7-Zip 4.57

Publisher's description of 7-Zip

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The main features of 7-Zip: High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression. Supported formats: Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR; Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS. For ZIP and GZIP formats 7-Zip provides compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip. Self-extracting capability for 7z format. Integration with Windows Shell. Powerful File Manager. Powerful command line version. Version 4.57 supports WinZip-compatible AES-256 encryption for .ZIP archives and 7-Zip can unpack MSI and WIM archives now. Also there are some speed optimizations.

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Editor's review of 7-Zip

It's easy for Windows users to forget that WinZip isn't the only file-compression utility in the world. Like its better-known competitors, the free 7-Zip unpacks a host of archive formats, including ZIP, TAR, GZ, and its own 7z format. Unlike WinZip, though, it can create TAR and GZ archives, which are commonly used on Unix and Linux systems.

The program's ability to shrink files was stunning. In our tests, 7z archives were up to 40 percent smaller then their ZIP equivalents, although compression did take longer, and the highest compression settings can hog system resources. Advanced options include the ability to create solid and self-extracting archives, and to adjust the compression level and password protection. The program also has a command line module. Though the main interface is overly simple and looks like it was designed for Windows 95, it's not hard to use and fairly self-explanatory. The context menu options, which include "testing" an archive, indicate that 7-Zip should be taken seriously.

7-Zip is fine for casual users with a bit of computer savvy, but it's especially well-suited for developers and anyone else who moves between the Windows and Linux/Unix worlds.

User reviews of 7-Zip

• Average user rating: out of 363 votes
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  7-Zip

  Very nice..

  by: JoyceNgo on 31-Dec-2007 04:12:44 PM

  Pros: 7-Zip is free and functions very well. First, its fast, small in size (less than 1MB!), and free! Supports a load of file types, simple and easy to see where the options are when using it.

  Cons: Well, the icons aren't very nice, although it is a very small price to pay for something that's free and does a lot more than a lot other paid compression programs do. It also doesn't pack .RAR, sadly. I would love it if it would.

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (6 of 6 users said yes)

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  7-Zip

  does everything winrar and winzip does

  by: PC_Nerd-Henry_Chan on 12-Jan-2008 10:23:16 PM

  Pros: does everything winrar and winzip does but it's small and clean interface

  Cons: the buttons look bad but that brings fast.

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (3 of 4 users said yes)

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  7-Zip

  GOOD & FREE

  by: fernando bentes on 01-Jun-2008 04:46:23 AM

  Cons: COULD HAVE BETTER COMPRESSION

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  7-Zip

  powerful, fast program; a little awkward to use

  by: hkipod on 14-Jan-2008 04:03:45 AM

  Pros: Very fast, good compression, handles different formats

  Cons: Doesn't make RAR files; command structure not very intuitive

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (3 of 3 users said yes)

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  7-Zip

  Unstable and slow, good compression when it doens't crash

  by: exby2004 on 25-Apr-2008 04:58:08 PM

  Pros: Supports a lot of different types of formats.

  Cons: Really bad interface. Often crashes when compressing many files. Better options out there.

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (1 of 1 users said yes)

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