directory structure and installation location

[jim]

        > Also: ...What Gnome-based filemanager is well regarded and
        will display
        > two panes, W. Explorer style?  Will the default do it?
I use nautilus --browser. This opens a window that has:
        side pane
        location bar
        status bar
In the side pane you can view:
        information
        emblems
        history
        notes
        tree
This is much like the file explorer many of us are used to.

Regards,
Jim