Still using WinZip, WinRAR? Try 7-Zip.
Do not be deceived by the name which may make it sounds like it is a WinZip clone and that it can only read zip file. It actually introduces a new format called 7z and supports ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR, CPIO, RPM and DEB format.
The 7z format produces very good compression ratio. Compression ratio is the ratio of the difference between the compressed file size and the uncompressed file size to the uncompressed file size. I had been using 7-zip for a good few years now and the format consistently beat other format like zip (worst), rar or tar.bz2.
The one drawback of 7z is that not many people know or use the format. So I cannot, for example, email a .7z file to a friend. My friend probably get an "Unknown file type" error. But this should change soon. Expect to see more programs supporting the 7z format. WinRAR already support it and so does a number of compression utilities.
7z format is licensed under the open source GNU Library General Public License (LGPL). What does this means? For one it means anyone can implement the format. For another, it means on one can charge loyalty just for using the format. Most people know the GIF graphic format. But what most people do not know is the the creator of the format once tried to charge royalties for producing file in the format.
What I like about 7-Zip?
- Support multiple formats, especially .tar.gz, .tar.bz2.
Now most compression software support it. Not so a few years back. Often I had to install separate program just to open unix files or I had to rename the extension. - Small and light. No fancy functions that I never use anyway.
- No trial period expired, no registration reminder, no delayed start up splash screen.
Room for improvement
- Drag and drop, drag and drop, drag and drop!
I do not understand which a windows program do not have this function.
Where to get it?
Current version: 4.16 beta
Function: File compression utility
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