DVD X Copy Platinum vs. DVD Shrink

[nickelzy]

Since I've been experiencing some occasional problems with stuttering/freezing during playback, someone recently suggested that I start using DVD X Copy Platinum instead of DVD Shink because of some known bugs that exist (apparently even in the newest versions) which perhaps may be causing that problem.

Here is the question - why would one pay $150 for DVD X Copy Platinum when you can use DVD Shrink for free? Is the quality and lack of problems copying movies that superior to DVD Shrink? I really don't think my recent problems are related to DVD Shrink (although I'm not for certain on this). The reason I don't think they are caused by DVD Shrink is because when I have a problem, all I have to do is re-burn the movie, and 2nd time around the movie will work fine. If this was a DVD Shrink caused problem, wouldn't my second attempt and every attempt after that have problems no matter how many times I tried to re-burn the movie?

So before I even think about spending that kind of hard earned cash, I want to ask those of you who have tried both programs - is it really necessary and would you suggest the investment? And if so, WHY?

Oh by the way, for this kind of money, the program sure as heck ought to have a trial or demo version, but I haven't been able to find one. Does one exist, and if so, where is it?

[Viper10000]

nickelzy,

I just take a quick look at the DVD tools & the comments, and here the scores:

- DVDShrink have 150 comments with an average score of 9.5
- DVDXCopy Platinum have 31 comments with an average score of 4.7

Overwhelming number?!!

Cheers,

[BSR]

would you suggest the investment?

NO way.

[Magua]

DVD X Copy does a decent job, but isn't worth you spending your money. Many people use DVD X Copy because they don't know about other free programs, and want an off the shelf one click software they can pick up from Best Buy. My first guess is that your problem is coming from low quality media...but we don't know anything about your set up.

[NYPlayer]

nickelzy,

The current products from DVDXCopy require that you rip the DVD's it is no longer a 1 click solution. DVD Shrink does it all!!!!!

[spiderman2k1]

This is a very easy question why would people buy DVDXCOPY or DVDshrink that free and better. There are million's of people that do not know about DVDshrink and when they walk into CompUSA BestBuy and see a box saying you can back up your DVD's. I have friend's that tell me I'm going to buy DVDshrink and a DVD burner I say just go to www.dvdshrink.org this program is free and works better then DVDXCOPY. Then there mouth drop's to the floor after I tell them that.

People that know about DVDshrink DVD2ONE DVD95COPY CLONEDVD are peope that are in to the hobby of making DVD's or newbie's that did asearch on the net and found DVDRHELP

[macleod]

you talk about stuttering and whatnot. It is possible that it isn't shrink, but the media. Just a thought.

DVD Shrink is an AWESOME tool that cannot be recommended enough. I have seen dvd x copy (not the latest version) and was not impressed at all based on the price.

Another way to think of the pay vs free is that there are a number of freeware tools out there for different things. The pay tool does their development in a corporation. the freeware guy gets tired of that tool and develops his own. He puts more into it (IMO) than a pay company.

Opinions may vary, but thats my thoughts on it.

[nickelzy]

Great - I was hoping that this would be the case - because I don't think my recent problems have been caused by DVD Shrink either and I really like the program. However, here's a new one for ya guys...

I've probably copied about 80 movies now and for the first time, I had a problem with DVD Shrink just about 10 minutes ago while trying to shrink The Perfect Storm. Here's what happened:

I put the dvd in my drive. Opened up DVD Shrink and analysis begins. I think 59% into the analysis, it stopped and gave me an error stating something about copyright protection. I don't understand?? I've copied now about 80 movies with copyright protection and this is the first disc that has given me an error. Any thoughts on this? And more importantly, how to deal with this problem so I can shrink the movie and copy it?

[nickelzy]

Another question - since upgrading to version 3.1.7.3 of DVD Shrink, today on a couple of occasions the program automatically did a deep analysis before encoding when I didn't select it. I normally don't select this option, and I checked and the box isn't marked. Is there something built into the new versions that force the program to do a deep analysis if the compression is at a certain point? My compression was at about 73% or so.

[BSR]

Try using DVD Decrypter to get rid of copy protection first for that one disc.
DVD shrink does a great job, but I also came across a movie in the past it couldn't decrypt where DVD decrypter was able to do it.

Not sure about the deep analysis issue. I use it all the time even if compression is only at 95%.

[nickelzy]

Has anyone compared a movie that was done with deep analysis compared to one without deep analysis? I'm just wondering if there is really a noticeable difference. I'm not watching my movies on a HDTV or plasma screen, so is it worth the time? I've got a 53 inch projection tv that I watch my movies on. However, with that all being said, maybe one day I do upgrade to a better quality tv, so if there really is a difference on better quality tvs, then maybe I'll do the deep analysis for now on.

[bdf24]

I have never copared them. And even if I did I probobly would'nt notice a difference seeing as I'm using a 36" TV. But I always take the extra time to run Deep Anaylsis. I'm never in a hury anyway to backup the movie. So an extra 40 minutes or so is'nt going to kill me. Plus who know's someday I may get a HDTV or Plasma.

[MediaMonkey]

DVDShrink gets my nomination for program of the year! Easy to use and wonderful backups. We are in debt to the programmer.

[dap]

I always use Deep Anaylsis, just habit I guess. DVD Shirnk just keeps getting better. I had an old copy of DVDXCOPY and thought it was cool until I discovered DVD Shrink. Never went back to DVDXCOPY and think I wasted my money.