Author Topic: Best file archiver/compresser (Read 51526 times)

Tuxman · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2010, 07:57 AM »

Still it is a rather rare case.

Bamse · « **Reply #26 on:** March 16, 2010, 09:55 AM »

7Zip on Windows is also a rare case - unless you know it. Are you sure majority know Zip? Majority will probably have used Zip but do they know what it is? what alternatives there are? I doubt it.

There is even a 7zip plugin for Nautilus/File Roller in Ubuntu http://sourceforge.net/projects/p7zip/ so people can easily get 7zip compatibility if they want. Matter of public opinion and awareness.

Tuxman · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2010, 09:58 AM »

7Zip on Windows is also a rare case - unless you know it.
-Bamse (March 16, 2010, 09:55 AM)

Most archivers for Windows support it, and there is almost no chance to have a Windows user without any WinRAR, 7zip or anything.

Bamse · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:08 AM »

I don't have to look far for people who have no clue what a rar or 7z file but those people know nothing about technical details - which was my point or assumption. Well since Ubuntu Software Center have a "7 Zip" entry may be difference to Windows is not that big. Click, click - now supported. It also handles RAR, Zip64, cab and more.

delwoode · « **Reply #29 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:24 PM »

Well an interesting read these posts. Pity it got a bit heated.
I was just wondering if I was right to keep using winrar and if there was an alternative that would compress to a smaller size. Of course speed is a consideration to a degree.
FreeArc sounds interesting but I would want multivolume support. I may try using 7zip more often (i have it installed) and compare the results with Winrar. Yeah whatever archiver you use has to support the more common formats in case you want to send a file to somone, in that case I think it has to be .zip or .rar support. On your own machine you can use what you want.
thanks for all the views!

Tuxman · « **Reply #30 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:28 PM »

.rar is not a common format unless the user is a software pirate on Windows.

cranioscopical · « **Reply #31 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:20 PM »

.rar is not a common format unless the user is a software pirate on Windows.
-Tuxman (March 16, 2010, 01:28 PM)

That's something of a stretch.

Jibz · « **Reply #32 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:25 PM »

.rar is not a common format unless the user is a software pirate on Windows.
-Tuxman (March 16, 2010, 01:28 PM)
That's something of a stretch.
-cranioscopical (March 16, 2010, 05:20 PM)

When it should have been a shrink.

Tuxman · « **Reply #33 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:30 PM »

Non-pirates seldomly need .rar support.

Bamse · « **Reply #34 on:** March 16, 2010, 09:17 PM »

True, zip all the way. And with the right attitude that will never change, WinZip is also cool. How come pirates have always been more open to alternatives? I put money on better compression ratios. Why was ARJ popular in the old days? Again compression ratios. So if there is a desire to find something better look for a program which is excellent in compressing, focus - later worry about missing features, GUI, pretty icons, what your friends will think, how likely it is to become a universal std. There are not many to choose from or much reason to love 7Zip. Pretty sure none are useful if FreeArc is out of the question because planned fixes are not yet implemented, unheard of! Those long lists at benchmarks sites just looks impressive but check out details, if there are any. Having same standards towards them as you do Winrar or even 7Zip will dismiss most of them very fast.

Target · « **Reply #35 on:** March 16, 2010, 09:56 PM »

Non-pirates seldomly need .rar support.
-Tuxman (March 16, 2010, 05:30 PM)

clearly I'm going to need to update my resume - I've used both RAR and 7ZIP for years but never considered myself a pirate

I laboured with very limited resources for a very long time (when all my friends were buying 500G SATA drives I was still working with a 40G IDE drive, and I still only have a dialup internet connection) so the need for an efficient archiving tool was paramount.

They both offered (and still do) far superior performance and options to the existing ZIP solutions, without being so obscure that I can't share a file when I need to.

I don't run any sort of file sharing, I don't post or download pirated software,

yet somehow because I use a legitimate piece of software I am suddenly a pirate?

I somehow doubt it, and I for one consider those sort of statements to be purely inflammatory, ie your claims are unsubstantiated and contribute nothing

and if you can't offer constructive statements, why post them?

Darwin · « **Reply #36 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:34 PM »

Whoa! That pirate crack was a joke, I'm pretty sure. I don't think anyone is accusing you of being a software pirate (?). My read on that comment was that it was a pun - equating "rar" to a pirate's "arr" (as in "Arr, me mateys").

However, while I believe that my reading of it is correct, looking at it again I can certainly see how you would interpret it that way.

Bamse · « **Reply #37 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:50 PM »

Good Target point out actual need for better compression. Kind of the idea with these tools. May be more obvious if you have suffered from zip-format back when a floppy could be distribution media. Worldwide adoption of zip(winzip!) was annoying. Fast internet, big drives makes format less important, not an issue for most who are so lucky to have these things.

Target · « **Reply #38 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:57 PM »

Whoa! That pirate crack was a joke, I'm pretty sure. I don't think anyone is accusing you of being a software pirate (?). My read on that comment was that it was a pun - equating "rar" to a pirate's "arr" (as in "Arr, me mateys").

However, while I believe that my reading of it is correct, looking at it again I can certainly see how you would interpret it that way.
-Darwin (March 16, 2010, 10:34 PM)

could be, but that fact that he stated it twice kind of makes that assumption a bit questionable

FWIW, I wasn't particularly offended personally, but making blanket statements like that sure isn't a good way to win points, nor does it contribute in any way.

Darwin · « **Reply #39 on:** March 16, 2010, 11:08 PM »

could be, but that fact that he stated it twice kind of makes that assumption a bit questionable
-Target (March 16, 2010, 10:57 PM)

Hmm... hadn't noticed that

cranioscopical · « **Reply #40 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:35 AM »

I think Long-John Target should Zip it!

Darwin · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:42 AM »

Yeah, he should Stuff-It!

Target · « **Reply #42 on:** March 17, 2010, 06:42 PM »

that's it, I'm packing it in...

Innuendo · « **Reply #43 on:** March 17, 2010, 08:01 PM »

Rar is indeed the archiver of choice for software pirates. It's just a fact of life. However, there are plenty of legitimate uses & users as well. For example, Rit Labs distributes all beta versions of their email program The Bat! in rar archives.

Darwin · « **Reply #44 on:** March 17, 2010, 11:20 PM »

Rar is indeed the archiver of choice for software pirates.
-Innuendo (March 17, 2010, 08:01 PM)

I was unaware of this... I wonder why?

Target · « **Reply #45 on:** March 18, 2010, 12:36 AM »

Rar is indeed the archiver of choice for software pirates.
-Innuendo (March 17, 2010, 08:01 PM)

I was unaware of this... I wonder why?
-Darwin (March 17, 2010, 11:20 PM)

most likely for the same reason everyone else uses it, because it's a good product (dare I say a leader in it's class...)

Darwin · « **Reply #46 on:** March 18, 2010, 01:41 AM »

Rar is indeed the archiver of choice for software pirates.
-Innuendo (March 17, 2010, 08:01 PM)

I was unaware of this... I wonder why?
-Darwin (March 17, 2010, 11:20 PM)

most likely for the same reason everyone else uses it, because it's a good product (dare I say a leader in it's class...)
-Target (March 18, 2010, 12:36 AM)

Doh! Why didn't I think of that

Very true, of course.

Target · « **Reply #47 on:** March 18, 2010, 01:56 AM »

Doh! Why didn't I think of that
-Darwin (March 18, 2010, 01:41 AM)

I think you might be pulling my (arrrr...wooden?) leg...

CleverCat · « **Reply #48 on:** March 18, 2010, 02:10 AM »

I just found the FREE RAR for Pocket PC!

PhilB66 · « **Reply #49 on:** March 18, 2010, 03:19 AM »

Doh! Why didn't I think of that
-Darwin (March 18, 2010, 01:41 AM)

I think you might be pulling my (arrrr...wooden?) leg...
-Target (March 18, 2010, 01:56 AM)

So you decided to stick around, ha? You must have BALZ