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OS X Finder is hailed as user-friendly and efficient graphical user interface; conversely, Linux' Konqueror is still looked at as less user-friendly, and too complicated to use. 

However, that notion is not true. Just as the myths about car crash safety (Renault and Citroen top the crash test ratings, not other brands mythically associated with 'car crash safety'), there are myths about what is, or is not, stable, or user friendly. 

Comparison of features of Konqueror versus Finder (April 2007)

1. References or bookmarks 

Konqueror: Bookmarks relative to file path are no problem to save.

Finder: There are no bookmarks that store file paths. Instead, some direct links, attached to a particular folder ID, or so-called "smart" folders which take a while to build each time, are available. 

Comment: It is not possible, in Finder, to replace a folder (during backup or update operations), move a current folder to an archive folder and renaming it, and continue using a "bookmark". That "bookmark" will always take you back to the old folder. If you work with continuously archived folders, this is a real problem that can get you lost in similar looking file / folder structures quickly. Konqueror does not have this problem at all, thus representing a far more efficient and professional solution. OS X Finder thus represents a rather problematic solution to bookmarking or favorite folder linking that does cause confusion and file placement or file access error. This can be overcome by using OS X Terminal, but at that time, you are operating command line interface and you may as well use a faster and cheaper PC to do that. 

2. Sorting 

Konqueror: Correct alphanumeric file sorting. 

Finder: Fancy sorting that is not correct alphanumeric.

Comment: If you work yourself through batch computed output that is numbered using parameters, such as 0.001.txt, 0.002.txt, 0.003.txt, 0.01.txt, 0.02.txt, 0.03.txt, you won't get an ascending list in Finder. That means that you will not be able to refer to them in their correct sequence. Interestingly, OS X Terminal commands will list folder contents in the correct order; however, at at that moment, you may as well use a cheaper and faster PC to run Linux on it. 

3. File Copy and File Move

Konqueror: Move-/Copy-choice on File-/Folder-drop.

Finder: Obscure modifier-key operated functionality mixing up alias, copy and move.

Comment: In Finder, it can happen that you will only take home an alias to a file that you actually wanted to copy. Or you will find that instead of copying, you moved a file - and it is missing where it was before. This is not typical for Konqueror that lets you have full control over the management by offering a drop-down menu while you drop a selection of files or folders.

4. FTP

Konqueror: Robust, fully featured, reliable FTP GUI-front end.

Finder: Unstable, unreliable read-only FTP front end. Unstable FTP clients.

Comment: If you ever had to upload 4500 tiny files to a server using FTP, you may have bumped into an error using OS X, and you may have found that this system is not able to offer graphical user interfaces that just get the job done. On Linux, Konqueror is such a FTP-client that actually does get the job done if a large number, or hugely sized, files are to be moved. OS X Finder does not offer such functionality; and neither do other FTP clients, that work for moderate file transfers but will ultimately give up, stall, crash or miss out for the most part. The way to go using OS X in order to get FTP transfers accomplished is the OS X Terminal, and the terminal-based FTP client - but at that point, you may just as well do Linux that runs on cheaper and faster PCs. 

5. Update / Refresh

Konqueror: Refresh function available.

Finder: No refresh function available.

Comment: In OS X Finder, you have no control over the freshness of your file viewer. In any situation that gets Finder caught up, you may be looking at a stale version of the current file list of any given directory. You can either use terminal to check that directory (but at that point in time, you may as well use Linux), or you will have to wait and hope that some time soon, Finder decides to update the view for you. In Konqueror, hitting the refresh button will give you an instant update of the file list and then you know it is instantly refreshed. 

6. Preview

Konqueror: Instant hover-over-file image preview, including generic EPS format ("file tips").

Finder: Nothing like that.

Comment: If you work with lots of image data, your choice of image is greatly accelerated by approximating the name space and then narrowing in on your selection by checking the instant previews generated by Konqueror. That makes Konqueror a first choice file browser. Finder forces you to use other ways of image browsing, all of which are clumsier, more error prone, less elegant and slower.  Konqueror allows you to switch this feature on or off under Settings > Configure Konqueror > Behavior > (toggle) Show file tips / Show previews in file tips. 

7. Split windows

Konqueror: You will be able to produce instant horizontal or vertical file viewing window splits. This saves you the pain from first opening a new window by pulling the command down from the Menu, by then trying to resize and move both existing windows, and by subsequently having to navigate the new window's working directory to where you really wanted to go. 

Finder:  You will first be opening a new window by pulling the command down from the Menu, then  you will be trying to resize and move both existing windows, and then you subsequently have to navigate the new window's working directory to where you really wanted to go.

Comment: Finder is not an elegant solution to navigate, or browse, files. Konqueror ist. 

Conclusion

If you require robust and relevant sturdy file managing capabilities, Konqueror wins with Finder hands down. There is no single category where Finder excels over the free Open Source competing file manager Konqueror.  

Most problems of OS X Finder can be avoided using the OS X Terminal commands that function just as they do under any Unix or Linux distribution. However, at that point, you may as well get yourself a cheaper and faster PC rather than an Apple Macintosh.