Get better file compression with 7-zip

File compression is even better with the open source and free software 7-Zip. This free file compression utility works on windows vista/XP and in earlier versions of windows too.There is also a command line version for Linux/Unix.

7-Zip supports a new high 7Z format that provides very high file compression ratio.Some of the features of 7Z format include:

Open architecture
High file compression ratio
Strong AES-256 encryption
Ability of using any compression, conversion or encryption method
Supporting files with sizes up to 16000000000 GB
Unicode file names
Solid compressing
Archive headers compressing

However for ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip only provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than that of the more popular file compression utilities, WinZip and PKZip.

I tried compression a word document into 7Z format and zip format with 7-Zip.The zip format generated by 7-zip definitely had a size lesser than that produced by winzip.However the 7Z format achieved a very high file compression ratio.It is definitely a very good format to share files. Being free, it should definitely find more usage by windows users.Spread the word about 7-Zip.