Mac Finder: still relevant?

With Mac OS eventually merging with iOS, is Finder still relevant? It’s a question I think about every time I have to use Finder, which is actually more often than I’d like. Not everything is all nicely wrapped up in a database or an app. There are times when you have to manage files manually.

Finder is over 30 years old, and it can feel clunky and stubborn at times, but a great many of the same tips and tricks that applied to Finder in 1990 still apply today.

Click on a column heading to sort by that criteria. Click the arrow to make it sort ascending or descending. Type the first letter of a file name to jump to that file. Use the arrow keys to navigate. Use shift to select contiguous files. Use Command to select non-contiguous files. Right click to bring up contextual menus. Get Info to find all kinds of information about files and folders.

All pretty basic stuff, right? You would think so, but in my work as a Desktop Support Analyst, I see Mac users of all ages struggle with Finder. I see Desktops so cluttered with icons that the Mac slows to a crawl. I have seen people “store” working files in the Trash. I see these customers take way to long to accomplish simple tasks. There are lots of ways to do things on a Mac; but why take 4 steps when you could do the same thing in 1?

If you’re a Mac person, please learn Finder basics. Finder may be gone in a few years, but it’s here right now, and it can be managed by learning a few simple tricks.