7-Zip is a free, Open Source archiving software that supports many of the common archiving formats. Because 7-Zip is open source, there are no nag screens or annoying trial periods with the software. This is a great alternative to the pricey WinZip archiver program.

Some of the formats 7-Zip recognizes are:

• Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
• Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS

Net Meter is a piece of software that monitors Upload and Download speed of your Network Card. It is a Free and great alternative to DUMeter and was built upon the same principle as DUMeter.

Some of the features include transparency, gradient background, grid lines and much more!

While the average person won't know what Net Meter does, it is great for those who are computer techies.

TugZip is another open source archiving program that is great for .zip files and the like. TugZip supports a wide variety of archiving formats and gives a windows explorer pane of the archive and your file system.

Supported Formats:

• Supports ZIP, 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BH, BZ2, CAB, CPIO, DEB, GCA, GZ, IMP, JAR, LHA (LZH), LIB, RAR, RPM, SQX, TAR, TGZ, TBZ, TAZ, YZ1 and ZOO archives.
• Supports BIN, C2D, IMG, ISO and NRG disc-images.
• Support for external plugins.