Kubuntu 11.10
KDE 4.74

I tried the KDE for the first time in years and I have been very impressed. When I try a new linux desktop I almost always find the default file manaager to be a waste of time for my needs and I go looking for the neares replacement for Total Commander I can get.

I was extremely impressed that with 2 -3 preference selection I was able to morph Dolphin into something very similar to Total Commander.
There are just two things I am missing from it at this point. Total Commander like keybindings, for Dolphin only, such F5 -> copy, F6 -> move, F7-new folder. Can I create these custom keybindings for Dollphin only? Can I get a menu bar at the bottom like Krusader and Total Commander have?

If not, can I make Krusader my default file manager? If I do, will I lose out on any features that Dolphin has that Krusader does not? I noticed that Krusader does not have a "places pannel" which I found to be extremely useful. Can I customize Krusader to have one?

Thanks much in advance.

In Dolphin, see Settings > Configure Shortcuts. These should apply only to Dolphin, although their initial values are taken from the system wide preferences, which can be changed in System Settings.

Can you provide information on the "bottom menu bar" please?

As for changing the default file manager, you can do this in System Settings > Default Applications > File Manager. This will not affect Dolphin's functionality, and if launched it will continue to be available for use.

As for the places panel, it's availability depends on the Krusader developers i'm afraid. The Places panel is available in Konqueror as one of it's sidebars however if that helps.