Win a Copy of Roxio's Easy Media Creator 7.5

[Jason Dunn]

We've got a great contest for you here: Roxio is sending me five copies of Easy Media Creator 7.5 to give away to you, dear Digital Media Thoughts readers! Valued at $99.95 a piece, that's $500 bucks worth of software that we're giving away.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/roxio-easy-media-creator-7.5-box.jpg" /><br /><br />So how do you win a copy? Simple: <b>post a message in this thread telling me which CD burning software you're using now, and <a href="http://www.roxio.com/en/products/emc75/features_burn.jhtml">which Easy Media Creator 7.5 feature you think is the coolest/most useful</a></b>. That's all, just those two things. One post per people please, and no posts discussing other posts (it complicates me picking a winner). I'll randomly pick five winners from this thread next week - the contest closes Thursday, July 7th at 11 AM GMT -6. Good luck everyone!<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> The contest is now over - <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=8582">check out who won!</a>

[MsInferno]

Hmmmm.... this sounds really really lame, and being a kinda newbie to all things digital, I didn't know there *was* any other type of CD burning software other than what WinXP had to offer...

I've downloaded tons of music, programs, etc., and just haven't given it much thought as to how I transferred it to CD.... Now, looking through all of what Roxio has to offer.... Sheesh, turn on the light and let me out of the cave!!

I could do my 8K+ photos, all that music that I can't get on my PocketPC unless I re-rip it to get rid of the copyright junk, back up of programs that I don't use all the often but just can't seem to delete (I'd be able to use the C drive again for downloads! LOL)....

Dang, I might just have to buy a copy before the weekend is over (but I'll wait until the 7th &lt;fingers crossed>)... :D

[hoffm11]

I am currently using Roxio version 7. The new version has many features that I am looking at especially for DVD creation. I have a 1 yr old and want to move the DV movies to DVDs.

I really like the integration of all of the tool with MediaCenter 7. I like the drag-to-disk feature because it makes buring, etc. easy.

[Felix Torres]

Roxio 6.0, actually.
I've been using it since version 1.0.
(Package has had a few owners since.)

Best feature?
The creator classic mode.
No muss, no fuss data backup.
The sound recorder is useful, too...

[pocketdoc]

I use Nero currently, but have used Roxio in the past.

Nero can be a bit cumbersome. It looks like Roxio's user interface is more friendly.

My favorite feature of Nero is volume leveling.

[odelljamie]

I use Roxio 7. The feature I use the most is CD/DVD Creator Classic -- just to write files to CDs and DVDs. I used to use DragtoDisc, but found it to be a bit flakey and more likely to create unusable discs.

My favorite thing is the Ken Burns Photo Effect in VideoWave. It makes all those pictures of the kids a little more interesting to watch :)

[Kursplat]

Wow, talk about a media blitz. Three out of the last four "front page" posts have been about Roxio.

I have used both Roxio and Nero. Currently, I am using Veritas RecordNow because it was the handiest install CD after rebuilding a couple of my PCs. Since I'm just burning content to disc, its working fine.

I would definitely like a copy of the latest Roxio. While I can take advantage of all the DVD, video, photo, and music features; I think it is cool that they are adding additional utilities like the virtual discs. I used Daemon tools to accomplish this, but its nice knowing that the mainstream will have this capability. I use it all the time and find it extremely useful.

[Iglesiab]

I currently use Nero 6.6, I love making DVD-Video disks, it's what I use it most for.

[Ivan]

I currently use Nero 5 (yes, the old version) for all my CD burning.

The feature I like the most about Nero is the CD burning wizard where it quickly lets me copy a CD, continue a multi-session CD and backup folders.

I am planning on buying my first DVD recorder this month (I finally made a convincing "business case" for my wife to let me buy it :wink: ), so I could certainly use the Roxio software (especially for free). From the description of features, it seems to be an excellent software for transferring all my MiniDV videos to my PC and burn them to DVD.

[Damion Chaplin]

Currently Nero 6.

I just love downloading the latest TV shows and burning them to DVD so I can send them to my mom (she's got the DVR, but always seems to record the wrong shows :wink: ). Nero handily takes any video I have and makes DVDs from them. I really like their DVD menu designer too - you can get some very professional-looking results from it if you know what you're doing.

[fslongo]

For me it's Nero, and although I'm still getting the hang of it, it is creating DVD's of family video.

[wesley762]

Nero 6.6 here but I just got a better buy on it than Roxio and would love to move back to it. for the most part I use it to just create home moives and put them to dvd.

[Gordo]

Currently Nero 6

RAW copy mode looks interesting.

[aro]

I currently use version... 7.5
I just post this to let you know how neat and easy the new feature
Divx > DVD is. I have quite a load of Divx files and Ii am the only one
at home that watch movies on his computer. Now every member of my
happy little familly can watch Jacques Tati's Playtime on the TV.

aro

[socrates63]

Currently using Nero 6. Favorite feature? It just works.. burns. No hiccups or coasters and I appreciate the stability.

[aliensix]

Nero 6. Loved its powerful features and especially NeroVision part which I could make a DVD from divx files.

Used Roxio before and loved its interface and of course its ease of use but sadly I think its version 6 had problems with WinXP initially and I dropped it off. Would love to try out the latest versions. Can I?

Cheers,
Adrian

[raweaver]

I use "Record Now! Deluxe". Drag to disc is the best feature.

[msprague]

I am using the Nero OEM package that came with my Sony DRU-720A DL DVD burner. I haven't had it very long. So far I have just used it for burning backups and I did make a VCD slideshow of some photos to play in a DVD player. I am still looking to expand my horizons.

[Falstaff]

I use Nero 6 and actually really like the interface, I think it's easy to navigate, especially since it allows you to only open what you need without the bloat (ie Nero Burning ROM). My favorite and most used part of the program though is the DVD Recode utility, very useful and powerful program.

[jeffd]

Huh, I mainly use nero 6 to BURN things allready made (raw data for mp3/avi/mpeg, and dvd movies if I allready have the vob files made)

However I also use TMPEGs encoder and DVD author to actually create some movies dvds. the encoder has been great, but im a little dissapointed in the dvd author, it's menu creation is still rather stiff (no resizable video windows... required buttons onscreen at all times), so im still looking for a better dvd author program for menu creation if this covers those bases.

[MyquiH]

I've always been a Nero bigot, just because I'd had spotty performance from EasyCD Creator before it was owned by Roxio.

Fav Nero feature: The video recode is wonderful -- I can take snippets of video in just about any format and recode them onto a DVD.

Fav looking new Easy Media 7.5 feature: Ability to mount up to 24 ISOs as drives. There are a ton of potential applications for that.

[spaceman]

Roxio ECDC 6.5 for data backup and DVD creation.

[encece]

Currently using Roxio 5 that came with my Dell.

"Improved DVD-9 to DVD-5 compression technology copies* DVD-Video discs up to 30% faster "

One reason that I put off burning CDs/DVD is the time needed to do so. ANY speed improvments are always welcome.

[jaschultze]

I currently use Nero 6.6.

My favorite feature is how the DVD burning converts pretty much most any video file for me, so that I don't have to mess with that part.

[TheWolfen]

I'm currently using the Nero 6 OEM bundle that came with my DVD writer. While I use it for lots of things, my current favorite feature is the BackItUp application. After losing a file (despite mirroring) recently, I've been on a backup kick. That portion of Nero isn't all that sophisticated, but it does help me backup my data easily. From the looks of it, the Roxio equivalent is more sophisticated, which would be great!

[bleeman]

I'm currently using Easy CD Creator 5 with all the patches/updates for XP. It's been doing what we've needed so we haven't bothered to do the upgrade. However, we're getting ready to purchase a DVD burner as my wife just finished a major project scanning in all of her families photo's, documents, newspaper articles etc. We've burned them to CD for safekeeping but want to create DVD's that she can send to family members who don't have computers.

As for the neatest feature of 7.5, if I understand the description correctly, I like the virtual disc idea. I believe with this I could achieve something I've wanted for a long time. A portable library. I've long wanted the various publishers (especially Microsoft Press) to release their manuals in Microsoft Reader format so I could take my reference books with me to client sites on my PocketPC. I think with this feature I could take all the CD's that come with my books, load them up on my Tablet PC and achieve similar results, without having to carry and load a bunch of CD's or books.

[Ed]

I currently use Roxio 6.0

Coolest/most useful feature?
- CD/DVD Read Error Test, and DVD PI/PIF/Jitter test

This feature looks interesting as well:
- Capture your favorite Internet music or radio shows and build a library for your MP3 player

I'm sure they don't capture protected content--wouldn't it be ironic* if they captured Napter Subscription music for rights free playback :D

* ironic because (I believe) Napster is really a step-child (spin-off) of Roxio before Roxio was bought out by Sonic.

[wbrunner]

I am currently using Nero 6.3 at home and Roxio at work. They both have pluses. The Roxio interface is the easiest to navigate, and the Nero gives the most feedback. Both perform well burning discs with rarely a wasted platter. I haven't seen the latest from Roxio, as the copy I have at work is the light version supplied by Dell.

[ctmagnus]

I currently use Easy CD Creator 5 as that's what came with my burner and I've been too cheap to upgrade/switch. I'd likely use the backup feature the most, as you can never have too many backups. I especially like the ability to backup to an external harddrive (ie, for a one-time backup) instead of using a disc .

[hockeyref24]

I am now using Roxio 5.0 and i think the coolest feature is the CD to CD copier.

[gibb193a]

I use Sonic RecordNow! v7 and love the intelligent drag-and-drop. I also think that the interface is quite nice, integrating all the functions quite nicely.

[Paul Martin]

I'm currently using Roxio 6. My favorite feature is using Creator Classic. Easy, no brainer. I need that. :D

[micaels]

Currently using Nero 6 but i've have used roxio.

What I use most is to burn my own dvd with my camera so that I can send video to my relatives, so they can see how we are doing

[wesk]

I'm currently using Nero 5.

The best feature of Roxio 7.5 for me would be the built in diagnostics for CD's and DVD's.

Wes

[timmy]

I'm using the built in XP software that really isn't that very useful.

I think the LP/Tape wizard seems very nice. Finally I would be able to 'convert' my old collection.

/Timmy

[piperpilot]

I currently use Easy Media Creator 7 and just love the software. Getting that extra .5 would be great. I like that it automatically spans large files across multiple discs.

[OKCrew]

Currently using Nero 6 but would like to try the feature set of Roxio...

[BulkHedd]

I'm currently using Nero 6.
I think the feature I would like the best would be the DVD slideshow creator.I have used iPhoto and iMovie on my uncle's Mac to create some DVD slideshows, but I haven't found anything so far that I like for Windows.

[gdl39]

I currently use Nero 6

Coolest Roxio feature: DVD authoring

[Kevin Jackson]

I currently use either EMC 6 or Windows XP's built-in burning (for quick and dirty jobs). The feature in EMC 7.5 which I think is great is the mounting of virtual discs -- save wear and tear on my discs, save time swapping discs out and carry a whole cd library on my laptop -- what's not to love.

[boeman]

I use both Nero and Roxio 6...

I think the features I like the most are the ability to mount images and the CD diagnostic utilities!

[bjctsm3]

RecordNow, version unknown, that came pre-installed in my HP computer.

Coolest (for me anyways): 'Capture your favorite Internet music or radio shows and build a library for your MP3 player' I don't have an app to do this yet.

[Shagin099]

I am currently using Nero 6.. I was an old fan of Easy CD Creator before it got the pretty UI. When that new version came out and it deleted my HD, i stayed away for a while - but i LOVE the UI! So if i won this i would definitly use it (provided it doesnt delete my HD ;) lol)...

[abloom]

I use the built in Windows functionality, and would love to be able to use the DVD burning/creating capabilities. Hoping that this functionality is comparable to the Mac software... :)

[jfields]

Currently using Nero 6.0

Best New Feature:
Improved DVD-9 to DVD-5 compression technology copies* DVD-Video discs up to 30% faster

[Ploobers]

I use the Windows software to burn my CDs. I'd love to be able to burn data DVDs without having to have 5 GB free to copy the files from one place to a temp place on my hard drive.

[icatar]

I use a mix of many burning utilities (ranging from Roxio, Nero, MyDVD and more).

I like the new disk imaging and virtual disk mounting capabilities and would use that extensively.

[sundown]

I currently use Nero 6 Ultra.

The feature I find cool with the Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.5 suite is the ability to make bootable DVD's.

[PPC_Ed]

Using Roxio 6. Mostly using the Classic CD/DVD Creator to backup files and make music CD's.

[carnesm]

Currently using Nero 6 Ultra. It's OK, but the burning interface seems a bit clunky, so I generally just drag and drop what I'm burning from explorer. It's been awhile since I've used Roxio, so not sure how much better that interface is.

Fav feature of Roxio: Disk emulation. What better than to have software like Roxio and Alcohol integrated into a single app! You never know when good disk emulation will come in handy!

[gdowsett]

Dell came with Sonic Record Now but use Nero more. However use Roxio at work and prefer that to the other two.

[firedog]

Hi-

I currently use Nero.

The features of Roxio I find most interesting/useful are the DVD compression features.

Thanks

[davea]

I currently use NERO and Uleads DVD MOVIE FACTORY. THey work OK in
Most situations. The coolest aspect of Mount disc images to create virtual disc drives that Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.5 suite provides.

[edramsey]

I'm actually in-between packages right now. My roxio version 5 stopped working on my xp laptop after I patched it up. The coolest feature for me would be the ability to encrypt data backups.

-Ed

[tobiaspete]

I am currently using Roxio 7...the feature that makes me want to upgrade is the ability to automatically burn DivX and XviD movies for watching on my home DVD player.

[larrywms45]

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

There when I need it.
Works flawlessly with all quality of media
Drag &amp; Drop feature is a life saver
Upgrades are major and worth the extra dollars I have to spenc.

[blang]

I am currently using sonic recordit now and find it very cumbersome. I would really the like the updated version of Roxio to easily backup my files. Their updated version sounds like it would be much easier for me to use that what I am using now.

[karen]

I currently use all the built in Windows stuff. I guess my laptop came with Roxio something lite, but I haven't used it much.

I would like to use the virtual mounting of media drives. I subscribe to MSDN and they distribute all their software as iso images, so I've been using some clunky bat file to do that.

Fingers crossed, i's dotted, I hope.

K

[adderx99]

im using a really old vers of nero that came with my cd burner.
disk mounting with images sounds really interesting, ive had bad experiances in the past with this.

[dvljr]

I currently use an old version of Roxio that came with my CD burner. I think its version 5. I'd love to be able to burn DVD video. I have dozens of DV tapes and could use Roxio to transfer them with a decent menu system. The software that came with my DV camera wasn't even worth keeping installed. Copying the DVDs I had already made faster than 1:1 would also be a plus.

[kiwi]

I use Nero 6.6

The roxio software looks nice - all in one DVD/CD/Backup features in one package.

Would love to get it to back up my large amount data to DVD,

[David Horn]

Currently Nero 6.

Best feature would have to be the encryption. Great for archiving sensitive stuff.

[MikeStanley]

I use Nero
The BackupMyPC - originally Veritas is a great backup program - backup up to DVD's etc. Does just what I want it to do.

[dbajohn]

I use Nero because it came with me machine but I find it hard to use.
Drag and drop is a cool feature for someone that is not very CD/DVD literate and I would also like to be able to encrypt data easily.

[hawkeye]

Currently for my CD burning I just use XP built in burning capability. But I'm looking forward to using Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.5 to mount disc images so I won't have to keep swapping discs.

[Todd_B]

Using Roxio 7. But would love to get my hands on 7.5.

Please please Lady Luck, be good to me...

Todd

[yada88]

I use Roxio on my main pc for general writing of discs. For ripping dvd's though, i use an older version of nero. Would def love the latest software.

[Gary Sheynkman]

I can actually enter these now :lol:

[ChunkyMonkey]

I currently use Sonic....which came with my Sony DVD Writer.

I think the coolest feature of the Roxio software for me would have to be the backup software it comes with....tapes for backups are a pain to use.

[mar2k]

I'm currently using Nero 6 Ultra, mainly for its feature set though I must say that the GUI does leave something to be desired at times. I'm impressed by the way the latest Easy Media Creator looks and they appear to have really upped the ante on the features from when I last used Roxio (then Adaptec) Easy CD Creator, I think that was v5.

The coolest features to me are the support for MS-DVR files making it very Media Center friendly and also the support for virtual drives. Very cool and something I swear by with the big hard drives these days...

[canux]

Currently using Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.0.

Cool new feature is MS-DVR support!

[backpackerx]

I currently use Nero 6.

The feature I most like in Roxio is the DivX to DVD creator. I know I'd use a simple solution like that a lot.

[JPD]

Roxio 6 .

support for MS-DVR

[dbuth]

I have been using version 5 platinum edition until a HDD crash. When I re-installed my OS and updated to Win XP Pro to service pack 2 I could not re-install Roxio's version 5. I am guessing it has something to do with the service pack 2 update.

I tried getting the version 5 updates from Roxio's site and I was unsuccessful, their tech support said that version 5 was beyond its shelf life. I really enjoyed version 5 for burning data CDR's. With version 7 I would use it for its burning capabilities as well as try to use it ripping and MP3 features.

I did not have a recent backup of My Documents and lost all of my English essays when my HDD crashed; luckily I have hard copies on the shelf.

[bikeman]

I'm currently using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 Basic (Roxio has an upgrade/patch that allows it to work with WinXP SP2). So I really need an upgrade!

The most interesting new features are the Backup MyPC option and the ability to mount disc images to create virtual disc drives! Cool!

Dan

[tracer40]

I am currently using NERO version 6.6. I used Easy Media Creator up to version 4 which caused a lot of conflicts with other software I had on my system. The conflicts caused so much trouble that I had to re-image. At that time I went to NERO and have been using it ever since. The feature that I find interesting, cool, in version 7.5 is the ability to create up to 23 virtrual images. I do a lot of system trouble shooting and that would be a handy feature for me.

[makicr]

I use a hi-8 player and a VCR. No, mainly the free Roxio stuff that came with the camera, with other opensource stuff thrown in here and there. I would like a comprehensive software package, to have a more streamlined editing system.

[Daimhin]

Nero is what I have been using since I got my new machine this spring. As for the feature... well in looking over what they are offering now, the faster copies done easier would be really nice.

Eric

[paraleigh]

Currently using Easy CD Creator 5.0


Feature I like in 7.5:
DVD Builder using menus and chapter breakpoints.

[Jason Dunn]

The contest is now closed, winners will be announced on the home page shortly. Thanks for the messages, good luck to everyone!

[the_rapture]

I would love a copy because I enjoy making DVDs for folks from our Church Plays.....

Looks like I missed the cut off oh well, maybe next time.... or if any go unclaimed.. (Wishful thinking)