How to View Folders First in Finder (a la Windows!?)

No, this isn't a feature of the Finder. There's a Finder alternative called PathFinder which, if I remember correctly, does offer this option.

Also, here's a slightly ugly work around that you could use in your own Filespace (everywhere but the Library). If you precede all your folder names with a space, they will sort out to the top. It is an old old trick that still works.

When you go to the view options (cmd-J) for the window, if you select "view by kind" it will group filetypes together, and within those groups sort them alphabetically. For instance, if I have two text documents called "a.txt" and "z.txt", and have two folders called "B" and "C", if I sort alphabetically it will list them "a.txt", "B", "C", "z.txt"; however, if I sort by kind I'll get the text documents listed first as "a.txt", "z.txt", followed by the folders listed in the order "B", and "C".

PathFinder is a fantastic Finder replacement, I use it with Finder shut off right after launch. Its flawless.
There actually used to be a frameworks tweak to allow this. I've tried and it doesn't work anymore but if someone wants to have a go at seeing it it can be tweaked to work again here ya go...

For those that are curious here WAS the "tweak" (go to System: Library: Frameworks: ApplicationServices.framework: Versions: A: Frameworks: LaunchServices.framework: Versions: A: Resources. Whew. Within that folder, you’ll see the English.lproj folder. Highlight it, and then select File: Get Info. In the Ownership & Permissions area, click on the Details triangle, click on the lock icon, and then click on the Owner pop-up menu and set it to your user name (enter your password if asked). Leave this window open; you’ll be changing it back in just a minute.
Inside the English.lproj folder is a file named Localized.strings. Drag it onto TextEdit. Find the line that reads "Folder" = "Folder"; and insert a space before the F in the second Folder.)

Keep us informed,
Peter