NetFinder: A Finder-like FTP Client

NetFinder LogoLooking at the sheer number of OS X FTP clients, one gets the impression that the only thing Mac users do is transfer files. If you happen to be one of those people and have yet to find an FTP application that suits you, version 3 of Ortabe’s NetFinder has been released.

NetFinder has all the features you'd expect from a modern FTP application. All standard FTP protocols are supported, including iDisk access through WebDAV. There are advanced synchronization and mirroring tools, as well as external editing support and integrated file previewing. A feature unique to NetFinder is the ability to add color labels and comments to files on remote servers.

Screenshot

Ortabe advertises NetFinder as Finder for the web, but a casual glance at the application will make you realize that the developers don't mean the unified Finder of OS X 10.5. Rather, NetFinder resembles the multi-window spatial Finder from the Classic Mac OS.

The result is an application that looks like an old OS 9 application running under emulation. NetFinder's interface isn't poor per se, but feels outdated and out of place in OS X. You won't find the usual OS X aqua interface quirks in NetFinder: drawers, sidebars, and standard toolbars are noticeably absent in NetFinder. Icons are flat and boxy.

Screenshot

Like the classic Finder, NetFinder uses a multiple window paradigm, so instead of finding all the tools you need in a unified window, tools are scattered about in contextual menus and buried deep in the menu bar. Opening up more than one connection and drilling down a few directory levels will likely drown your screen in a sea of various windows.

NetFinder isn't a bad program, useful features are implemented well enough, but there are simply better alternatives. Both Transmit and Yummy FTP are cheaper rivals that integrate more fluidly with OS X. Or if you prefer free open-source software, Cyberduck reproduces nearly all the functionality of NetFinder for free. NetFinder's only worthwhile asset is the remote labeling and commenting. Or nostalgia I guess, if you really miss the pre-OS X era.

NetFinder requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and can be purchased from the developer Ortabe for $35.

Comments

7 Responses to “NetFinder: A Finder-like FTP Client”

  1. Soothe on February 12th, 2008 7:39 am

    Actually, Yummy FTP has already has the ability to color label server items for some time, so it’s hardly unique to NetFinder

  2. Dan on February 13th, 2008 9:52 am

    This app really isn’t anywhere near worth it’s price

  3. kenneth on February 16th, 2008 5:30 am

    suxor!

  4. macman on February 27th, 2008 9:23 pm

    I have used a lot of file management systems over the years but still find NetFinder the most stable, powerful and fastest app out there. It’s obvious time has been spent on this version to make sure that the build continues to out performs it’s competitors.

    It supports all of the servers/protocols I need and then some. The filterable self contained reports are extremely useful & easy to use. There are also a lot of other extremely handy features for NetFinder users such as labeling, comments, the ability to preview Movies, MP3 & Shockwave files as well as the integration with Apple Automator, Keychain & BBEdit.

    It may have been a white between builds, but it was well worth the wait.

    Don’t waste you time looking at the other apps like I did.
    NetFinder is by far the best file management system out there and well worth the price.

  5. Soothe on March 14th, 2008 9:43 am

    Interesting that the comment from ‘macman’ is an identical copy, word for word, of supposed 5 star ‘reviews’ at MacUpdate and VersionTracker. Smells a bit fishy to me

  6. notimportant on March 16th, 2008 7:28 pm

    Very stable, easy to use and fast.

    I have tried a lot of them and this is my new choice for backups and transferring files.

    Good to see that some FTP apps don’t crash.

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