Macburn

Rating:
Summary: Of course it's not Toast, but...
Review: ...says it burns DVDs on the outside of the box. But after you open the box and install the software you find it's only data DVDs.

If you want to burn video DVDs (e.g. for a DVD player), you need UDF. This program doesn't support it, and acts like there's no such thing by not documenting it.

Everything this thing does is already part of OS X (e.g. burn data DVDs, audio CDs, erase CD-RWs & create disc images). If you teach yourself how to use the features of OS X to do the same tasks, then you've saved $30.

Dragon Burn may be worth a try. It's only $15 more, and it isn't a $100 feature-overkilled piece of software like Toast. Plus they have a trial version.

This MacBurn software adds no value, I think. If you still like MacBurn, good for you.

:(

Rating:
Summary: *Claims* to burn DVDs
Review: ...says it burns DVDs on the outside of the box. But after you open the box and install the software you find it's only data DVDs.

If you want to burn video DVDs (e.g. for a DVD player), you need UDF. This program doesn't support it, and acts like there's no such thing by not documenting it.

Everything this thing does is already part of OS X (e.g. burn data DVDs, audio CDs, erase CD-RWs & create disc images). If you teach yourself how to use the features of OS X to do the same tasks, then you've saved $30.

Dragon Burn may be worth a try. It's only $15 more, and it isn't a $100 feature-overkilled piece of software like Toast. Plus they have a trial version.

This MacBurn software adds no value, I think. If you still like MacBurn, good for you.

:(

Rating:
Summary: Of course it's not Toast, but...
Review: it does everything it says it will do. The box I bought never mentioned it would burn or copy movie DVDs (I believe that is still illegal thanks to Hollywood), and clearly states that it would "Burn data DVDs, multi-session data VDs, audio CDs, erase CD-RW & create disc images."

I am happy with this software, and am happier to see a more affordable alternative to Toast...Toast may be a great program, but I never used more than half of its features. Just my opinion...

Rating:
Summary: Not Toast... not even a cracker...
Review: Name: MacBurn
Price: $29.99
website: www.macXware.com
phone: [phone]
pros: It is easy to load, the price is right and it actually comes with a very basic instruction book. I had no trouble copying files and music for the Mac.
cons: For non-geeks some of the abbreviations are totally meaningless. I was not able to get a burn on the Mac/PC hybrid that a PC could read.
moose rating: 3
reviewers name: Anita Williams

MacBurn is a cost effective program for burning audio CDs, and data CDs and DVDs. It is easy to load, works great in OS X (10.2.6 but best in 10.3) and straight is forward to use with either selection or drag and drop features. System requirements include a CD or DVD burner compatible with OS X, 700 MB of free HD space for burning about 80 minutes of Audio to CD, and Disk Image (ISO and DMG) creation only for OS X 10.3 and greater.

The program does all that it is advertised to do which is burn data to DVDs, do multi-session data on a CD, burn audio CDs, erase a CD-RW and create disk images. Well, actually I have to take their word for the disk image part since I didn't actually do this part. Loading the program is very straight forward as is the instruction booklet. However when I had
questions as to what an ISO or DMG was I couldn't find an answer. Being a non-geek I'm not familiar with these terms. Naturally I went to the HELP menu to see if I could find a bit more information. It wasn't too much help. There was just a slight bit more information in the HELP menu than what was in the included instruction booklet and it did not define ISO or DMG.

The program operated just fine for copying data on the Mac format and I actually could do multiple sessions on one CD. That is a useful feature. One thing to note here is that the multiple session feature only works on the Mac format. It is not an option for PC or Mac/PC hybrid. Multiple sessions are not recommended for audio CDs either. It can be done but the instructions indicate that some strange things may happen and it is not recommended. I just took their word for that too. It is possible to mix an audio session with a data session on a CD which is another handy feature. For those using rewritable CDs and DVDs the program can erase data so the disk can be reused.

The program will locate the drive that can write the CD/DVD or if there are multiple drives you can make your choice in the box below the menu panel. Then choose either data or audio session. Below that is the format selection box and the title box. There are several choices here. I must say that I was not able to use the Mac/PC hybrid option and produce a CD that could be read on a PC. I could do it with the PC option, just not the hybrid option. The next box contains the files to be copied. They can be dragged and dropped into this area or selected with the "Add File" or "Add Folder" buttons. A nice feature is the bar on the bottom of the pane which tallies how much space will be used on the disk.

When the burn button is activated this box drops down for further instructions. The "Allow Additional Burns" box must be checked in order to do multiple sessions on one CD or DVD. However this feature will only work on a Mac format. Hit "Burn" and the program does it job. Again, it is a good, affordable program that is easy to use.

Rating:
Summary: MacBurn review
Review: Name: MacBurn
Price: $29.99
website: www.macXware.com
phone: [phone]
pros: It is easy to load, the price is right and it actually comes with a very basic instruction book. I had no trouble copying files and music for the Mac.
cons: For non-geeks some of the abbreviations are totally meaningless. I was not able to get a burn on the Mac/PC hybrid that a PC could read.
moose rating: 3
reviewers name: Anita Williams

MacBurn is a cost effective program for burning audio CDs, and data CDs and DVDs. It is easy to load, works great in OS X (10.2.6 but best in 10.3) and straight is forward to use with either selection or drag and drop features. System requirements include a CD or DVD burner compatible with OS X, 700 MB of free HD space for burning about 80 minutes of Audio to CD, and Disk Image (ISO and DMG) creation only for OS X 10.3 and greater.

The program does all that it is advertised to do which is burn data to DVDs, do multi-session data on a CD, burn audio CDs, erase a CD-RW and create disk images. Well, actually I have to take their word for the disk image part since I didn't actually do this part. Loading the program is very straight forward as is the instruction booklet. However when I had
questions as to what an ISO or DMG was I couldn't find an answer. Being a non-geek I'm not familiar with these terms. Naturally I went to the HELP menu to see if I could find a bit more information. It wasn't too much help. There was just a slight bit more information in the HELP menu than what was in the included instruction booklet and it did not define ISO or DMG.

The program operated just fine for copying data on the Mac format and I actually could do multiple sessions on one CD. That is a useful feature. One thing to note here is that the multiple session feature only works on the Mac format. It is not an option for PC or Mac/PC hybrid. Multiple sessions are not recommended for audio CDs either. It can be done but the instructions indicate that some strange things may happen and it is not recommended. I just took their word for that too. It is possible to mix an audio session with a data session on a CD which is another handy feature. For those using rewritable CDs and DVDs the program can erase data so the disk can be reused.

The program will locate the drive that can write the CD/DVD or if there are multiple drives you can make your choice in the box below the menu panel. Then choose either data or audio session. Below that is the format selection box and the title box. There are several choices here. I must say that I was not able to use the Mac/PC hybrid option and produce a CD that could be read on a PC. I could do it with the PC option, just not the hybrid option. The next box contains the files to be copied. They can be dragged and dropped into this area or selected with the "Add File" or "Add Folder" buttons. A nice feature is the bar on the bottom of the pane which tallies how much space will be used on the disk.

When the burn button is activated this box drops down for further instructions. The "Allow Additional Burns" box must be checked in order to do multiple sessions on one CD or DVD. However this feature will only work on a Mac format. Hit "Burn" and the program does it job. Again, it is a good, affordable program that is easy to use.

Rating:
Summary: Not Toast... not even a cracker...
Review: This product isn't nearly as good as Toast, and barely better than the burning provided by the OS for free.

If you want to do more than what the OS provides, spend the extra $50 for Toast.