7-Zip is a file archiver with the high compression ratio. The program supports 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, LZH, CHM, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR, CPIO, ISO, MSI, WIM, NSIS, RPM and DEB formats.
Great (de)compression suite. Supports a wide variety of formats. The great efficiency and superior license offered by 7-Zip balance out the somewhat lacking user interface.
Very efficient and reliable compression suite. The user interface is a bit lacking compared to WinRAR, but the better compression ratio and license balances 7-Zip out.
7-Zip is a wonderful open-source gift to users of non-GNU platforms that creates and expands archives (and includes powerful encryption and decryption) in an amazing number of formats. Most users of Windows should need no other utility for handling compressed archives. 7-Zip lets Linux users who also use Windows download and preview "tar balls," GZip, and other familiar archival formats for use on Linux. 7-Zip allows users to preview and customize self-extracting archives (which have the EXE extension), most MSI files, and even ISOs. Sadly, many commercial and shareware Windows programs are being licensed at inflated prices as "HIPAA compliant," but 7-Zip offers the exact same features (e.g., AES-256 encrypted archives), but at no cost and access to source code -- but users of proprietary, closed products have no way to check for bugs and security flaws that may cause archive corruption or security vulnerabilities. Such products are also suspect, because they may be using open-source code (the same used by 7-Zip or even the actual source from 7-Zip). This reviewer adds this comment not to cast aspersions or to exhibit paranoia, but in hopes of educating users unfamiliar with the GPL and egregious violations of this license by large commercial entities, including the security firm Trend Micro (which used the source code from ClamAV in its expensive network security appliances, violating the GPL by not releasing its modifications of ClamAV source code, from which the company profited financially -- and users should be alarmed, not amused one bit, that a security firm -- which should strive for integrity and to earn trust -- violated the GPL in such a way. 7-Zip deserves advocacy and support by users who should be grateful for this wonderful utilityl
Copyright © 2009 Geeknet, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use
Thanks for your rating!
Would you also like to write a review?