14 DAY TRIAL // There are many file managers on the Linux platform and most of them usually value function over form, but at least they are consistent in their design. A direct comparison between Files (Nautilus) from the GNOME project and the file manager used in Windows (Explorer) shows some interesting design issues.
If you are a Windows user, you might not notice that the file manager in Windows actually has a strange and inconsistent design, but that becomes apparent immediately when placed on top of the Nautilus manager.
The guys from World of Gnome put together the two designs, in the same image, showing just how different the two really are. To be fair, the Files version used as an example is not the default one and it's themed. The design remained the same, but everyone would be able to spot the differences. The biggest problem seems to be the header bar, which is used inefficiently.
Microsoft is now working on Windows 10 and the version that they released is just a technical preview, so there is time to see some updated icons and an improved layout for the Windows Explorer, although people shouldn't hope too much. The general design of the file manager hasn't evolved all that much in the last few years.