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RAR files have become a more and more popular method of compression. Windows does not natively support RAR. I don't know which frustrates me more, the fact that Windows doesn't natively support RAR or the fact that more and more people are using a format not natively supported by Windows to compress their downloads. [:@]

Well, RAR is a bit more advanced than the "zip" format, and from what I hear, the best widely available format for compressing video files. And there are good freeware compress/decompress programs; my current favorite is PeaZip, available at:
http://peazip.sourceforge.net/

7Zip is another freeware option, one that can be integrated in to your right click command shell.

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

RAR files have become a more and more popular method of compression. Windows does not natively support RAR. I don't know which frustrates me more, the fact that Windows doesn't natively support RAR or the fact that more and more people are using a format not natively supported by Windows to compress their downloads. [:@]

I'd disagree that more and more are using RAR I left RAR for 7-Zip because it's free and much better and easier to use.

EDIT: Oh you were talking about WinZip? Thought you were refering to 7-Zip...sorry.

I recommend 7-zip as well... but using windows "send to windows compress (zipped) folder" is easily the most user friendly option.

RAR has been around since shortly after ZIP replaced ARC in popularity, in the 80's.

Another happy 7-zip user here. 100% freeware, small, easy to use and compatible with .zip, .rar and a lot of other compression formats.

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

7Zip is another freeware option, one that can be integrated in to your right click command shell.

I use 7-zip. It has all the formats and doesn't have annoying shareware pop-ups asking you to purchase. It's freeware, so what could be better?

Also a 7zip user... I feel it works best.. especially when unzipping mods into directories.. and best of all it's free..

Isn't Free wonderful? In an age where so many are greedy to the last cent it's nice to get something free for a change.

RAR or 7Zip works for me.
No preference.

I may be wrong, but reason .rar files are becoming more popularity is due to the fact .rar have more compression. Let's say compress a 100MB file. The space .rar takes up is much less than a zip files, even though they are both compressing the same file. Smaller size means it is much easier to upload and download than .zip files.

you are correct... but IMHO nothing is as convenient as using the built in zip conpression available through explorer

ORIGINAL: Andrew Williams

you are correct... but IMHO nothing is as convenient as using the built in zip conpression available through explorer

7-zip (and i think virtually any other compressing program) also has this explorer built in utility.
Cheers

ORIGINAL: Andrew Williams

you are correct... but IMHO nothing is as convenient as using the built in zip conpression available through explorer

Again, it .rar files are much easier to download and upload. This makes far easier on the person who doesn't have that fast of a connection. So convience argument can go both ways. Plus, having an external program for compression is becoming the norm nowadays.

ORIGINAL: V22 Osprey

ORIGINAL: Andrew Williams

you are correct... but IMHO nothing is as convenient as using the built in zip conpression available through explorer

Yes, but not everyone uses explorer.A Majority of the people I know use Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome and hell, even I use Opera. So vast majority of people(including all Apple/Mac users) this statement is irrelevant and does not apply.

And here I thought he was talking about windoze explorer's shell, not windoze' interblech exploder. In which case the argument was irrelevant, as most all archivers can integrate into same (as was pointed out above).

Being one who has never used interblech exploder, I did not even know it had built-in zip support!

ORIGINAL: E

ORIGINAL: V22 Osprey

ORIGINAL: Andrew Williams

you are correct... but IMHO nothing is as convenient as using the built in zip conpression available through explorer

Yes, but not everyone uses explorer.A Majority of the people I know use Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome and hell, even I use Opera. So vast majority of people(including all Apple/Mac users) this statement is irrelevant and does not apply.

And here I thought he was talking about windoze explorer's shell, not windoze' interblech exploder. In which case the argument was irrelevant, as most all archivers can integrate into same (as was pointed out above).

Being one who has never used interblech exploder, I did not even know it had built-in zip support!

Yes, when I first read I thought he was talking about internet explorer, then when I re-read it I saw that he was talking about windows explorer. I edited it and corrected my mistake, I was hoping no one else noticed.[:D]

I was referring to windows explorer not IE.

As you can see abouve I use and recommend 7-zip (i ALSO HAVE WINRAR INSTALLED)

BUT

my mother doesn't want to arse around installing extra bloatware when stock windows can handle the task for her.

if you want a standard portable archiving format zip is the one that everyone can use as simply as (windows) explorer.