Nero 9 - Free Version

[Ai Haibara]

Hmm... apparently, they're now offering a 'free version' of Nero 9, at http://www.nero.com/enu/downloads-nero9-free.php . The download is roughly 55MB, and is limited to CD/DVD burning/copying only:

This version of Nero 9 contains simply data burning and disc copying features for CDs and DVDs. Additional features and functionality are available with an upgrade to Nero 9 full version.

[wtsinnc]

I downloaded/installed it out of curiosity last week.

Not surprisingly, it's a bloated and severely crippled imitation of the real thing.
Ahead Software is obviously hoping users will opt for the upgrades.

I'm not a Nero fan, never have been, and 55+ mb is a lot of territory for this application to occupy when it is so limited and it's performance so questionable.

If free is what you're looking for, far better results and far greater flexibility can be obtained using DVDFab Decrypter/Shrink/Imgburn at about one-third the total size.

[Ai Haibara]

Then, why would you install it?

It's just supposed to be the burning engine, for burning and copying CDs and data DVDs. For all I know, that, probably combined with some features to advertise the full version and take users to the respective pages on Ahead's website, could well BE 55MB compressed.

Some here have said that the only good thing about Nero is/was the burning engine; maybe they won't mind this package as much. It wouldn't substitute for Imgburn, IMHO, but it's always good to have an option (and, hey, if you can get Nero for free without the additional things the full suite installs...)

[wtsinnc]

I installed it to see what it was, exactly.
I had first heard about it via another forum last week.
I was curious and decided to see for myself.
My preconceived suspicions were confirmed.
I have related my experience here.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Why would anyone use a freeware version of Nero when you can use ImgBurn?
Nero always had an excellent CD burn engine but that's it.

[KayAt]

Why would anyone use a freeware version of Nero when you can use ImgBurn?
Nero always had an excellent CD burn engine but that's it.

I totally agree with this. I sometimes use Nero for burning a quick collection of mpg files but to burn a full DVD from VOB files, even my full version of NERO is buggy.

[jman98]

Why would anyone use a freeware version of Nero when you can use ImgBurn?
Nero always had an excellent CD burn engine but that's it.

Well, for CD burning Nero is superb. You can easily do CD Text with audio CDs. Can you even do this at all with ImgBurn? Easily? I have no idea. Nero can also easily do weird things like burn CD/VCD hybrid discs and such discs would be quite difficult to create with ImgBurn, if you can do it at all. Admittedly these are things that may not matter to many people, but you asked why anyone might use Nero.

[Bonie81]

There are tons of better alternative than Nero right here on Vedio Help Tools.
Who cares Nero is Free or not? if one needs serial key or crack?
i use Burrn, ImagBurn it servers my all bsic purpose of burning.