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Software Review of:
StuffIt
Ver 5.5

 

Bill Klutz does consulting work, primarily in the areas of Management and Computer Applications/Hardware/Software.

From the August, 2002 issue of PC Alamode Magazine

StuffIt! Depending on when you say it, how you say it, and to whom you say it, someone could mistake it for the disparaging remark that was popular a few years back. For the business oriented, putting something in an envelope (mass mailing) might pop into your head. For the average person it might mean putting a lot in a little space. For the computer crowd (those reading this magazine), it could only refer to something about computers. I could provide examples for each, but I will let it be your "mental test for today." 

StuffIt is a "File Compression/Decompression Utility," but has some stand-out features. It is probably the most powerful, easiest-to-use compression utility around - awesome power that's easy to use. The Browser is user friendly, and makes things easy. You can extract single or multiple items, or manipulate archive contents in a snap! With a simple menu selection, you can quickly select the compression or decompression format you need. Plus, you get a powerful array of advanced features, including password protection, creation of multi-volume archives, SFX archives and more.

StuffIt doesn't require you to learn a complicated application. Just drag your files to the desktop shortcut or right-click on a file or folder, and software does the rest automatically! It can even compress a file and attach it to a new E-Mail in one step. There's no application to launch, no renaming of files, none of the hoops that other programs make you jump through. Aladdin was the first to make compressing and sending a file so easy! Compress and E-Mail a file to anyone, anywhere just by right-clicking on a file and selecting your compression format of choice. Your file is automatically compressed and attached to an outgoing E-Mail message. Just address it, press "Send" and you're done!

StuffIt supports more compression and E-Mail formats than any other. It has full compression and expansion support for the most used formats in Windows, Mac, Linux and Unix, plus others: SIT, ZIP, EXE, CAB, TAR, TGZ, GZ, ARJ, ARC, RAR, ACE, LZH, LHA, UU, HQX, BIN, MIME. (Some of these I have never heard of, but then I have never been accused of being the most informed guy on the block.) StuffIt also includes the most comprehensive set of expansion and decoding formats of all. This means that files and file attachments can be turned over to StuffIt with THE confidence that you'll get out what the originator put in.

StuffIt helps you work faster, easier, and smarter. Nothing is reported to put information or data in a smaller space, NOTHING! Compress and compare - an average of 20% smaller than Zip. With StuffIt, you can easily backup more items into archives, and cram more files onto Zip disks, Jaz cartridges, CDs and other removable media. You literally get the best compression average possible.

StuffIt offers one solution for all your needs. It is the only solution you should ever need for file compression and decompression. Let's face it, you simply want a program that can handle any compressed or encoded file you come across, and that is easy to use. I believe you will find StuffIt to be that one!

StuffIt appears to be the new program standard. Difficult-to-use and complicated archiving tasks should be a thing of the past. Nothing is reported to be easier than StuffIt. And it has the best multi-lingual support - fully two-byte compatible and Unicode compliant. Only StuffIt makes compressed files that can be read by anyone, anywhere with their free downloadable Expander (available at the web site). 

Download an "Evaluation Copy" from the web site and check it out for yourself. It lists for $29.95, but there was a special (when I last checked), so it would only cost you only $19.95. I think if you try it, you will like the program.

System requirements: 
486 or higher; Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000. ME; 16 MB RAM; (Since there was a CD in the box, I am including: CD-Drive).

Contact Information: 

Aladdin Systems
245 Westridge Drive
Watsonville, CA 95076
831-761-6200


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