Filed under: Utilities, Blogging, Freeware, Op-Ed
Appfail: Nero 9 Free - of good reasons to install it, that is
While I agree with that statement on the Nero 9 Free Edition download page, I'm not going to recommend any of you rush over to download it. Why not? I've got eight reasons.
1. They're asking for your email before giving out the download link.
Not a huge deal, I know, but it's still annoying. I'd recommend using something other than your primary email address on the download page or something like OtherInbox. In addition to the setup file, "you will also begin receiving Nero News with the latest tips, special offers and technology info from Nero."
2. The installer bundles the Ask.com toolbar
Again, not a massive problem - you can always opt out by unchecking the boxes during setup. Regardless, bundled toolbars are always an irritation during installation.
3. Upon completion, the installer asks you to send anonymous data
It's opt-in, but it's the third piece of the "why do they give it away for nothing" puzzle. A new address for their mailing list, possible referral bucks from Ask, and maybe some anonymous usage info from you.
4. The first launch begs for your contact information again
After a ridiculously lengthy install for a burning app, I fired up Nero only to be poked in the eye with "please fill out the blah blah blah." What's that you say? Yes, of course the "please send me your fail promotions and crap newsletter" box was checked.
Further BS: the red X to close does nothing, all you can click is "remind me later." What happened to "never register" or "no, thanks?"
Third launch: yep, still there. Fourth: back again. Fifth: you betcha. Sixth? Come on, Nero. Remind me later doesn't mean "nag me into submission."
5. You can only burn data discs
No, I'm not kidding. The piles of Nero Essentials OEM that I receive with every DVD burner we order wholesale can do audio, but this free version can't? I'd wager 99% of my customers would rather be able to burn audio than data, yet Nero Free chucked it out the window.
6. Smart Start is little more than a giant ad for the paid version
Since you can only burn data discs or make copies, what's the point of leaving all the other tabs (Rip and Burn, Create and Edit, Home Entertainment, etc.) in the interface? Why, to constantly remind the rubes that installed this turkey that it's a piss-poor burning application and they'll have to pay if they want any real functionality.
7. The uninstaller is predictably sloppy
Files were left behind in my AppData\Roaming folder, the Nero folder in Common Files was not removed, and several registry entries were missed. At least have the decency to clean up after yourself, Nero.
8. 55Mb download / 130Mb installed is way too bloated
ImgBurn: 2.1Mb. CDBurnerXP: 3Mb. InfraRecorder: 3.2Mb.
Some people you know may want to stick with Nero because they recognize the name. If that's the case, it's time for you to set them straight. There are plenty of better free alternatives. They're smaller, less annoying, and have loads more features.
You know, like the ability to burn a freaking audio CD.
I can't believe there was a time when I recommended Nero to people. My advice: avoid Nero 9 Free like the plague.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jimb said 5:18PM on 7-31-2009
Agreed, I downloaded the free trial and it took like 20-25 mins to install and I also had to uncheck multiple options and op for a custom install so I could really see what I was getting and there was gigs worth of crap like dvd menu templates etc which while sometimes can be good not gigs worth of good.
At a time around nero 6 or so it was a really good and easy to use program but not anymore now I use InfraRecorder!
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Bcoates said 5:30PM on 7-31-2009
I think I'll go download it right now! Where's that link again?
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Sax25 said 6:09PM on 7-31-2009
Ashampoo Burning Studio Free - handles audio & Blu-Ray too! NERO = FAIL. I used to be a devout Nero user, but it has become so bloated and gets worse every new version.
http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/burningstudiofree.htm
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fishe1 said 10:41PM on 7-31-2009
Ashampoo makes some great products. I use burning studio sometimes, but have the best success with cdburnerxp.
Taai said 6:13PM on 7-31-2009
CD's and DVD's are leaving soon, so, Nero still want's to get some money before that time and this is great way to do it (they think so).
What they are going to do after end of CD and DVD era? :D
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Molly said 6:30PM on 7-31-2009
i'm done with NERO since version 6.6.0.15 (still use it on XP machines, because it is just excellent). but the logic to install 1.8 GB of code (that would be the full suite) to burn a stupid disk completely escapes me.
for my little burning needs i'm using InfraRecorder (free, open sauce and portable). as mentioned before, in the age of dirt cheap monster hard drives and SDHC cards, optical disks are pretty much dead. their usefulness as storage/backup media is rather limited anyway.
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Dnyanesh said 6:32PM on 7-31-2009
My sentiments exactly!
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Kenn.keeper said 6:36PM on 7-31-2009
Even though my motto is "Free is Good" I still remind people to read about what they are getting and after that read it again and once installed read the HELP or read me section before doing anything. One reason most down-talk freeware is they were too anxious to use it, never read anything on it and then ran it before knowing what it really does or even create a restore point. I learned the hard way when I first started using freeware but now I have a happy running computer with the best freeware found....
Free is Good
Kenn-Keeper......
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techpops said 6:55AM on 8-01-2009
Free is not always good, this is a case in point. If all you had to compare it to was Nero commercial offerings then fair enough, this would actually be good for some people who just need data burning and don't mind the hassle installing. But Nero is not the only app, there are quite a few great free burners out there now so you really have to compare Nero free to them. I'm afraid Nero sinks to the bottom of that free list
DA623 said 6:37PM on 7-31-2009
I've always used Nero but I agree with many, its getting too bloated, and full of junkware you have to avoid installing.
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Marc Klink said 7:13PM on 7-31-2009
Your first 4 reasons are not really anything to be worked up about, it's SOP in the industry and falls under "always catch a few". Relax. No big deal.
Reasons 5 through 8 are variably cogent, but again, it is necessary to remember the target audience.
#5 -- I would be one of the 1% I suppose, the only music I burn is copies of CDs I own. So this works well.
#6 -- Again, you have to remember that this is, after all, advertisement for the full version. It also falls into the category of 1 - 4, Relax.
#7 -- Here before you chastise Ahead, you must first lay the blame squarely upon Microsoft - they started the sloppy install slide, and foisted the registry, with all of its unnecessary complexity upon us.
***Instead of getting worked up, perhaps a small talk about the benefits of Revo Uninstaller is called for.
#8 -- Probably true, it would be something you could best write Ahead about. I know I'd like to see a less bloated full version of Nero - version 7 was the last one that was anywhere close to reasonable in size, and actually, it could have had the ability to cut out a lot.
I'd like to see the full version with the ability to cut much away, for those who don't use many of the features, and don't own terabyte drives. I do own them, but not on my notebook.
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Ben! said 7:31PM on 7-31-2009
The first half of your post is exactly why I signed in to comment. Petty and ridiculous.
By the way, I'd never install this application mostly due to the reasons in the last half of this article. No need to pad it out by adding things that are par for the course with free versions of paid software.
NyaR said 11:51PM on 8-02-2009
I'll stick with Nero 7, for now, and forever. The newer versions add NOTHING!! Only some useless bloat, cover designers, and other bullshit. CD Burning remains the same, its silly.
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why not the LS2LS7? said 7:35PM on 7-31-2009
I use ImgBurn most of the time.
Also worthy of not is the built in burn functionality in Vista SP2 (and Windows 7). It works well for CD, DVD, DVD-RAM and BD data discs. It even does both multi-session UDF 2.5 discs and all-at-once UDF 1.02 (standard) discs. If you use it with Windows Media Player it might even burn audio CDs (but I sure haven't tried).
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bobengle3 said 8:20PM on 7-31-2009
While I agree that Nero has grown into some serious bloatware, I still keep using it because of one particular feature, the ability to burn more than one disc at a time. Are there any alternatives that will let me burn 3 or 4 discs simultaniously?
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Molly said 8:55PM on 7-31-2009
DiscJuggler ... not free though
http://www.padus.com/products/discjuggler.php
license fee varies from $50 (2 drives) up to $550 (16 drives)
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Kevin said 9:35PM on 7-31-2009
There was a time when a program like Nero was necessary because there weren't any viable free alternatives, but that's not the case anymore. There's no reason, as you noted, to install something as bloated as Nero when there are open source and freeware apps that do the same job, take up less space and load much quicker.
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feraligatr8 said 10:21PM on 7-31-2009
I need a free program that can burn videos onto a DVD that'll play on a DVD player (with a menu) anyone got any good suggestions?
PS: It has to be able to burn a large number of video files onto a DVD player. (not like nero that can only take 700MB on one)
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Kenn.keeper said 10:49PM on 7-31-2009
You can try the free program called ImgBurn at http://www.tech-faq.com/Free-DVD-Burning-Software.shtml
There is other free software to try also, good luck.......
Free is Good
Kenn.....
feraligatr8 said 10:53PM on 7-31-2009
I've already got Imgburn, it doesn't burn DVD's with menu's....