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Top 5 Compression Utilities

Move beyond your bundled software with one of these backup utilities.

Danny Allen

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ConeXware PowerArchiver 2006 (9.63) PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0

Last Rated: January 18, 2007

BEST BUY!

1. ConeXware PowerArchiver 2006 (9.63)

Price when rated: $20, Compressed test-file size: 87%, Compression speed: Very Good, Ease of archive creation: Very Good, Ease of archive extraction: Superior, PCW Rating: 83 Very Good, <a href="/downloads/file/fid,7205-order,1-page,1/description.html">Download</a> ,

Bottom Line: Versatile, easy-to-use app provides numerous archive formats and encryption support, plus a range of useful, integrated tools.

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M.Dev Software ZipGenius 6 Standard Edition PCW Rating: 81.0PCW Rating: 81.0PCW Rating: 81.0

Last Rated: January 18, 2007

2. M.Dev Software ZipGenius 6 Standard Edition

Price when rated: Free, Compressed test-file size: 88%, Compression speed: Poor, Ease of archive creation: Good, Ease of archive extraction: Superior, PCW Rating: 81 Very Good, <a href="/downloads/file/fid,64449-order,1-page,1/description.html">Download</a> ,

Bottom Line: This free alternative generally competes well against its commercial competition.

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Smith Micro Software StuffIt Standard 9.5 PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated: January 18, 2007

3. Smith Micro Software StuffIt Standard 9.5

Price when rated: $25, Compressed test-file size: 89%, Compression speed: Superior, Ease of archive creation: Good, Ease of archive extraction: Very Good, PCW Rating: 79 Good, <a href="/downloads/file/fid,7722-order,1-page,1/description.html">Download</a> ,

Bottom Line: StuffIt delivers strong archive management and encryption options, but suffers from a few usability annoyances.

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RARLAB WinRAR 3.61 PCW Rating: 76.0PCW Rating: 76.0PCW Rating: 76.0

Last Rated: January 18, 2007

4. RARLAB WinRAR 3.61

Price when rated: $29, Compressed test-file size: 89%, Compression speed: Very Good, Ease of archive creation: Very Good, Ease of archive extraction: Superior, PCW Rating: 76 Good, <a href="/downloads/file/fid,7573-order,1-page,1/description.html">Download</a> ,

Bottom Line: WinRAR is the only program capable of creating RAR files. It boasts powerful automation and command-line tools.

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WinZip Computing WinZip 11 (standard) PCW Rating: 74.0PCW Rating: 74.0PCW Rating: 74.0

Last Rated: January 18, 2007

5. WinZip Computing WinZip 11 (standard)

Price when rated: $30, Compressed test-file size: 86%, Compression speed: Poor, Ease of archive creation: Good, Ease of archive extraction: Superior, PCW Rating: 74 Good, <a href="/downloads/file/fid,4172-order,1-page,1/description.html">Download</a>,

Bottom Line: WinZip 11 retains a familiar interface but lacks some advanced tools. Its strongest ZIP compression option can't be extracted by any program except WinZip 10 or 11.

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