PeaZip

Nowadays, ZIP files are widely used especially by Internet users. That's because they have an efficient compression algorithm that cuts down the time required for downloading or uploading a file, thus saving time and bandwidth. But ZIP files can also be used for backup purposes, as it's much easier to have a single file that contains all the user's information located on a memory stick, for example, than to copy or move all the files one by one. No matter the purposes, ZIP files are always useful. That's why it's vital to have a tool that can handle ZIP files.

The Windows operating system has the ability to create and extract ZIP files, but the features are extremely limited, as the user cannot configure compression settings. A much better tool would be PeaZip.

This is basically an archiving tool that supports a wide range of formats, for archiving and also for extracting from archives, using a variety of settings. There is no archive format that PeaZip can't handle and even the formats that are not so widely used are still supported by PeaZip.

The program is a Windows application that can be installed in almost any version of the Microsoft operating system, like XP or Windows 7. It has a straightforward installation process that can be completed by any type of user with minimum effort. No high-end computers are required for running PeaZip, because the system requirements are extremely low.

Speaking about the program's interface, we can say that it resembles the one of other archiving utilities, but features many more options. These options can be accessed either by using the classical menu or the graphical buttons. Either way, one will get familiar with the program in the shortest time possible. Besides the possibility of creating a wide range of archive types using various compression settings, PeaZip can also convert an existing archive to another format and can also protect new and existing archives with passwords, preventing unauthorized users from viewing the archives' contents. The algorithm used for password protecting archives is the well known AES, but there is also a proprietary format available.

Besides dealing with archives, PeaZip can also act as a file manager, resembling Windows Explorer. This features is useful because it makes it easier to add files to archives or to manage already created archives. The software comes with some extra tools, like a password manager, where the user can safely store all his passwords. A feature that other archiving tools don't have is the possibility to create a keyfile to be used together with a protected archive. This makes the archive securer and more difficult to be accessed by hackers.

There are numerous languages available for the interface and, in case the user doesn't find the language he wants, he can easily create one with his own translation. Using the interface, one can have access to the most used system tools, like Disk Cleaner or Disk Defragmenter.

A system benchmark can be initiated from the interface, which tests how much time it takes to create or extract files from an actual archive. At the end of this benchmark, a complete report will be displayed, allowing the user to make an idea about how fast his system is.