The Inspector is a version of the Get Info window that is more of an active palette rather than another window. It will show you the information of whatever you have currently selected in the Finder and it will change when you select something different. It will also display the combined information when multiple items are selected. When the Finder is not the front-most application, the Inspector disappears. I find it useful when I want to see some information on files in a folder, like permissions or installed languages. I can just arrow through the list and the contents of the Inspector will change. -- Eddie Hargreaves