i rarely plunk down money for software as I am the self proclaimed "Queen of Freeware". there are a few exceptions to my freeware rule. please don't get me wrong, I'll donate at times to someone who has worked hard developing a good piece of freeware, but I don't PAY for anything there is a worthy freeware app for instead. of course, there are times some paid software rises to the occasion and i will actually reach into my mostly empty wallet and shell my last meager pittance because i feel it will make my relationship with my computer and the digital world better.
one such app is that fits that bill is BURN QUICK. my computer came installed with an OEM version of Roxio Easy CD Creator. i also have used Nero Burning on other computers. i'm not going to review which of these two pricey paid apps are better or worse, but let me say i find them bloated memory pigs with too many wizards and interfaces and just stuff i plain don't need. i was never thrilled with either one of them, but they did the job and Easy CD Creator came free on my computer, so since it was broke,i didn't go crazy searching for a better solution in the area of CD and DVD burning software.
then a few weeks ago i had a slight computer "situation" (let's call that the understatement of the year) and I ended up replacing my hard drive (long story, but it was related to the Beta version of the Google Desktop, which represented my first and last foray into using beta versions of software) and really didn't feel like reinstalling Easy CD. i checked around for freeware, and there were apps, but none of them were quite what i wanted, even if they worked and were less bloated. then i found a description for Burn Quick. strike one, it sounded to good (for my needs) to be true. strike two, it wasn't free. still, being able to select multiple files and folders and right click to burn them immediately or put them into queue for organizing and burning later, create multi session CD's and the ability to erase and name CD's and not go through a clunky interface to do all this? well, it sounded like my kind of software.
here are some other features from the Burn Quick developers:
BurnQuick - Data/Audio CD/DVD Burner is one of the simplest CD burning program ever designed. Just right-click on a file or a folder and select a BurnQuick command from the pop up menu. Set a few options on the BurnQuick interface and click on Start. BurnQuick will burn all of the selected files to your CD or DVD burner, quickly and simply.
Once installed, BurnQuick becomes part of Windows and it can be used to burn a file or a complete directory to disc directly from the Windows Explorer. BurnQuick's simplified interface sets the new standard for ease of use in CD burning software. As one customer put it, "BurnQuick reduces the task of writing CD-ROM's from 'moon launch' hard to ZipDisk easy. " Click HERE to read our current reviews on download.com.
Despite it's small size, it's packed with features:
Copies Audio CDs Single-drive copying Creates Data, Audio, Mixed-Mode, and CD-Extra discs. Decodes MP3s on-the-fly. Supports "multi-session" CDs. Burn immediately or Queue for burning later. Editable Queue. Improved Queue Access Long filename renaming Allows disk naming. Selectable writing speed. Small memory "foot-print". Built-in erase function for re-writable discs. Supports "burn-proof" drives.
now, let me make you aware that one can download a free version of this software called Burn Quick Lite, but it has an adserver attached to it. i don't download ANYTHING with adservers, spyware and the like, no matter how good the program is, as i don't believe in putting that nasty garbage on my computer.(i broke my "beta" rule and look where that got me!) if you try to remove it with Ad-Aware or Spybot, the program won't function. to purchase the program, it's $19.95. if you download Burn Quick Lite with the AdServer first and then purchase it, they will discount the program to $16.95 and then disable/remove the AdServer once you have the registration key. to me, $3 isn't worth the risk of the AdServer. iF you download the FULL version and pay with PAY PAL, you will get the same $16.95 price, and that is exactly what I did.
i have been using the program for several months now and have made all manner of CD's from it and must say I absolutely love it. i thought I might put another program on as a back up in case this was missing something I needed, but it isn't. it's light, it's quick, feature rich and it functions as part of Windows with just a right click. There is no software for creating CD jewel case inserts, but there are a million freeware apps that will do the trick if you need. this is one piece of software i am so pleased i purchased every time i use it, which is often being i am a music lover and like to make my own mixes for my car and often back up my pictures and data on my computer to a hard copy. kicks the "bloated big boys butt" to the moon and back.
javajane's verdict? everyone who likes to make music cd's or backs up data should be using this lean mean piece of software. period. like me, you'll be glad you do.
cheerio,
jj
