Actually, I've used relatively browser-idependant (required frames) web interfaces with tree controls that were about as fast as (sometimes faster than) using Windows Explorer (the file explorer, not IE). This probably has a lot to do with how slow Windows Explorer can be. (: But that does help "set the bar" of user expectation so that a portable web interface is not unreasonable.

I appreciated being given the option of a reasonable interface without having to open myself up to JavaScript attacks (or even pop-up ads).

(Then the web mail software was upgraded and the tree control disappeared and the site became amazingly slow.)

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")