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Nero Burning for Linux
ceasol writes "The German company Nero, developers of the award-winning Nero Burning ROM suite for Windows, now release a free version for Linux called NeroLINUX a CD/DVD Burning Software, and include many features from the Windows version. This software is proprietary but free if you registered." The OEM versions of Nero that come with many CD burners aren't sufficient, though; NeroLINUX is free-as-in-beer only if you've registered "a full version of Nero software version 6 or higher," or a "retail version or downloaded version."
So it's not free as in speech or free as in beer. It's more like free as in carbonation.
Now, tell me, what exactly would I want Nero for?
It's only value is that it includes a comprehensive point&click interface, but even though it's stuffed with features, it can't beat the existing, free tools.
Unless you're a Windows user who wants a program he's familiar with, there is no reason to even look at it. Plus, it's not even free-as-beer, as you need to pay for a full, registered version of Nero for Windows.
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
So you have to buy, or already own a copy of Nero. So tell me again how this is "free-as-in-beer?"
h op, given that Nero is usually d/l'ed rather than purchased really.
Well, it's free-as-the-beer-you-steal-from-the-convenience-s
Perhaps they account for P2P in their "free as in beer" assessment...
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Would you like to open your beloved OperatingSystem to the mainstream, would you want to see it become a real alternative to Windows, with commercial and proprietary applications?
Then put your comments ("they rather release the source, k3b is a lot better, I want to compile this shit under gentoo") where the sun doesn't shine. Mainstream and real competetion equals to commercial stuff (and the author of this message thinks this is GOOD).
Or do you prefer to stay geekie? Sugar-coke, kernel-hacks, geek-elitism, no sunlight, no showers, spots (and clearasil), jokes about years old bsd-girl-daemon-pics? Then let them know it (and greet the openbsd community in that case).
Decide for yourself.
Cut the free software crap. This is a mainstream company willing to take pay-per-use apps on Linux seriously.
Don't forget that the OS itself is pretty much commodity. Its the apps that count, and for a mature and *decent* app to make it to Linux is important news.
Don't forget OEM's.
So far, every burner I've had from new egg has included some version of Nero.
I'm guessing they have a decent OEM base, but I don't have statistics to really clarify that.
"You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
Well, one interesting thing - almost all linux burning tools are really just wrappers around cdrecord. Now, cdrecord is okay, but the developer is an utter and complete pillock, leading to several distros maintaining their own forks. Nero might have a completely independent codebase. Even such very weak competition might lead to some improvement in cdrecord.
Although many Linux users are happy with the amazing amount of free and open source software available it is nice to see commercial companies considering the Linux platform worth supporting. I wouldn't expect your average slashdot reader to go out and buy this tomorrow, but for the manager who has allowed a few developers in her office to to use Linux but hates to hear that the companies chosen software for xxxx does work on Linux, this is a good thing.
No, not earth shattering news. I doubt that CD burning software will "tip the scale" of acceptance at most companies and suddenly you will be asked on your first day what your choice of OS is. But the more companies that release their software for Linux the more your average joe will start to consider the platform viable.
Again, not a big deal. But it sure is nice to see.
--
Dan
I'm not cool enough for a real sig.
But if the OEM upgrade fee is reasonable, I would like to have the full windows version of Nero and a consistant GUI on my linux box too.
On the other hand, the price I saw was 50. I am reluctant to pay $50 for a game that has no sale of progressive builds let alone a utility program who's basic functionality is built into most OSs,
I do security
You all tout desktop linux like it's in the near future, then when a company brings a trusted name over to the linux desktop, all you see are complaints about how it's not free.
How about stop whining and give them a little support. Nero has been around on windows desktops for quite a while. Not that it's going to be the app that makes 2 million users stand up and switch, at least it's a start. People can now use their 'favorite burning application on linux' if in fact that is their favorite.
The point is joe schmoe doesn't even know what cdrdao is, nor does he want to learn another application. Yet, you say linux is destined for the desktop? I say bullshit. It's not destined for anything.
The biggest hurdle to Desktop Linux, is the current users of linux themselves.
But could we please call Ahead Software by their name instead of calling the company Nero? The product by Ahead Software is Nero. Yes, Nero was their original and sole product for a long time. I believe it was originally written by one guy. The company now has revenues exceeding $30 million a year.
I took a look at the web site, and clicked on the "buy" link. There's no way that I can just buy Nero for Linux. Either they haven't updated their web site completely, or they want to make me buy Nero for Windows in order to get Nero for Linux.
That, as Milton Friedman would say, distorts the commmunication that one's purchases constitute in a free market. I don't want Nero for Windows--I don't use Windows (save at work, under duress). I have no use for Nero for Windows...but there's no way I can communicate that to Nero with my money, the way they have it set up.
Could you point out some of these better features? I have used K3B as a front end for cd and dvd burning and I would rather use it then Nero. Nero just gets worse, the interface is uglier and more confusing then ever before. So to find out I took a noob (family member) who had never used any CD burning software before. We did some basic tasks in Nero and some Basic tasks in K3B. Once comfortable, we did some shortcuts and some more complicated things like making amusic cd from mp3's that was live music so you needed to remove the pregap for example.
In the end the user preferred K3B over Nero. It was easier to use and "just worked right".
Nero may be fine, I don't use it.
...
However
Nero Express, the OEM version (which is probably
the same as the Linux free version) is a piece of crap!
I've been working on burning some CDs at work using Nero's OEM version. I've begged them to let me use Linux to burn them. Each CD has 8-14,000 files. This just buries the CD burning software and loads the system to 100% usage. I've literally spent HOURS babysitting this process just to burn one CD, then I have to reboot the machine to burn another one.
I've suggested zipping them into a single file, but no go.
I wouldn't take Nero Software to burn CDs under Linux if they paid me!
I routinely burn backups to my Linux CDRW containing 10s of thousands of files and I don't spend hours doing it.
Most "aunt Tillie" I know can use k3b just find. Which is probably because I installed their distro, gave them some instructions on how to use it and told them that k3b is "just like Nero". Of course, it's not exactly the same but for what they use, they look alike.
Most Aunt Tillie users have been introduced by someone and can usually call them if they don't know what app to use for something.
The main problem is usually when you tell them that OpenOffice is "just like MS Office".
Slashdot anagrams to "Sad Sloth"
I am one of those Windows users who has spent a lot of time looking at Linux distros but has yet to commit. I am studying for those basic certifications I need to be taken semi-seriously and recognize the need to move to Linux for reasons both personal and professional. I have spent the money on Nero Ultra Edition for the sake of having a lot of stable tools beneath the fairly unattractive interface.
Being able to keep (some of) these tools while I move on to greener pastures will make life just a little easier, and I will feel that my money was better spent.
Quoting The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd Edn.) (note: there is a spoiler about the novel in the 'ORIGIN' part, below):
catch-22, noun a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions: [as modifier] a catch-22 situation.
-ORIGIN 1970s: title of a novel by Joseph Heller (1961) in which the main character feigns madness in order to avoid dangerous combat missions, but his desire to avoid them is taken to prove his sanity.
But you were right on one account.
That does not qualify as a catch-22 situation. 'catch-22' cannot be used in every lose-lose situation.
Sorry for taking this discussion completely off-topic, but the parent started it!