Winrar is compression software of files par excellence, allowing you as a user to manage your files in a quite efficient way, even controlling the amount of disk space they will occupy and the way in which we will save them. Without a doubt, since its launch on April 22, 1995, this program has been integrated into collective thinking when it comes to efficient and reliable file managers.
However, as the years have passed, many developers have wanted to compete in this area. From specialized software such as 7zip, Azip, 8Zip and Zipware. Even the creators of operating systems used in our daily lives.
For example, it is the case of Microsoft the creators of Windows, the most used operating system in the entire world. Who, in search of providing greater comfort to their users and unmatched practicality, has integrated in the latest versions a file manager that can interact with compressed files in a way very similar to that of Winrar.
Many users have appreciated this integration, as it eliminates the need to install other software on their systems, without taking away the possibilities for interaction with the file types supported by Winrar and other similar programs.
For many others, this only reduces the power of the file manager on their computers due to the clear advantage of specialized software over the manager integrated into Windows.
All this leads us to ask ourselves, How necessary is Winrar today? Taking into account new versions like Windows 11 and all the possibilities it brings with it, does it really make a difference to use special software for each task, or is it enough to integrate certain tools into the Microsoft operating system to supply them?
Throughout this article we will present you with objective data that can help you choose whether installing the new version of Winrar on your computer is the best option, or if it is more appropriate for you to stick with the functionalities presented by the new tools integrated into Windows 11.
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What are the real differences between the Microsoft tool and Winrar 6.02?
The most relevant differences between these two types of file managers are many, we will try to explain them to you in a fairly organized way by telling you a little about each software.
WinRAR
One of the strong points of this manager is its file support, since since version 6.00, we have compatibility for compressing files with the .RAR and ZIP 2.0 extension, in addition to the possibility of decompressing CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR files. , TAR.Z, TAR.GZ, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, ISO, JAR, RAR, Z and 7Z.
With this software we can also compress with the management of 64-bit files with which we can comfortably manage files of a weight that could be defined as colossal since it supports files of up to 90000 PetaBytes, that is, in terms of the weight of the files to be managed, Winrar is unlimited.
It also supports programmable and multivolume self-removable format files. Being able to also generate split files.
And on another point, it is a very reliable software in terms of the security of your files because it uses a Rinjdael AES-256 encryption, with which it achieves a fairly robust encryption that prevents modifications, protects against damage to the file, and It also allows you to configure anti-virus checking, secure deletion to eliminate sensitive data, and also allows you to recover damaged files.
Although its compression is not the most powerful among programs of this style, it does deliver what it promises, considerably reducing the size of the files on your hard drive.
Beyond all this, the RARLab software is quite simple to install and use, you just have to go to its website and download it, then run the .exe file that is generated on your PC and in a couple of minutes you will have it at your disposal. all its functionalities.
Windows File Explorer
In this case, although its greatest strength is the direct integration with the operating system, it has certain shortcomings when we talk about compatibility, because, although it supports a large part of the formats presented in Winrar or 7Zip, it does not include the RAR format for its use. compression and only includes the option to do it in Zip.
This may be an understandable limitation, considering that the compression format in RAR, RAR4, RAR6 and their derivatives are for the exclusive use of RARLab. However, it still conditions users' access to the compressor included in Windows file explorer in one way or another.
Now, a clear advantage, as we have already said, is its integration with the system, which could logically translate into a greater speed of communication with the system. And in a way the Microsoft team has managed to do it quite well, obtaining a plus point in terms of compression speed, but lacking the many other possibilities present in specialized software like Winrar.
For example, compression is not as effective and does not have as much security as other formats. Although its encryption is of the same type, the encryption that Winrar performs on compressed files with its available protection measures is much more efficient and to a certain extent more reliable.
Accessibility is indeed one of the clearest examples of advantages in the Windows file explorer compressor, since just by right-clicking you will be able to see the “Extract All” option in files with very different extensions. All this from the first minute of use in your new operating system and without the need to install third-party software, which, as in the case of Winrar, is paid.
So what is the best compression tool between these two options?
Everything will depend on you, the use you give to files of this type, and how much you need to compress your files. Although the Windows file explorer tool is quite efficient, if you are looking for good loading speeds and constant optimization with guaranteed support for any of your concerns, Winrar should be your preferred option.
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