag & drop. I want to be able to sort by extension and use filters. I've always thought that much more could be done with the context menu and mouse over info as well. Seems that dbpoweramp has the BEST mouse over tool tip I've seen, but that's only for music files. A configurable tool tip list and/or a configurable context menu would be great.

I'll post more ideas when I get the chance.

Sounds a LOT like Vista's explorer...

There are a whole plethora of Explorer alternatives....I commonly use three already...though mostly Explorer Plus and ZtreeWin...

Got me, not thinking, first cup of coffee and grandbaby giving me grief this morning, right. I want to say sorry for being the dumb blond again..  Somethings I just don't get first thing before coffee, forget the grandbabys name and call her by my daughters in the morning,geez. close but not right....mschleisner...opps

I donno if yr still checking out this post, but I wanted to ask you which programming langauge yr using. I am a programmer myself. I am still a beginner but I tend to catch on very quickly.

Thanks

Nice plan epyk; it would be a great boost if you could add the following:-

1. An I-Tunes type multimedia interface which shows thumbnails of all videos, and can be played in a small window in the left corner.

2. A customizable right-click menu. Sort of like our "Right-Click".

3. Option for tabbed windows for opening windows within the same window.

4. png support for icons. Dude, looking at object dock in the morning and then facing the age old icons of xp is almost a nightmare.

If its of any help, you can check out the free explorer codes available in the gnu bsd linux. the build is in c, so might help you.

Best of luck, do keep posting your progress here. All of us are waiting.

folder sizes listed like ExplorerXP, but works on vista

My biggest discontent with Vista's Explorer is the lack of customizable toolbar. If there were someway to restore the toolbar without having to lose the rest of the new UI I would be a very happy user indeed. That's the single most painful change in Vista for me.

im thinking about c#

i was trying c++ but i decided to do c# based on the added features list

I think maybe the Windows Explorer needs to behave more like the Internet explorer.

-Tabbed browsing (I’d actually like to view multiple windows at the same time)
-Customizable favorites list with shortcut links to related programs that are scattered about: e.g. "Graphics > Ps7, MSPaint, 3ds Max" or "DesktopX > DesktopX, Current Project folder, AniUtil”
-Ability to open documents in same explorer window would be cool so I can multitask. (Text documents, word documents, stuff like that.)
-Easier way to rename alot of files besides r-click on each and every one.
-Recent Docs or History



Good luck!