Portable Document Format (PDF) documents are everywhere.  They're used for everything from IRS tax forms to instruction manuals.  You can read PDFs on almost any computer, and many other devices like phones and PDAs.  Their fillable forms can be extremely useful.  If you work with PDF files in your own business or on your web site, there are many programs on FindApp that can save you money and make your job easier.

Many people think that creating PDF files requires expensive software.  However, PDF Vista makes it easy. To turn any document into a PDF, just print it using the PDF Vista virtual printer.  In only a few seconds your document is converted into a Portable Document Format file.  PDF Vista is an excellent, easy-to-use and reasonably priced way to create Portable Document Files..

Now that we have created PDF files, what if we want to change one?  Sometimes you create a wonderful  document, and after it is already in use you have to change one word or one date or one phone number.  You can modify your documents using PDF Editor.  A simple mouse-controlled interface lets you change, add, or remove text, graphics, links, and comments easily.  This is the perfect way to quickly update an existing PDF.

Finally, what if you have information in PDF form, and you need to use it in another program?  To turn a PDF into other formats, consider Total PDF Converter.  It uses a simple wizard interface to turn Portable Document Format files into Word, Excel, HTML, Text, and many other file formats.  If there is data in a PDF that you need to work with in another program, for instance a table of numbers that you need in a spreadsheet, Total PDF Converter is exactly what you need.

There are almost 100 programs in the PDF Software category on FindApp.  If you use PDFs, take a few minutes to browse through it.  You will certainly find something that can make your work more efficient and save you money.

Files are getting bigger all the time.  Even in these days of inexpensive hard drives with enormous capacity, there are still plenty of reasons to use file compression programs.  If you are sending a file over the Internet, cutting its size by half reduces transfer time by half.  If you're putting files on a DVD or CD, size is very important.  Compression software also makes it easy to combine many files into a single archive.  It's much easier to share a single RAR or ZIP file which contains hundreds of files than to make someone download each file separately.

There are many different compression programs out there.  Undoubtedly, the two most popular PC compression formats today are Zip and RAR.  Both have the ability to greatly reduce the size of files, to store multiple files in folders in their archives, and to extract the files with several options.  The main practical difference between them is that Zip is older and not protected by a patent, so there are many different programs that can create and open Zip files. The RAR format is restricted to software approved by the creator and there is somewhat less of it available.

For this review I tested the leading Zip and Rar programs, WinZip by WinZip Computing and WinRAR by RARLAB.  I compared them in two areas:  User Interface and Performance.

As you see, the two programs have a very similar interface, with a file list and colorful, easy-to-recognize icons.

Both programs also have a Wizard to perform basic tasks (create an archive, open and extract files from an archive). I do find the WinRAR file selection interface more intuitive.  Both programs integrate with Windows Explorer and with your email in very similar ways.  Overall, the two programs are very similar in both appearance and functionality.  At least for me, WinRAR is slightly more intuitive. 

2.  Performance

For a compression program, there are two types of performance:  compression ratio (how small they can make files) and speed (how long it takes to compress files).  For this test, I compressed a folder containing a mixture of documents, images, video and audio files, and data files from different programs.  The uncompressed size of the folder is 112 mb.  I tested each program three ways:  with default settings, set for maximum compression, and set for maximum speed.  Here are the results:

WinRAR does seem to live up to its claim to be the fastest compression software.  In the "Default" section WinZip takes less time, but it does so by giving slightly worse compression.  (All compression numbers here are low because I was working with music and image files, which do not compress very much.  Documents may compress by as much as 75%.) I didn't do formal tests, but uncompression of RAR files also appears to be slightly faster than Zip.

Interestingly, both programs support the other one's file format.  WinZip can uncompress RAR archives.  WinRAR can actually create Zip files as well as open them.  (Remember, the Zip format is not patent-protected.)  I tested WinRAR compressing the same folder using the default Zip settings.  It took 2:46 to compress by 13%, so clearly WinZip is better at Zipping than WinRAR.  Both programs can also open many other types of compressed files, including TGZ, 7Zip, and LHA.

Which one should you buy?  Both can do almost anything you need from a general file compression utility.  WinRAR does give better performance in most circumstances.  WinZip has additional features like job automation for the advanced user.  Also, if you are planning to share your files, your audience is more likely to have an unzipper than an unRAR program.  And of course, there's nothing stopping you from having both.

Why not take advantage of FindApp's try-before-you-buy philosophy?  Download them both and see which one you like the best. 

Agree?  Disagree?  Post your own reviews on the product pages!

It matters how things look.  Whether you're trying to sell products, giving a gift, or creating a DVD collection, it's important to you how the package looks.  You can find lots of software packages on FindApp that help create CD labels or box covers.  Quick 3D Cover handles a different job: it directly creates images of the packaging, without your having to make and then photograph the package.  For instance, Figure 1 is a box image, making this 3D illustration took about 10 minutes. 

The program is designed to be easy for anyone to use.  There is a simple text tutorial available from the opening screen, which explains the four-step process:

1. Choose a template.  In Quick 3D Cover, a template can be a box, a label, a card, and other types of object.
2. Select graphics to display on each side.
3. Decide what size image to create.
4. Save your image.

Despite the name, Quick 3D Cover is not limited to producing covers and box images.  If you do presentations, you'll find its ability to simulate screens, portable devices, and even clipboards very useful.  Here's another example: 

I really like this program, but I can't call it perfect.  It's very powerful, but the user interface is not as straightforward as I would like.  For one example, the Gallery of templates should be divided into categories, and the templates should have meaningful names.  This would make it much easier to find the one you're looking for.  As a "power user" type, I would love to see a template editor, so I could create my own images to fit any object I happen to want to stick graphics on.  

It would also be very convenient if Quick 3D Cover worked with software that produces actual cards and/or labels, like Label Designer Plus DELUXE, so I could create both actual labels and the 3D image of them easily. 

Overall, I recommend Quick 3D Cover to anyone who needs to create product images or presentation graphics.  

Do you have an opinion of this software?  Please review it yourself.