Why use RAR instead of ZIP?

[PixelPusher]

I was wondering why you decided to post the PDF versions of your guides in RAR files rather than ZIP files. ZIP files are so common, I must have half dozen programs that can read them including some that I have written myself. Now I'm going to have find a UnRar utility. :( Any suggestions for a good one ... I would probably want a CmdLine one and one with a GUI?

-Eric

[Oldy]

RAR gives a better compression than ZIP which is the primary reason it's used.

You can get a trial copy of WinRAR (probably the most common s/w) from:

w*w.rarsoft.com

OB

[Doom9]

there's both cli and gui versions of winrar.. and I didn't set it up as I wrote in the news.

[LIGHTNING UK!]

WinRAR is an excellent program....so good infact, I actually paid for it!!! I like to support these small development companies that create quality software :)
I stopped using WinZip a long time ago...WinRAR is soooo much better. WinRAR has been designed how I would have done it...I therefore find it much easier to use, and it does what I want it to. I find WinZip somewhat limiting and the interface has been bodged to include functionality at a late stage of the programs development cycle when in actual fact, the whole thing should have been redesigned.

Just my opinion...nothing more :)

[vinetu]

... and as I known WinZip can open ONLY zip archives,
WinRar can open zip,ace,arj,jar ... nice and easy to use !

vinetu

[windtrader]

For those who are primarily extracting compressed files, Winzip is great since it is FREE. I had to download winrar to extract some stuff and I am hoping there is a free, stripped down version that does the extracting. It seems only recently and from Europe that rar is popping up more. US based files are nearly all winzip.

Any tips on getting the free reader would be great.

Thanks

[Doom9]

winzip free? I don't think so. There's a zip program built in in WinMe and WinXP but you paid for the OS, didn't you? Plus that buit-in functionality is actually buggy.. it can't open every zip file

[windtrader]

ok - I stand corrected. Since I have used the evaluation copy of winzip for so long, I just don't even think about the splash screen. It is fully functional though.

There is a FREE program called powerdesk 4 that handles many file types. Quote from their site:

"Supports all major compression formats (zip, cab, arj, rar, etc.)"

It works on single rar files but I did problems on multipart rar files. I'll need to go back and try it again.

www ontrack com

[TrinitroToluene]

ZipCentral is just like WinZip, and has all the features, but it is completely free. It doesn't support anything except zip files though.

[ftack]

With all risks involved of continuing this totally of-topic tread ;-) there are many great freeware zip-utilities. I am using UltimateZip and I could flawlessly decompress the zip AND the resulting RAR archive with this single utility.

[Ookami]

I agree totally with LIGHTNING UK!! Only I didn't bought WinRAR, I've translated it into the Croatian language instead :) . IMO, it has perfect usability and design.

The only downsize is that the new archives cannot be read by versions smaller than 2.9 :( . "New algorithm is more powerful, but it was impossible to improve it so much without losing compatibility."

Cheers,

Ookie.

[windtrader]

Ftack,

Great tip! Ultimatezip handles multi file rar which failed in powerdesk. This will work great for me (price and function).

Powerdesk is much more than just a zipper since it replaces the explore function in Win and integrates all zip processes. It handles single file rar, just got hung up on the multi-files.

I'll keep powerdesk for everything except multi-file rars which I will leave to UZ.

Thanks,
Don

[bhuynh]

winace is sooooo much better than winrar and winzip. you should check it out. It can do everything from zip-rar-to ace compression

[Ookami]

Grin. Just waited for that... Ok, people, no need to turn this into a "this format is better than that format" thread. How about linking to a compression format comparison or something? I saw a few links on Powerdivx.com but don't have them at hand to insert them here...

Cheers,

Ookie.

Originally posted by bhuynh
winace is sooooo much better than winrar and winzip. you should check it out. It can do everything from zip-rar-to ace compression

[Doom9]

we've gone off-topic enough here. time to end this.