Ob bei Downloads, dem Versenden und Empfangen von E-Mails oder bei der Archivierung von Daten – auch in Zeiten von riesigen Festplatten und Online-Speichern wie Dropbox sind Packprogramme eine unverzichtbare Hilfe. Windows selbst kann zwar Dateien im Zip-Format packen und entpacken, damit hat es sich dann aber auch schon. Alle anderen Dateiformate blieben außen vor. Der Einsatz eines Packprogramms bietet also nach wie vor große Vorteile. Wir stellen die besten Programme vor.
1. Winzip
The classic! Winzip in the current version 16.5 (from € 35.50) offers, as usual, a range of functions that go beyond a pure packing program - such as data encryption and the option to write files directly to CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc. Compressing and unpacking files is extremely convenient. Winzip can only create three formats (Zip, ZipX, LHA), but can read considerably more formats (e.g. RAR, 7Z).
2. WinRAR
The WinRAR packer has also been on the market for a long time. The software (current version 4.20) still impresses with one of the most effective compression methods. A small disadvantage: WinRAR can only create Rar and Zip files. The number of supported formats for reading and unpacking, on the other hand, is very large. WinRAR is shareware - you can test it for 40 days free of charge, then you have to purchase a license (from approx. € 35). You can download WinRAR here, for example.
3. Power Archiver
Much more than packing and unpacking kann auch das Programm Power Archiver. In der aktuellen Version 2012 (ab € 19,95) kann die Software in vier verschiedenen Deteiformaten komprimieren (u. a. Zip, ZipX, RAR) und 20 weitere Formate öffnen. Power Archiver liefert zudem eine umfangreiche Unterstützung für die Datei-Archivierung, wie Erstellen und Brennen von ISO-Dateien und die Bearbeitung von Blue-Ray-Medien. Der integrierte Multicore-Support für moderne Prozessoren beschleunigt die Komprimierung enorm – dabei können dann auch mehrere Dateien gleichzeitig bearbeitet werden.
4. 7-Zip
One of the best known Packing programs from the freeware scene is 7Zip. With 7z, it offers its own file format, but also supports a large number of formats, both when packing (Zip, WIM, GZip) and unpacking (ARJ, CAB, DMG, FAT, RAR ...) files. As the name Freeware suggests, the installation and use of 7Zip is free of charge, but the user interface is also rather sparse.
5. TugZip
TugZip is a free, lean and therefore easy to use Extremely fast packing programwhich can process many formats (including Zip, 7z, RAR) and is intuitive to use. The packer uses a view that is similar to Windows Explorer, making it easy for users to get started. Although TugZip has not been updated for some time (last version 3.5), it is still one of the best freeware packing programs.
6. PeaZip
Another free packing program - and in several versions: PeaZip is available as a 32- and 64-bit version, for Linux computers and as a portable version for all those who do not want to install any software on their computer. The current version 4.7.2 supports a large number of formats (Zip, 7z, WIM, ARC, Tar). If desired, PeaZip protects the created archives with a password.
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It's great that the programs are presented and the pros and cons are listed, but a conclusion at the end as to which device has the edge would have been very cool.
7-ZIP is of course at the front. Even my university has installed it in the computer pool.