Why don't retailers pack their files better?

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jupiter8 wrote:You can only change yourself. Is there anything you could have done differently to make this thread more constructive ?
No, not really. Any suggestions?

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Numanoid wrote:
jupiter8 wrote:You can only change yourself. Is there anything you could have done differently to make this thread more constructive ?
No, not really. Any suggestions?
Several, but it's much better if you can find them yourself.

Knowing the weakness and strength in yourself and others is <insert something profound here>

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jupiter8 wrote:Several, but it's much better if you can find them yourself.
OK, söta bror tjena, skal gjøre mitt beste! :wink:

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If you seek constructivism, is not better to be constructive than animus ?

Acknowledge his input and thank him for it even though you may not agree with him.

Ignore the negative,it may only be in your mind and even if it isn't what good does it do you ? By treating him with the same respect you wish for, he might choose to give you the respect you seek. If he persists it'll be clear for all to see who is in the wrong. You "win" by being good.

If all else fails:
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"Him" in this case isn't anyone in particular but anybody one might perceive as antagonistic.

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jupiter8 wrote:If you seek constructivism, is not better to be constructive than animus ?
Ni är mycket konstruktiva i Sverige forstår jag

Nu blir jag lite trött på dig, og ber dig gå å leka konstruktiv et anna ställe OK! 8)

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PAK wrote:No need for 7Zip.. They can create self-extracting versions which avoid the need for any utils.
Exactly!

And this is not just about the companies saving bandwidth, it's about the users too. I have a monthly limit. If I can save 8 GB of downloads this is a big plus.

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Companies using Zip instead of Rar is like writing an installation readme for something that doesn't even use an installer.

Too many people are chicken of learning basics, or being told there is a smarter way. Windows can open Zips by itself.
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xx JPRacer xx wrote:And this is not just about the companies saving bandwidth, it's about the users too. I have a monthly limit. If I can save 8 GB of downloads this is a big plus.
Yes, same here. So the more compacted the files are the better in my case. And also it saves download time.

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PAK wrote:No need for 7Zip.. They can create self-extracting versions which avoid the need for any utils.

Maybe they think a larger download size may appear as if they're offering more for the money?
Exactly my thoughts.

They must be thinking that it would appear to be more valuable with a bigger file size. Otherwise they could easily release it as a "rarred" self-extracting executable file to save massive download bandwith.
No band limits, aliasing is the noise of freedom!

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Nielzie wrote:
PAK wrote:No need for 7Zip.. They can create self-extracting versions which avoid the need for any utils.

Maybe they think a larger download size may appear as if they're offering more for the money?
Exactly my thoughts.

They must be thinking that it would appear to be more valuable with a bigger file size. Otherwise they could easily release it as a "rarred" self-extracting executable file to save massive download bandwith.
They could do something like:

Download size: 16 GB
Disk space needed for uncompressed files: 24 GB

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RAR isn't even nescessary, since the ZIP format can be tweaked for better compression. There's a parameter to set from 0-9 that controls compression ratio. By default it's set to moderate but fast. Alas most people don't bother with it. Even WinZip has this option:
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PAK wrote:No need for 7Zip.. They can create self-extracting versions which avoid the need for any utils.

Maybe they think a larger download size may appear as if they're offering more for the money? Even "premium" CDN's like Akamai cost less than 5 cents per GB though, so you're talking maybe 30 cents difference in bandwidth - if that.
Personally I prefer a plain compressed file containing the plug-in .dll file and any additional data files. That way I can put the files where I want them. With .exe files, you never know what folders it will create/not create and whether or not it will put stuff in the registry.

I have a VSTPlugins\VSTPlugins folder on my drive, because some installer thought it a good idea to create that folder automatically inside the installation folder. I also have a ton of data files and other crap directly under VSTPlugins\, because some other installer did *not* create a folder for the plug-in and its data files.

As for compression ratios, it doesn't really matter these days. An extra 100MB takes just seconds to download. It takes longer to actually find, download and install something like 7-Zip if you haven't already got it.

If you live in an undeveloped part of the world where a good Internet connection is not available, most companies give you the option of getting it on DVD.
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JimmiG wrote:
PAK wrote:No need for 7Zip.. They can create self-extracting versions which avoid the need for any utils.

Maybe they think a larger download size may appear as if they're offering more for the money? Even "premium" CDN's like Akamai cost less than 5 cents per GB though, so you're talking maybe 30 cents difference in bandwidth - if that.
Personally I prefer a plain compressed file containing the plug-in .dll file and any additional data files. That way I can put the files where I want them.
You can still do that with self-extracting archives. As long as you have the relevant archiver installed (which is mostly WinRAR or 7zip these days) all you need do is right-click and open it with that program. It opens like a normal archive, and you can then choose to unpack just as if it were a normal archive too.
With .exe files, you never know what folders it will create/not create and whether or not it will put stuff in the registry.
Which is why you'd right-click and open it with the archiver, instead of running the installer. The exe is just a bit stuck on the front to answer the concern that people may not have the unpacker installed. It still behaves like a standard archive otherwise.
As for compression ratios, it doesn't really matter these days.
That's a pretty self-centred attitude to take. There's plenty of reasons why it matters, and I'm not sure why you think concerns would be restricted to the "undeveloped" world? There's plenty of people on relatively low bandwidth caps in lots of "developed" countries. There's plenty who don't get great DSL speeds because their wires are too far from the telephone exchange, or take weird paths from the exchange, too.

Quite frankly there's zero good reasons for companies not to do this, except for laziness or a desire to appear as if they're providing more for the money.

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JimmiG wrote: As for compression ratios, it doesn't really matter these days. An extra 100MB takes just seconds to download. It takes longer to actually find, download and install something like 7-Zip if you haven't already got it.

If you live in an undeveloped part of the world where a good Internet connection is not available, most companies give you the option of getting it on DVD.
It matters to me living in the developed world, being in an internet contract which has limit for download volume per month.

Had it just been a couple 100 MB, but in the case of IK Total Studio bundle it is over 8 GB. Zip files could have been compressed from 23 to 14,5 GB.

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