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Entered CNET Catalog: 06/03/2004
SKU: PKZ008003ENGAA001
Manufacturer: PKWARE, Inc.
Manufacturer description
Why settle for a mere compression utility? With advanced usability, cross-platform compatibility, and administrative features, PKZIP v8 for Windows meets the tough demands of today's businesses - large and small. Easy to use and straightforward to deploy and control, PKZIP helps you efficiently optimize your infrastructure without re-training your users. Now that's real value.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/21/2004
PKZip for Windows 8.0's wizard makes creating archives easy.
Once installed, if you want it to, PKZip for Windows 8.0 can automatically associate itself with any existing ZIP archives on your system. Manually, by either right-clicking the files you wish to zip or launching the wizard from the main program interface, you can create new ZIP file archives. The PKZip for Windows 8.0 Wizard feature helps new users master the basic functions of creating, updating, or extracting a ZIP archive within minutes, and the app also offers options to customize its interface. For example, you can change the screen layout--the toolbar selection, for example--by using the View pull-down menu, or you can customize the toolbar from the Tools menu.
There's also a digital-signature feature that allows recipients to verify that you sent them an e-mail message. To use PKZip's digital-signature feature, however, you'll first need to obtain your own digital certificate. If you're considering signing your electronic documents, a link under the Help menu takes you to a page on PKWare's site with more information and links to digital certificate providers. PKZip for Windows 8.0's new interface is a significant improvement over previous versions and puts all of its features right at your fingertips. In addition to the normal extracting and archiving capabilities you'd expect from any ZIP program, PKZip for Windows 8.0 offers password-based strong encryption using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) powered by RSA Bsafe encryption software from RSA Security. It also offers integration with popular e-mail and antivirus programs so that you can create, antivirus-check, and send a ZIP archive from within Microsoft Outlook.
PKZip for Windows 8.0 also includes many configuration options, including a centralized administrative control module. Using these centralized controls, a network administrator can lock down program options for encryption, digital signing, and zipping of e-mail attachments so that individual users on a network cannot change them. For example, the terms of a legal contract in the Microsoft Word format could be sent without individuals being able to modify the contents of that file.
PKZip for Windows 8.0 offers a wide range of configuration options
One nice touch in this version of PKZip is its ability to encrypt files with a single click. The filename-encryption option, available by right-clicking, also protects your filenames from snoopers. You can even encrypt files already in an archive--nice.
One complaint: We found the toggle keys for turning on and off encryption and signing confusing. It wasn't easy to tell what state they were in from their subtle graphic indication, and the pull-down menu option didn't make it obvious, either. We wish PKZip hadn't opted for a fancy icon rather than the traditional check mark. PKZip for Windows 8.0's improved integrated help system now provides informative and easy-to-follow help screens. There's also a QuickStart Tutorial that walks you through all basic archiving concepts.
In the unlikely event that the PKZip Help file isn't helpful, you'll also find an excellent and well-organized Technical Support section on the PKWare site. PKZip for Windows 8.0's Web-based technical support includes a collection of thorough FAQs, a complete electronic version of the user manual, and links to support newsgroups. Registered users can receive support both via telephone, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, and via e-mail.
