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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."

105 of 599 comments (clear)

  1. Free as in... by ari_j · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So it's not free as in speech or free as in beer. It's more like free as in carbonation.

    1. Re:Free as in... by Crayon+Kid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Regardless, I was actually curious to see what kind of burning solution they bring to Linux. So far most (if not all) graphical burners are just frontends for cdrdao, cdrtools or dvd+rw-tools.

      Rumour has it they used GnomeToaster for the interface. If NeroLinux is just another frontend, then it will be quickly dismissed by serious Linux users, who already have several established alternatives to choose from.

      But the NeroLinux presentation mentions all kinds of goodies, including "NeroAPI 6.6" interfacing with 2.4 and 2.6 kernels. A new player in the Linux burning arena, coupled with an actual full port of Nero to Linux, would be a wonderful thing IMO. Serious competition is always good.

      Either way, this is good news for the Linux user base. One less application for the newbies to worry about when pondering switching to Linux. Nevermind if it comes with a native burning solution or not; just knowing that "Nero has a Linux version" will encourage people to switch. I personally heard many say Nero was the last app holding them back. This is one of the highest profile apps for Windows, and now it has established a Linux presence. This is great news.

      --
      i ate crayons when i was a kid and now i have two braincells and the blue ones taste nicer
    2. Re:Free as in... by rs79 · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Regardless, I was actually curious to see what kind of burning solution they bring to Linux./i"

      Burning solution? Dude, it's saturday. Take the necktie off.

      --
      Need Mercedes parts ?
    3. Re:Free as in... by jemfinch · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I personally heard many say Nero was the last app holding them back.

      No, what's holding them back is that they lack a sense of adventure, a yearning for the unknown, a thirst for knowledge. In short: they're not geeks.

      Don't get your hopes up. They'll find another "last app holding them back."

      Jeremy
    4. Re:Free as in... by aaronl · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Honestly, if they really wanted to use Linux and didn't because of Nero, I'd say the people you know are idiots. The tools available on Linux and friends do all the same things that Nero does, but cost no money. Seriously though, how many people worry about burning a CD when switching OS'? Everything out there supports it, most of them come with software to do it. Windows is one of the few that didn't ship with mastering software, and XP even comes with something for it.

      And for the record, Nero isn't a very high profile app at all. It's a good app, no question, but most people don't even know what it is. Plus, there's better apps out there for most of it's functions, Nero just has a rather good implementation of them all.

  2. Also now available by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A Nero keygen for Linux.

  3. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    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 you have to buy, or already own a copy of Nero. So tell me again how this is "free-as-in-beer?"
    1. Re:What? by thoughtcriminal87 · · Score: 5, Funny

      1) Buy beer
      2) Drink beer
      3) Vomit beer
      4) Drink the new, "free" beer that has just appeared.

    2. Re:What? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Interesting

      So you have to buy, or already own a copy of Nero. So tell me again how this is "free-as-in-beer?"

      Well, it's free-as-the-beer-you-steal-from-the-convenience-sh op, given that Nero is usually d/l'ed rather than purchased really.

      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
    3. Re:What? by Cylix · · Score: 2, Interesting

      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
    4. Re:What? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

      Or you could just bypass 1), 2) and 3) and get a Bud or a Corona. Same taste, it's not free though...

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    5. Re:What? by KiloByte · · Score: 4, Informative

      Nope, OEM versions are explicitely excluded.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    6. Re:What? by arose · · Score: 4, Informative
      You might as well forget them:
      Please note: This offer is not for OEM or Trial version users. OEM users can Upgrade Now for a special discount offer.
      --
      Analogies don't equal equalities, they are merely somewhat analogous.
  4. Re:Useless by KarmaMB84 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Other than the fact that you don't have to type cryptic commands?

  5. Re:Useless by bird603568 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope its better than k3b

  6. Re:Useless by ari_j · · Score: 5, Funny

    You have to remember - there are three kinds of Linux users. Those who want to keep usability down to try to impress themselves by using it, those who want to increase usability so that their grandmothers can use it, and your grandmother. The majority of users are not members of the first group. Incidentally, the majority of users also do not assume a moniker derived from women's clothing.

  7. Advantages of Nero? by haluness · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Never having used Nero on Windows, are there advantages to using Nero on Linux?

    It seems, that cdrecord and k3b (or xtoaster) does everything I need

    1. Re:Advantages of Nero? by Rashkae · · Score: 2, Informative

      Except, if you read the fine frint in the FA, it says, Neor offers *No* support for the Linux Version.... so... no.

    2. Re:Advantages of Nero? by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 2, Insightful

      For data DVD's and CD's, cdrecord and k3b are more than enough. For video, though, duplicating DVD's enters interesting legal territory. The libdvdcss libraries often used for Linux video DVD burning have been ruled illegal in several countries. Getting a clean copy of a legal, licensed, software package to do DVD burning and avoid the potential liability is understandable.

      Also, Nero is considerably better in its interfaces than even k3b.

    3. Re:Advantages of Nero? by cgranade · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Same here. I still welcome this heardily. Why? Choice. If someone wants to use the Nero OEM that came with their burner instead of K3b, let 'em. No harm to me. It knocks down one more barrier to Linux on the desktop. One of the primary reasons for me sticking with a Windows system before was because of Nero's DVD authoring systems (before I realized I had no talent in movies, anyway). Qdvdauthor is kinda sorry, or at least it was, and even if it wasn't, choice is a primarally good thing, right? It'd be hypocritical of us to slam Nero for doing something that helps us with our goals.

      --

      #define DRM chmod 000

    4. Re:Advantages of Nero? by TheSolomon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      *Any* popular software manufacturer who decided to port an application to Linux is a *good* thing.

      The biggest stumbling block for mainstream Linux viability is its perceived difficulty to use *and* there being far fewer popular titles available.

      Nero, while duplicating what other (open source) developers have done, may not be doing anything cutting edge with their application, at least they are doing *something*, and doing it for *free* (to their existing paid customers).

      If it helps even one non-Linux use to think themselves "Hmmm, maybe there is something to this whole Linux thing. Maybe I should try it!" -- that is a great thing.

    5. Re:Advantages of Nero? by legirons · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Never having used Nero on Windows, are there advantages to using Nero on Linux?"

      Short answer: If you're the kind of person who already uses RealPlayer on Linux, Yahoo Messenger on Linux, Macromedia Flash on Linux, and all the rest of the proprietary Windows apps, then you'll probably be interested in Nero on Linux. For a while. Until Nero realise that everyone is ignoring them and quietly abandons the software.

      Shorter answer: No, it can't be distributed freely so there's a good chance you won't even have it on a typical machine, while K3B will be installed by default.

      The Linux packaging mechanisms are optimised for software which can be freely shared, modified and redistributed. Nero are complete outsiders to that mechanism.

  8. Re:Useless by elf-fire · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It adds a choice. And Linux is all about choices, is not it? I hope it is part of a trend. You do not have to use it. K3B is fine for me for example. But you could, if you want to.

  9. It's pointless by KiloByte · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.
    1. Re:It's pointless by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Now, tell me, what exactly would I want Nero for?

      ???

      The same thing as any other burning application?

      Or are you thinking the software world for Linux should contain exactly one software for each purpose?

      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.

      OK, there you gave reason #1 (good GUI) and #2 (feature set) to use it on Linux, yourself. And being "Free" (libra) doesn't matter to all Linux users at all, believe it or not. And being "free" (gratis), well, see below...

      Unless you're a Windows user who wants a program he's familiar with, there is no reason to even look at it.

      Exactly! And there you gave reason #3 (familiarity).

      Plus, it's not even free-as-beer, as you need to pay for a full, registered version of Nero for Windows.

      Yeah, and Linux isn't free because you need to pay the hardware first. The point is that Nero is among the most commonly used burning apps on Windows there is, so existing licenses shouldn't be too uncommon. But yes, of course if you're building a Linux box from scratch, with no prior license for Nero, you should carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages for all apps. Fortunately, you have a choice here. ;-)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    2. Re:It's pointless by dbIII · · Score: 2, Informative
      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
      That is the value. In order for clerical staff to burn a single data file bigger than 2GB on a DVD in linux where I work they have to use a script that makes a udf filesystem and burns that - which confuses them since Nero on windows can do it but GUI burning software on linux can't (or couldn't - someone please give me good news). I'm sure there's a few other features which become significant with a big user base like with Nero but haven't been done yet with K3B etc.

      Just having the menus in the same place would have value with a common clerical staff attitude of not wanting to learn anything unless they are paid to go on a course. Sit them in front of a desktop with icons for mozilla/netscape, openoffice and Nero and it often won't matter to them what the OS is.

      K3B is very nice, but really brings home the limitations of the usual win32 single desktop screen when you bring it up on a windows desktop via X. There are so many windows that pop up - while since Nero came from the win32 background it would probably look saner across the network to the average secretary.

  10. Re:Useless by bird603568 · · Score: 2, Funny

    so you mean slackware/gentoo users; suse/linspire users; and other distro users?

  11. So... dear Linux community what do YOU want? by lonesometrainer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:So... dear Linux community what do YOU want? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You really think so? Have you actually used and maintained a Linux box?

      Let's see. Debian. I go apt-get nero. No?

      Gentoo. emerge nero. Again no.

      Let's see. Will I be able to drag and drop from my KDE or Gnome desktop? Does it fit with the freedesktop standards for menus, etc? And in what way is it better than K3B?

      My experience with commercial software on Linux has been universally negative. It tells me what I need to do to have the privilege of running it, including providing some key. I demand a far better experience than I've ever had with commercial software, and for the most part I get it.

      Derek

    2. Re:So... dear Linux community what do YOU want? by Hex4def6 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey,
      in our defense that girl was smoking hot ;)

    3. Re:So... dear Linux community what do YOU want? by Minna+Kirai · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Someone better tell those MYSQL people that they cannot pratically be commercial and release their software as free software at the same time as they sell boatloads of support contracts.

      Already you've contradicted yourself. The MySQL situation you just described is about people who offer commercial support service for non-commercial software. If you're not collecting money in exchange for access to software, then it isn't really commercial. And, the GPL is incompatible with all of the most natural ways to charge money for software. (Unless you can find a GPL loophole, such as hardware key verification, etc)

      but a lot of those companies out there are making software which they use to either support their infrastucture and/or sell support for it to their customers.

      Such business models aren't long-term viable. You can be a support company, or a software company, or even a support company which does incidental software programming on the side- but a software development company that gets paid through support fees won't last.

      That fact is, that for high quality software in most fields, the need for support should be low. As software improves over time, it becomes more and more able to run without expert support for normal uses. (Just look at the history of Microsoft's DOS to Windows 3.1 to Windows95 to WindowsXP. The degree of support needed to achieve the same results has gone down and down). If the software is any good, there will be other dedicated support companies undercutting the fees charged by the original developers, whose costs are higher.

      For the majority of software categories, paid support is not a plausible revenue source- certainly not in the long term. This is the perverse incentive of free software: if programmers earn their money by explaining how to use their software, then improving the software will actually cost the developers money. So they have no financial incentive to fix it.

      the former is in accordance with my conclusion (that commercial Free software is widespread and in increasingly heavy use in the industry)

      Huh? You actually think that eleven-fingered humans are widespread and an increasingly heavy presecense in the population??

      Those two lines are obviously contradictory as the former is in accordance with my conclusion

      They're not contradictory, unless you have more precise statistics on what percentage of human beings are born with 11 fingers. I don't know myself (because doctors are so quick to slice off the extra digits, measurement is difficult), so I admit the 99.999% figure was just a guess. The meaning was that the GPL is incompatible with commericial software development in all normal cases, or 99.999% of the time.

      my conclusion since the evidence is so overwhelmingly obvious.

      Both of those links support my position that Free Software can rarely be commercially marketed.

  12. This *is* important. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:This *is* important. by Rashkae · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I would almost agree, except, as others pointed out, they are a dollar short and several days late.

      5 years ago, hell, even 2 years ago, I would have seen value in a decent burning GUI. Since then, we have K3B and the new Gnome whatchamacallit, that both do the same thing, better, support more formats, and are not hindered by little things like CSS.... Sooo, how seriously can they be taking this product?

      This might even cause OSS harm. Now hardware companies can make proprietary changes to the hardware interface, say, for copy protection. When people complain that Linux can't use the hardware, they can reasonably point to Nero as a burning solution. So not only does this not bring anything new or desirable to the desktop, it can be used to further hinder development of truly open and free systems.

    2. Re:This *is* important. by rbochan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ...This is a mainstream company willing to take pay-per-use apps on Linux seriously....

      Yes, and that's nice and all, but they're scratching an itch that's already been scratched - for ages now - and with superb tools that have zero cost to the end user.
      Sheesh... you can only use the "free" version of NeroLINUX if you've paid for a Microsoft Windows version. So, if you don't even use Microsoft Windows, you have to buy an app for it anyway. No thanks.

      --
      ...Rob
      The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
    3. Re:This *is* important. by malkavian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Hmm.. The fact a commercial company released a product says they're at least reasonably serious about it. They did, after all, pay developers to put it out there..

      As to how it can cause OSS harm.. Where on earth did you get that from? Nero producing a product has nothing to do with hardware companies making proprietary changes. They've always been able to do that, and always have. Can you say "Winmodem" or "Windows Printer"? Both designed with proprietary interfaces which Linux can't use.
      The former I stayed well away from, the latter, well, I run a Konica Minolta magicolour 2300W. Works just fine from my Linux boxes.

      Now, if someone produced hardware that linux just couldn't talk to, then Nero would be stuffed, as it wouldn't be able to use the api to talk to the hardware anyway, at least until a driver writer finds a way to talk to the hardware properly again.

      It may just have skipped past your attention, but the whole 'trusted computing' initiative is heading to put just those copy controls in every device.
      Now, if Nero has the bits built in there to cope with it from the moment it's released, and the rest of the open tools lag, at least there's some product out there that can handle the slack until Open works it out, and gets back in the game.
      If it doesn't, no big deal. People use what they feel like.

      I think about twelve years back, you'd have been one of those voices saying "Linux. That gives us nothing new. It's just another UNIX alike. What do we need that for? It'll only hamper the BSDs and not provide us with anything worthwhile in return!".

      A product is a product. I'm glad Nero are in the market. They're offering something to compliment their windows product, for those people that may be wanting to move from Windows to Linux, and just want something they already know and are familiar with.

      Anything that makes the transition easier is a great thing.

      The great thing about OSS is it's a really open market. You can charge what you want for your product (including free). Nero want money for you to be able to have their product (you have to have the retail version, or buy one to get it). That's fine! If you don't want it, don't get it. Nobody uses it, and it'll go away (just like MusicMatch Jukebox for Linux did way back when).
      But, it's there. And there are some more developers who've been exposed to Linux.
      And as Ballmer is always chanting, it's all about "Developers, developers, developers".

    4. Re:This *is* important. by natrius · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What most people don't seem to realize is that this is a bad thing for commercial software on Linux. Nero's venture will fail, and other companies will be discouraged by it.

      Utility applications like CD burning programs aren't hard to replicate, as there are a certain set of features that need to be implemented to satisfy almost all users. Most people need to burn audio and data CDs, and an emerging need is burning home movies onto DVDs. The first two have already been done by open source programs, and the third will be done eventually. From what I hear, Nero has more features that make it useful, but I don't think it provides enough marginal utility to be worth $100. Nero has succeeded in the Windows world largely due to their distributon deals with OEMs. However, their Linux product will not be profitable. The Linux version doesn't even have the extra features that make the Windows version attractive, but assuming that it eventually does, they won't be worth $100 to most people. The Linux version won't get them any extra distribution, and Linux users who buy CD burners already pay Nero money anyway. The extra effort spent on a Linux port won't be worth it, and they'll soon figure that out.

      There is room for commercial software on Linux, but it has to be innovative software to succeed. There has to be something that the company continues to provide that hasn't been replicated by the eventual open source implementation of their product. Competing with free is possible, but not in Nero's case. Competing with Free is even harder.

    5. Re:This *is* important. by cgenman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, but when someone asks "How do I burn CD's on Linux?" you can say "just like windows, use Nero." Ignoring the fact that Windows XP has an excellent built-in CD burning tool that is inline with the file system, people recognize Nero as CD burning. Telling them to use the "Gnome whatchamacallit" is not just not going to ring with people, not matter how much better the software really is.

      Saying that you see value in a decent burning GUI is entirely besides the point. What you need are big names as assurances that a platform is not a flash in the pan. With bigname 3D rendering packages supporting Linux, you can now point to Hollywood and say that Linux is going to be around in 5 years. Whether or not you personally need to setup a linux-based renderfarm at a 20k per year per seat is irrelevant. Having the defacto CD/DVD burning suite available on Linux means that someone considering switching to Linux doesn't have to worry whether or not they're going to have adequate CD / DVD burning support. Even if there are better things out there, this is good enough to allay that concern. It's not the quality of the software that is important, but the public's perception of the platform that is important.

      Getting Nero for Linux is a definite small step forwards. You can shout until you're blue in the face that kGNOme3B is better than anything else out there, but being able to tell a potential convert that "we've got Nero, and things even better than that," is much more convincing. Real too. And Firefox has made enough of a name for itself that it's also recognized. Now we just need MSOffice, or CodeWeavers to have the cajones to glue together an MS Office box and a CrossOver office box and sell it at retail, and we're all set.

    6. Re:This *is* important. by cgenman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If your goal was to sell someone who didn't have a computer on having a computer at all, then yes, sell them on Windows. They'll have a much easier time finding games they like, and getting support from their friends.

      And when they're ready, you sell them on Mandrake. You show them a live CD on their system. You give them apps they're familiar with to lure them over to the better OS. You show them how most of the software can be automatically downloaded and installed by just asking for it. You show them crossover office and the Linux gaming community.

      And when they're ready, you sell them on Gentoo, Portage, and even better burning software. You show them how to compile everything for their own system. You teach them how to write their own shell scripts to automate tedious tasks, and how to install and setup servers on their home machine for easier remote access.

      And when they've gone through all of that and they're ready for the ultimate Linux experience, you sell them an iBook.

      The big names do bring something of value to the table. They bring security. Not the Linux "I'm not going to be hacked" kind of security, but a security that if these other possibilities don't work out, at least you have this devil you know to fall back on. It's the kind of reassurance that most people need before they'll switch to a new system.

      As I've said, even on Windows XP Nero is redundant for most people. But it brings legitimacy and security for people who don't know the ropes, and those are exactly the kinds of people that need to be brought into the Linux fold if 2005,6,7,8, or 9 is to be the "year of the Linux desktop."

    7. Re:This *is* important. by Frogbert · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes because nero completely failed to compete with Windows XP's built in CD burning.

  13. This Makes Me See How Important FOSS Is To Me by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I misread this the first time through and thought it was saying a free version was available for Linux -- and didn't see the part about you had to have a registered Windows version. Even without the extra gotcha, this made me realize how important free (as in speech) software is to me.

    I started using Linux somewhere around 1998, and moved everything (except compatibility testing) around 2000/2001. Since then I learned how to add almost any program or game I wanted with rpm -ivh {package_name}, then urpmi {package_name}, and now apt-get install {package_name}. It's not just the ease of use, but knowing that it is available, to me and anyone who wants it, that I can modify it or pay to have it modified, that I can help debug it, and even suggest new features.

    I (mis)read this story and my first thoughts were, 1) Why bother, I've got programs that do almost all, to 2) But it's hard to do some of the DVD authoring that Nero will help with, to 3) But Nero controls it.

    That's when I realized how important FOSS is to me and my company. I hadn't realized that I actually avoid commercial software now, and prefer FOSS, since I can make bug reports, make suggestions, and even modify if I need to. I also realized I do NOT want software (any more) that another company controls and can decide to remove from the market, or bastardize so it's no longer the program I liked. If it's FOSS, I know I'll almost always be able to find an older version if I need it, and that I can always locate it and re-install it easily if it gets horked.

    So let Nero do what they want. I know in a year or two we'll see better DVD authoring under Linux (and eventually even see professional video editing in FOSS). This story helped me realize I can no longer deal with paying for software with fewer freedoms than that which apt-get installs for me. I don't want software someone else has total control over. (Okay, well maybe Myst and it's sequals, but we all know games are another story...)

  14. Commercial Desktop App by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Despite there being open source burning programs, I think it is positive to see commercial desktop software being developed for Linux.

    I am not trying to say Nero is better/worse than the alternatives, but now there is an additional alternative -- and software companies focusing on desktop apps are starting to take a Linux desktop more seriously.

  15. Re:Useless by KiloByte · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, the very first time I burned a CD, it took me way less time to get mkisofs to do what I want and then burn it than it takes me every time I see a new version of Nero.

    A well-thought CLI program is often more convenient the first time you use it. In the case of mkisofs, the "synopsis" at the very start of the manpage is enough for the typical use. On the other hand, it's pretty non-obvious to guess what do I need to choose to burn the damn files in a badly-designed thing like Nero.

    And this applies to the first-time use. For the subsequent, you can't really beat the CLI.

    --
    The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
  16. Good thing by teslatug · · Score: 4, Informative

    Before discovering K3B, a CD/DVD burning software was the main thing I was missing under Linux. K3B is nice, but Nero (at least under Windows) had a lot more options.

    1. Re:Good thing by teslatug · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, no, since K3B doesn't have them. For example, I wouldn't mind a VCD option out of the box (getting vcdimager, compiling source, finding out missing libcdio, getting the dependency resolved,... is not fun).

  17. Title wrong? by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought Nero fiddled while Linux burned.

  18. Re:No ISO support ... by FLEB · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's a bit hidden away.

    (My experience is relevant to Nero v5. YMMV.)

    I, and I imagine most people, would find the "Image Writer", a virtual CD-R that you can use to make only Nero images (.nra). You can do all the things you can do with any other CD-R drive with that, burn a "disc", copy a disc, etc. It only supports .nra, though.

    There is, however, a menu-item, "Save Track", that will let you save ISO images, utilizing one of the most confusing and hackneyed file chooser ever.

    Nero does support burning from ISOs in the same fashion as .NRA archives.

    --
    Information wants to be free.
    Entertainment wants to be paid.
    You just want to be cheap.
  19. Slashdot 2 days late? by BestNicksRTaken · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This has already been discussed to death on osnews.com and fedoraforum.org

    Essentially it is using the GnomeToaster GUI under license (not GPL) with a Nero API/drivers backend.

    It's closed source and doesn't include Nero Recode (aka DVD Shrink) or anything other than Nero Burning ROM.

    --
    #include <sig.h>
  20. must mean that MS is doing a CD burner by WindBourne · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It seems like companies that port to Linux only do so on the downturn, never while they are hot. I am guessing that MS must be taking away space from Nero.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  21. Re:uhh who cares? by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not for DVD's, you usually need growisofs for burning those.

  22. meh by wurd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    good for them for acknowledging linux, but i like K3B a lot more than anything i've used under windows, including nero. but hey, competition is a good thing so keep em coming.

  23. Catch-22 as usual... by supabeast! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If a commercial software vendor doesn't support linux people bitch. If a commercial software vendor does support it people bitch that the software isn't GPL. If the software gets GPL'd, people bitch that it hasn't been ported to their distros of choice.

    And then the linux community wonders why so few companies bother to code for linux.

    1. Re:Catch-22 as usual... by sloanster · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How does flamebait like that get modded as informative? Sure, you can always find extremists if you look, but most Linux users are like me: quite pragmatic, and ready to pull out the wallet to pay for good quality linux products.

      The reaction I'm seeing here has been fairly positive, gievn that nero really isn't providing anything I can get very excited about (buy a microsoft windows version I'll never use, in order to get a "free" linux version?) but in general we welcome more vendors to the linux marketplace.

      I like k3b, but I'm always willing to check out the alternatives, and hopefully one day I'll be able to buy nero for linux without the useless microsoft baggage.

    2. Re:Catch-22 as usual... by soliptic · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Have you actually read Catch-22?

      The body of your post is not an example of Catch-22, never mind a good example.

  24. Re:No ISO support ... by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    It only supports .nra, though.

    I didn't realize Charlton Heston owned Nero stock...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  25. Re:Nero would have better spent their time and $$$ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    NeroLINUX uses NeroAPI for low-level operations (burn process) (FTA)

  26. Nero is to K3B arguably what OSX is to Linux by ShatteredDream · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is one thing to just do most of the same things, but how you do them is the real issue. In that respect, Nero is still much farther ahead than K3B. That isn't to say that K3B is a bad product, in fact for most of my needs it is great. Nero for Windows is a very aggressively designed and updated product. It supports basically every burner out there, every type of media, burns any type of disk (VCD, SVCD, DVD movie, data, music, etc) and is just... solid and slick in how it does stuff.

    Again, it's not that K3B isn't competitive. It certainly is, but it's not there yet. Nero for Linux appears to be identical in its UI to the Windows version so it's another great way to bridge Linux and Windows. The bottom line is that it is very good, many people have it because it comes with many burners and having it on Linux will be another program that people who are wont to not learn how to use their computer will be able to say, "oh I know that program" that is part of their semi-daily use.

    1. Re:Nero is to K3B arguably what OSX is to Linux by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't speak to the full version of Nero 6, but K3b is well superior to the Nero Express 5.5 that came with my CD-R drive. Trying to burn an .iso with that watered down piece of crap is an ordeal.

    2. Re:Nero is to K3B arguably what OSX is to Linux by westyvw · · Score: 3, Interesting

      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".

    3. Re:Nero is to K3B arguably what OSX is to Linux by croddy · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Again, it's not that K3B isn't competitive. It certainly is, but it's not there yet.

      have you actually used k3b recently? or ever? or are you just on some sort of linux-apps-are-not-there-yet autopilot mode?

  27. OK folks, make up your minds... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You want companies to support linux, yet when they do you bash their stuff! (you know who you are)

    Kudo's to Ahead for making a software product particularly targeted for Linux! Looking at their site, I see that it SUPPORTS a number of kernel versions and distributions.

    Hmm, I bet corporate customers are really fond of software that has some form of customer support besides newsgroups!

    Just because flavor-of-the-week-open-source-burner-software works great for you doesnt mean that it will work great for companies! It also doesnt mean we should bash the existence of that choice. Companies *will* pay money to improve consistancy and to reduce variability. A known cost is better than an unknown cost. Unsupported (or community) software is an unknown cost. Most companies would rather pay the known cost (maintenance) than deal with the unknown.

    (Yes that was a blanket statement. In some cases, the cost can be quantified a bit better for some of these unsupported/community supported softwares and with such knowledge you can significantly reduce the variability. Generally this fits tools that are almost defacto standards like Apache and what not.)

    I like to think of it this way... its one more option available on Linux that you can also find in the Windows world, making it one more item which can be checked off in the "why [some company] scared to transition to linux" list.

  28. Missing the point... by carbona · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The audience for Nero is a Windows convert who was familiar with Nero's interface on that other OS and doesn't care that there are existing GPL tools and GUI frontends to burn discs.

    I understand the necessity of promoting non-restricted open source software, but things like this are a plus for Linux, particularly if we are holding out any chance that it will start to make serious waves on the desktop.

  29. Re:But can it compete? by Zorilla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Parent post is not flamebait. It was a general comment on how uncustomizable the Gnome GUI is. When you can't do so much as change your mouse cursor from the preferencess window and have to re-point your /etc/alternatives/x-mouse-cursor to a new theme file instead, things are very wrong.

    --

    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  30. Re:Warning: Proprietary DRM by taylortbb · · Score: 3, Informative

    Software Products: Object of this agreement is the Nero software suite, comprising a selection of components, that varies with different suite types, from the following list: Nero Burning ROM, NeroMIX, WMA-Plug-in, InCD, Nero StartSmart, Nero Toolkit, Nero Cover Designer, Nero Wave Editor, Nero SoundTrax, Nero BackItUp, Nero ImageDrive, Nero Media Player, Nero ShowTime, InCD Reader, Nero PhotoShow Express, Nero Recode, Nero Fast CD-Burning Plug-In, NeroVision Express and/or Nero Express ("Software")"

    If you look at the very first paragraph you will notice a list of software products that it covers, NeroLinux is *NOT* one of pieces of software covered by that license, making your whole point irrelevant to the discussion on NeroLinux (this does not mean I support the DRM in the windows version).

  31. NeroLinux - Good for weaning windows Nero users by proctor · · Score: 3, Informative
    Given that our household owns a WinNero license, I figured why not give it a whirl. Not bad...very easy to install and it does a good job of translating the look and feel from the windows side.

    Definitely a good tool for those who have vid burning windows addicts in their household. I may finally have a shot at converting my wife over to the 'dark side' of burning vids on her windows station...time to switch the myth server inittab to default:5.

    Ah...but this is slashdot...nitpicking(TM) is mandatory. Well, it'd be nice if the Nero folks provided at least a basic level of support for the linux side. I'd bet there's people in their support arm who'd be happy to work with an OS they can really troubleshoot for a change.

  32. Not a bad idea overall by Mad+Merlin · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I like this idea, I don't have any use for NeroLINUX, but I can think of a lot of people that would. The people that I can see using something like this, are those that have actually bought Nero for Windows but are considering switching over to Linux, and instead of throwing away money that they've spend on Nero, would like to continue using it, at least initially.

    I imagine that this would also help those with a phobia of new software, as this would be one more application that would be the same for them under both Linux and Windows (similar to Firefox, or OpenOffice, etc).

    Now, I'll admit I haven't used Nero (or Windows) in several years on any of my computers, but from using K3b these days, I can't see anything that it is lacking that Nero might provide. Has anybody used both apps recently (NeroLINUX would be an even better comparison) and can comment on how they compare?

    Overall, I'd say this is good for those on Windows now who are considering switching to Linux, and of lesser consequence to those already using Linux.

  33. May not be needed, but a nice gesture by dn15 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Through all the posts saying this was silly and unnecessary, let's not forget that even if the software is non-Free and irrelevant (to many of us), it can also be seen as a step in the right direction.

    Yes, *NIX fans already have k3b, X-CD-Roast, ECLiPt, and others. But on the flip side, this software is in the vein of what many people have been asking for -- mainstream recognition and support of Linux.

  34. This is great to see by retendo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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.

  35. Re:The company by RautenkranzMT · · Score: 2, Informative

    Incorrect. They changed their name to nero some short time ago. Almost certain an article was on /. about it.

    --
    The cow goes "tink"
  36. What if I don't want to purchase Nero for windows? by Harker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seems like the only way to get the linux version is to purchase the windows version.

    What if someone doesn't have any windows boxes? Is it that tough to make it available to purchase directly??

    I'm glad they've done this. The more products that are ported natively to Linux, the better in my opinion. They just need to stop tying it to their windows products.

    H.

    --
    When VCR's are outlawed, only outlaws will have VCR's.
  37. not a bad idea by Gyorg_Lavode · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I have nero OEM but don't really like it. I have all the linux burners too. (I especially like eroaster's ability to pick files out to fill up a CD for when your backing stuff up).

    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
  38. Ahh the wonderousness by sparkie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  39. I know this is Slashdot ... by cdrguru · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:I know this is Slashdot ... by natrius · · Score: 4, Informative

      But could we please call Ahead Software by their name instead of calling the company Nero?

      Look at the bottom of http://www.nero.com/. "Nero AG / Nero Inc." I'm guessing they incorporated under the Nero name as well when they realized that not many people actually know the company name.

  40. And the Trolls come out to play... by Maxim+Kovalenko · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Listen people, whenever a commercial application is ported over to Linux it is good for the effort to get Linux on the desktop. It doesn't matter if there are already command line tools out there that will do the same thing. So what? Yeah there are graphical front ends available for these command line tools available...but once again, so what? If they support linux, I have to support them. If you prefer FOSS applications, that's cool. But we need the commercial applications as well and this is one of the best commercial applications out there. (Plus you get legal codes as well. Something that ought to wipe out afew potential legal problems in the future.) Personally, I don't see why all of you people are crying and moaning. It seems like whenever a commercial company brings stuff over to Linux people do nothing but badmouth it and go on about an open-source solution that isn't as "full-featured" or "intuitive" as the commercial application. From what I have seen of the behavioof most of the people who have commented about this here and in other places. There are a whole lot of fan-boys who talk a fine game about "Desktop Linux for the Masses" Most of them simply want Linux to stay a fringe operating system so they can all argue about KDE/Gnome, play with your command lines, and spit on normal computer users with a disrespectful, elitist attitude. Mod me a troll for this post if you want to...but in the end it is about "choice" Nero has just given me an additonal "choice" That is a good thing.

  41. Re:But can it compete? by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is the kind of attitude that is keeping commercial software companies off Linux.

    Yes, most of the needs of the FOSS/Linux/BSD community are taken care of by the FOSS community and a whole variety of free software, so much so that most opportunities/markets are saturated.

    However, when a well-recognized company tries to enter the Linux market, it faces comments such as the parent's. Why would any commercial software company take the Linux community seriously, as a potential market, when the Linux community does not take them seriously, unless it is free?

    So NeroLinux is not free. Perhaps it is worse than GnomeBaker and K3B. But at least they recognize the Linux community. Encouraging Nero to try harder, rather than posting trollish comments about how it's not free and not as good as other software, would do more to help Linux's image in the corporate world.

    After all, the FOSS community is not the be-all and end-all of software development.

  42. Re:Motif Garbage by frankjr · · Score: 3, Informative

    It is actually using a GTK1 interface. There doesn't seem to be anything that would be incentive enough to buy it. If only it were GTK2 however... but anyways, I use K3B.

  43. Re:Useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Are you used to using the command line? If so, probably that made the difference.

    Because I *never* had any problems at all getting Nero (v. 5) to work, even the first time. Click the "new CD" button (in the same location that the new document is in every other GUI ever made), pick the type of CD you want, drag the files you want from the hard drive window to the new window that represents the CD, click the "write CD" button or choose "write CD" from the file menu, click burn.

    I never had to look in any documentation to figure out how to do anything that wasn't pretty complicated.

    After reading the ENTIRE mkisofs man page, I still don't know if I know how to actually write the ISO to the CD, I just have a pointer to look at cdwrite and this -o option that sounds like I can add /dev/acd0, but the warning in the intro paragraphs make me wonder about this. I am confused about the filenames that will appear on the CD; it looks like mkisofs will truncate them to 8.3 format unless you use -I, but is this using Joliet extensions or just using ISO9660 to its fullest? I still have absolutely no clue how to make and audio CD (and don't even know what tool I would use to do so). I'm thinking that unless I spend a long time crafting that include file for the -i option, which "doesn't work very well", I'll need to make a copy (or at least symbolic links) of all my files in another directory because I essentially never make a CD based off just a single directory structure.

    I'm not trying to judge you our your opitions, I'm just trying to show that there are very legitimate reasons why someone will prefer a GUI. They are almost universally easier to use than text tools, as you have to go to documentation to figure out how to do things with text tools whereas you can poke around for a minute or two with a GUI. (I'm talking Unix style text tools here, not like NCurses stuff, or even programs that present you with a series of text menus.)

    Of course, there are legitimate reasons for liking a command line too. It's scriptable. You can set it up to do repetitive tasks automatically. (Not very useful for CD burning since you still need to put in new CDs, but this is an exception to the rule.) If you know what you're doing, it's often faster than a GUI. (Though again, I can essentially gurantee I can find files in a graphical tree much faster than with a command line, especially for something like CD backups where I'm looking in many of the directories to see if there's anything I need to archive. This is again an exception to the general case.)

    But to say that a CLI program is more convenient or that you're better off with a CLI is nothing more than your personal opinion.

  44. Re:But can it compete? by flossie · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Perhaps it is worse than GnomeBaker and K3B. But at least they recognize the Linux community. Encouraging Nero to try harder, rather than posting trollish comments about how it's not free and not as good as other software, would do more to help Linux's image in the corporate world.

    If they are offering inferior software at a greater price than the competition, they cannot really complain if their product is not greeted with rapturous approval. When you consider that freedom is more important than free for many GNU/Linux users, the arrival of a non-free, inferior product will not make much impact.

    It is good that companies are taking notice of GNU/Linux, but if they want to make an impact their software should be superior to that which currently exists or free. Or both.

  45. Re:Nero would have better spent their time and $$$ by X.25 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Nero would have better spent their time and $$$ distributing k3b, cdrecord, cdrdao and all. Those are free as in beer and speech, already work just fine with almost any burner, and they're already there (as opposed to Nero having to roll their own).

    Isn't Linux about everyone using what suits them, and everyone having a choice? Did Nero have a choice? Yeps. They made Nero for Linux.

    I've been using Linux for ages, and I mostly use console + WindowMaker. Guess what - k3b won't work on WM. GnomeWhatever? Same story. And so on, and so on.

    Anyway, kudos to Nero.

    I used to pay $20 (or was it $25?) for OSS Yamaha sound-card driver, years ago. I didn't mind doing it. If NeroLINUX works well, I won't mind paying for it either. If Total Commander shows up for Linux tomorrow, they'll be getting my money.

    I don't use Linux because I want everything for free (although it would be nice). If you use Linux because of that, then skip commenting on this article, since it's obviuosly not intented for you.

  46. Not really, by MerlinTheWizard · · Score: 4, Funny

    the ultimate step to Linux on the desktop would be some nice and warm adware - something that would pop up dozens of Windows at random times, all from nasty apps compiled against the commercial version of QT. :D Oh, and of course, it would break through your Linux firewall and recompile a modified Linux kernel behind your back. Does that sound nice already?

  47. Fair enough by einhverfr · · Score: 2, Informative

    But what about something like SimpleCDRTools (or something like that) which I set up for my parents. Handles saved playlists for audio files, mastered cd images, etc.

    Great little program. UI needs just a little streamlining, but still is pretty good. And it wraps all the wonderfully powerful command line tools :-)

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  48. stuff you can't do with Linux burning software by dahlek · · Score: 3, Informative
    This is a good thing. I love competition. I'm glad that there are several mpeg encoders, for example, and at least two major general transcoding packages for linux (mencoder and transcode)...

    I also think it's pretty damn cool that despite all of the cool front-ends out there, basically just a handful of the same utilities are used.

    I can think of a few things that the current linux combos of those utils can't accomplish, however, at least the last time I looked into each one:

    • Writing clone-cd image files. Many off-site archival backups of Playstation games come in this format. There is no native linux utility of which I'm aware that can handle these. In any case, it's a bullshit format - the very good Windows utility CDMage can convert them to bin/cue format, which cdrdao-using programs can then burn. The conversion works 100% of the time, and CDMage runs in linux via WINE very well - still, this is an extra and time-consuming step...
    • Writing cd+g (or is it +eg?) formats - Karoke cd's, that is. I wonder if Nero can do this?
    • Writing an mp3 file on the fly in DOA mode. I haven't tested the DAO mode in cdrecord - but in my experience, most front-ends use cdrdao to burn DAO, and cdrdao can't be fed an input-stream (last I checked, anyway), because it needs a cue file as well as the bin-data. So, you must convert the mp3 files into waves first and then burn them in DAO mode. If you use cdrecord with a pipe (or a front end) to do this in real time, the result will be TAO.
    So I for one welcome some new blood/competition (sorry, no 'overlords' joke), assuming Nero will write code from mostly-scratch (which I don't know because I didn't RTFA). BTW, I thought the Windows version of Nero ran under WINE, so this might be a way to handle some of the above anyway.
  49. Yay! by talornin · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Go Nero! Go Nero!

    This is great news!

    So what if it isnt free as in freedom. Anyone who belives that Linux will have a chanse against Windows and OS X while running exclusively OSS needs to jank his or hers head out of the skies and get down to earth.

    Im buying a lisence!

    --
    When in danger, whewn in doubt! Run in circles, scream and shout!
  50. Re:Useless by digitalchinky · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm using Fedora Core 3, after installing the RPM it gave a series of warnings about an unsupported OS, which I fully ignored and it ran fine.

    It's about as easy and logical to use as older versions of nero (5 and below) though this is just my own opinion having installed it 15 minutes ago.

    K3B I think is better from a useability point. Again, my own opinion. YMMV.

  51. Re:Useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Incidentally, the majority of users also do not assume a moniker derived from women's clothing.

    Dude, that's his real name!

  52. To:sales@nero.com Subject: NeroLinux by lrwx · · Score: 2

    I would like to thank you for taking notice of linux, however, you made a couple of mistakes. Let us review. 1) I can get it for free IF I have a paid and registered for a windows version of the software. Just because we use "free" (as in speech) doesn't mean that we are below paying for a peice of software commercially. Hell I'd pay $29.99 for a good CD burning kit if it had noticably better features than my current software (k3b). Unforunatly I do have an issue with having to buy one piece of software that is completly useless to me to use another. I have not run (MS) Windows for at least 4 years and when I did I really did not have use for a cd burner anyways. I am not below paying for (quality) commecial software I own a copy of Photoshop CS that I use on my Apple G5. I play Doom 3, World of Warcraft, Half Life 2 and UT2k3-4 with cedega and I listen to and purchase music on iTunes using CrossOver Office. Each piece of the software I have purchased and use almost daily. Just sell it for $29.99 or whatever you guys charge for your software. 2) Unlike most Windows users Linux users will read the EULA and everything else we can find on and about the software. Why on earth did you use Microsoft's DRM on a Linux product. There is no way in hell you will catch any Linux user running that. Most Linux users absolutley hate Microsoft we use Linux not always because it's "free" but because it is better than the mainstream OS (Microsoft). Excuse the analogy but I prefer to be able to grab my OS by the balls and make it do what ever the hell I tell it to. DRM in most of our opinions removes fair-use from the game. Besides it's Microsoft. Can't you use some other form of DRM or other. Please. 3) It's a nice gesture you'll probably take a lot of flak for the way it was released. Don't stop though keep working on it. The only way you get a piece of software to be adopted by the linux community though is for it to be better than everything else. Seriously I do not see any benifit to my current software. I have no intentions of installing your software until you stop the farse of a "free copy" and just sell it for fuck's sake, and remove MS's DRM and use something more appropriate ( None MS ). Sincerly, JD Geier

    --
    KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!
  53. How serious are they really? by jejones · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:How serious are they really? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2, Informative
      You can think of it as buying a single license for both Nero/Win and Nero/Linux.

      And they can tell if you're going to use the Linux part of it - remember, you have to register on their website to get their Linux version, so they probably count people who do so.

  54. Re:Useless by fr2asbury · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, this is my history with CD burning. When I first did it I was a Windows user and naturally used GUI programs to burn my CDs. It was OK I couldn't complain.
    Then I made teh switch to Linux and tried a couple GUI CD burning applications and hated them. I was so relieved when I found how easy the two step process of mkisofs and cdrecord was on the CLI that that's all I used for a long time.
    Then I discovered k3b. I don't use KDE, but I really like the ease of use that k3b provides, so I've switched back from CLI to GUI.

  55. Re:Useless by celtic_hackr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  56. Re:But can it compete? by GiMP · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The problem here is that the marketing sucks. Maybe it is a better program than GnomeBaker and K3B, but who would know? There is no demo available, no screenshots, and you can't even buy it directly.

    Eventually, Nero will probably blame their bad product/marketing on the attitude (or lack of) Linux users, and will leave the Linux market. It has happened before, it will happen again.

    I hope that Nero and other companies wake up and realize that Linux users do not need them, they need Linux users. For this reason, they must cater to the user's needs. This is a product which caters to no one's need, thus it will fail. Come out with new and great products which Linux users actually want and would pay for, market it well, and get a return on your investment.

    Linux users want screenshots, trial versions (if not open source), and most importantly -- a unique and interesting product! Don't give us a list of features and assume that we will be brand conscious -- especially if we don't know your brand! Don't forget that your brand means nothing if you're in a completely new market. This is your first impression and you've blown it. Sorry, insert quarters and try again.

  57. What kind of Linux software is this? by HAKdragon · · Score: 2, Funny

    None of the screenshots are in .png format! It's and outrage!

    --
    "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
  58. Nero ALREADY runs on linux by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 2, Informative

    It was reported a while ago that recent versions of Nero run on Linux using recent versions of WINE.
    HERE

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    1. Re:Nero ALREADY runs on linux by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, I'm sure it runs without a hitch too. Good one.

      I expect that it is very stable.
      The main nero application does three things:

      1) Basic GUI user interaction
      2) Read files
      3) Compose ATAPI CDB's and send them to the burner

      The first two are dead simple, it isn't like Nero's doing any Direct3D rendering, wine's had that level of functionality for years. The third is as close to talking to the raw hardware as you can get, it probably uses Linux's scsi pass-thru driver, thus by-passing the kernel for 99% of the work.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  59. Re:But can it compete? by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not all Linux users, I'm afraid, are geeks, and know what K3B is. Aunt Tilly isn't going to run and learn K3B because it's there. She's going to go with something she knows, and that's the target market.

    I can't blame Nero for leaving because of the attitude of Linux users. It was the point I was trying to make. However, as many *nix developers realized, Linux needs corporate support too, and the more support it gets from software developers, the more appealing it will be as a platform.

    Linux needs software houses like Nero as much as Nero needs the Linux market, if not more. Ever wonder why more software companies cater to Mac than to Linux?

  60. Re:Useless by menkhaura · · Score: 2, Insightful

    sounds like I can add /dev/acd0,

    FreeBSD? man burncd should help you.
    To burn your ISO image (example from the burncd manual):

    burncd -f /dev/acd0 data image.iso fixate

    IMHO, far easier and far more elegant than Linux's cdrecord and its horrendous SCSI emulation hack.

    --
    Stupidity is an equal opportunity striker.
    Fellow slashdotter Bill Dog
  61. Re:Useless by ShadeEagle · · Score: 2, Insightful

    In context, it's on-topic....

    Honestly. Mod the comment, not the user.

  62. Re:But can it compete? by Red+Alastor · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Not all Linux users, I'm afraid, are geeks, and know what K3B is. Aunt Tilly isn't going to run and learn K3B because it's there. She's going to go with something she knows, and that's the target market.

    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"
  63. I *am* the target market for this. by likewowandstuff · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:I *am* the target market for this. by unixbugs · · Score: 3, Interesting

      ...you can have it. The whole point of open source software is to know what it's doing and how it does it.

      I have to say... I found your innocent comment almost insulting!

      Personally I don't think this article's subject is any reason whatsoever to use Linux.

      Sure, sure, go burn your stupid CD with the click of a mouse. Wee. Get hooked so nobody else's projects will ever make it. What are you going to do with your mouse when all the other projects are dead and you can't use Nero anymore because upgrades cost too much or your version "is not supported"? Buy something else? Ahh, that's it, you'll take your money elsewhere because you are used to paying out the nose for something you can't even own. Proprietary obsolescense at it's best.

      Yeah, I know, "but the article says it's free". For now at least. This article really rubs me the wrong way. I can't stand the fact that it made it here. If I wasn't so tired (and drunk) I'd take the time to write you a script that could handle alot of the most common things needed for burning several types of CD's. Maybe I'll work on that tomorrow just to spite these fuckers.

      I use Linux for the same reason I bought a truck that didn't come with an EULA saying I can't open the hood. Alot of developers and admins make better money doing other things besides putting buttons on a bash script and trying to package it like this. I'm reminded of when Visual Basic first came out. All these crapware apps hit the scene doing simple shit like a graphical traceroute and sign-u-on-alot, etc - some eventually growing together and becoming big money. Sickening to think this could happen to Linux where no source code could be available and the whole Idea lost to a generation of "converts".

      Think about this. Why bother "Making The Big Switch" just because of something like this? I stuck with the tools I need to get my job done and done well. Stick with Windows. It will make my job of fixing bugs and hammering out workstation and server images alot easier if I don't have to include a bunch of shit that nobody can fix or understand why it broke because there is no source. We leave that bullshit for the Windows Guys. Talk about a miserable bunch, "ah just format it again".

      Granted I'm not having the best day either, but that isn't because of the worm/bug/feature going around rebooting Server 2003 right now that nobody can seem to track down.

      I realize alot of you think this might be a step in the right direction, but it's not. First of all, how many distro's do you think this will support (or be supported by)? You sure as hell aren't going to see a tgz of source code coming from them any time soon. Secondly, who could possibly benefit from this in the long run? Has history taught us nothing? Is this what we really want to become of each and every app that we use? CD's are allready designed to rot as it is, that itself is bad enough without having to rely on someone to provide us with software to write them.

      Despite what you may think of my slant on this there is a very simple fact you cannot ignore: for each person like me, there are 10 Microsofties with a shitload of money and weight to throw around because of the name they carry. That is not to say anything good about the jobs they have, or anything bad about the money I make, its to show what it took to bring Linux here to begin with. It wasn't done by a bunch of mild mannered and sheepish fucktards who did what they were told, that's for sure.

      If you don't like my opinion, do what everyone else does, censor it by modding it down.

      --
      You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
    2. Re:I *am* the target market for this. by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "Ahh, that's it, you'll take your money elsewhere because you are used to paying out the nose for something you can't even own."

      The money will at least influence feature sets, while it seems more than a few OSS projects will implement features only when the developers feel like it.

      "If I wasn't so tired (and drunk) I'd take the time to write you a script that could handle alot of the most common things needed for burning several types of CD's."

      "Can" and "will" are two very different things. If nobody who is able is actually willing to do something better, what right do you have to complain when potential users go elsewhere?

      "Maybe I'll work on that tomorrow"

      Ah, the battle cry of the OSS movement!

      "I use Linux for the same reason I bought a truck that didn't come with an EULA saying I can't open the hood."

      I bought Windows for the same reason I bought a car that doesn't require me to be a certified mechanic to operate it. Just because I can open the hood of my car and maybe change the oil doesn't mean I know how to do (let alone enjoy doing) complete engine rebuilds.

      "I stuck with the tools I need to get my job done and done well."

      I don't want my computer to be my "job." I want it to just freakin' work (or at least a reasonable facsimile) without having to know anything about assembly language. It's similar to why I'm a console gamer.

      "First of all, how many distro's do you think this will support (or be supported by)?"

      Another aspect that turns me off Linux is the whole "31 flavors" aspect of it. Even if hell freezes over and I find an app to do what I want it to do (and it's more than just some website saying that the beta will be released "any day now"), I have to continue jumping through hoops to try to make it work with my flavor of choice.

      "It wasn't done by a bunch of mild mannered and sheepish fucktards who did what they were told, that's for sure."

      At least the folks who do what they are told actually do something.

      "If you don't like my opinion, do what everyone else does, censor it by modding it down."

      A pro-Linux rant on Slashdot? Modded down? You're new around here, aren't you?

      The last time I tried installing Linux, the boot disc couldn't find the ATA controller card my hard drives were attached to, giving it nothing to install onto. I've bent over backwards to get XP running reasonably well on my machine, I have no desire to go even further for an operating system that everybody says is supposed to change all that. I'd rather spend my time/fustration on getting an SNES emulator to run on my PS2.

  64. there's more than one community by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Linus and probably half the kernel hackers would like nothing more than what you suggest. The people who put together Debian would consider your proposal the exact opposite of what they want. You being an insulting little prick doesn't help either.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  65. One doesn't have to read catch-22... by Vishruth · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Have you actually read Catch-22?

    The body of your post is not an example of Catch-22, never mind a good example.
    One doesn't have to read Catch-22 to know what the word means. Since catch-22 is a dictionary term now, all one needs to do is look up the word in a dictionary to find out the meaning of the word.

    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.

    If a commercial software vendor doesn't support linux people bitch. If a commercial software vendor does support it people bitch that the software isn't GPL. If the software gets GPL'd, people bitch that it hasn't been ported to their distros of choice.
    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! :p
  66. Re:But can it compete? by CowboyBob500 · · Score: 3, Informative

    There is no demo available, no screenshots, and you can't even buy it directly.

    Here's one out of three... NeroLinux Screenshots

    Bob

  67. Certifications... by Allen+Zadr · · Score: 2, Informative
    There are very few places that look for Linux certs during the hire process. And the few that do, are doing so because they have nobody who knows Linux already, and they need it to support some big product their IT department was just told to install. In this type of shop.. you'd also be expected to have experience doing Linux (or at least UNIX) administration in a corporate environment.

    Otherwise, the Aplus cert has some Linux troubleshooting now, and can (at least) be applied to more aspects of what you're doing (one of the few certs that I don't feel is a waste of time).

    I am an IT director and a Linux user (currently Fedora Core 3 and RedHat Enterprise Linux 4).

    --
    Kinetic stupidity has a new brand leader: Allen Zadr.