Ever broke your head out of frustration because you couldn’t copy a large file into a floppy? Ever threw a tantrum in front of the PC because you couldn’t attach a corpulent file to an e-mail because its size? Ever went out of the house without zipping your fly? Welcome to Winzip. It can ingeniously solve the first two problems and more but not the last one.
Developed by Winzip Computing Inc, this software has significantly morphed over various versions and is currently into the beta testing phase of its ninth avatar. Like all things bold and beautiful, it has been vastly improved over the years in terms of features and usage without succumbing to commercial considerations and that, is one reason why it continues to remain as popular as ever.
The interface version 8 has been made more like the Windows interface and comes with the twin options of “Classic” and “Wizard” interfaces. While the Classic interface is completely based on the windows screen and carries the now-familiar menu bar and big icons, the Wizard is smaller and automatically carries the user through a series of screens with various options.
Apart from the huge icons in the toolbar, it has also been integrated more closely with IE and Windows. No longer does one have to go through the cumbersome process of opening Winzip everytime to zip or unzip files. Just right click in IE, the desktop or on the application and the menu automatically shows an option to use Winzip. It’s also quite smart to know what folders to scout for and what to avoid thus saving on precious time.
Perhaps the best advancement is the option to zip and e-mail files – something that was absent in the earlier versions. What really makes it a winner is its ability to zip or unzip all kinds of files. In the four years since I’ve started using it, am yet to come across a particular kind of file which it couldn’t tackle. Internet Junkies who are crazy after screensavers and desktop themes will be delighted that Winzip can automatically unzip and install these files.
The help feature is refreshingly simple and helpful. Not that it requires a lot of help in handling such a small utility but some aid is always welcome to cilleterates. The “Use Shell Extension” checkbox under “Options” is a great help and determines whether the WinZip Explorer context menus are enabled, and whether one can use the “Drag and Drop” feature to zip and unzip files.
While the above features are terrific and greatly enhance its overall utility, the speed at which it operates is as swift as ever. Another problem that the earlier versions faced was their inability to zip files spanning more than one floppy disk which was fixed in version 8. Fortunately, I haven’t faced any problems even when unzipping from more than one floppy. It automatically detects which floppy what part of the zipped file and instructs the user accordingly.
Thus Spake TiC
This is one of the very few softwares that have shown consistency in upgradation. Most of the other biggies often screw up in trying to get oversmart and sacrificing quality and speed in the process. I find it so amazing that despite adding so many new features in every subsequent version, the setup file retains its microcosmic form. The download process barely takes a few seconds, a minute perhaps on slow systems and slower connections and the setup is done before one even realizes it.
Winzip has all the trappings of a successful software – its fast, its efficient and its dependable. There are no bugs and no draining of system resources. As a user, what else can one ask for? Do check out the beta release of Version 9, I’ve heard that it contains a surprise or two. What I like best is that though it’s meant to be strictly an evaluation version, it performs all the basic functions without blocking or disabling any of them even after using it beyond the stipulated trial period.
And yes, do tell me if you figure out a way to tackle the third scenario I mentioned at the beginning ;-)