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October 13, 2008

Nero 9 review

Nero 9 is an extremely competent suite for burning CDs and DVDs of all types, as well as for playing, importing, and manipulating video and audio, including HD.

But Nero 8 was competent, too, and while the improvements in Nero 9 are most welcome, they're probably not enough to warrant upgrading from the previous version.

The most noticeable changes are the elimination of "Ultra" from the title, the replacement of the circular while-you-wait animation with Bezier waves, and the decision to make BackItUp a separate, optional install.

Regrettably, the multimedia-networking MediaHome 4 module is now sold separately, too.

Other Nero 9 changes are meatier. The Nero StartSmart application launch centre sports added entries for playing files (audio and video), as well as for the new AutoBackup background backup function. Both modules are integrated into the launch centre itself, which eliminates the need to start up separate applications.

AutoBackup (the reason BackItUp is now optional) can back up locally or to Nero's new online service. Nero has also revamped its ShowTime DVD playback module so that the interface is less obtuse. Other tweaks are in the help, and more help is available online.

Overall, however, Nero 9 does not provide the sweeping redesign we've been hoping to see for this application; the interface, which could benefit from a face-lift, remains largely unchanged.

One convenient new feature is the ability to save audio tracks from videos to MP3. Also appealing are the use of Gracenote instead of CDDB for track, artist, and album information; a TV gadget for the Vista Sidebar; Ad Spotter, which helps you find and delete commercials in video recordings; and Pre-scan, for previewing and chaptering video straight from DV cameras.

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Independent customer reviews from

Nero 9 scored:
8.1 out of 10 100% real reviews

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 22 reviews:

15 Jun 2009 Allan, Manchester

2

Good Points

Does exactly the same as Nero 6. Not really a plus, but Nero 6 was good at what it does so it's the only nice thing I can think to say about this product.

Bad Points

Massively over-bloated! Does not do any more than Nero 6 yet takes up over 4 times as much disk space Each application takes an eternity to load - and my PC is not slow! Cannot outpot Divx AVIs with MP3 audio tracks (confirmed by Ahead support team). Sadly this is something that freeware products like Super(TM) can do and yet this product can't. Astonishing. Update process is not fully automated/integrated - it just opens a web page where you can download updates which need to be manually installed. This is inexcusable and unacceptable in this day and age. Even freeware products are capable of self-updating without the user having to manually run the installers!

21 Dec 2008 julia, birmingham

4

Good Points

quite simple to install

Bad Points

it is very difficult for me to fathom out how to use it, previous versions of nero were in my opinion simpler to use

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User Reviews

Monday, 01 December 2008

Reviewed by iceage555

Star Rating: rating of 1

Duration of ownership: 20 days

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Nero 9 was a complete disaster for my system (Windows XP SP 3). The latest version 9 is very disappointing. It requires Microsoft .Net, very slow in use and full of mistakes.

Overall Evaluation:
I wouldn't use this software even for free, but I paid J54.00 and I'm unhappy. It's waste of time and money.

Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Reviewed by TCMuffin

Star Rating: rating of 1

Duration of ownership: 36 days

Strengths:
Nothing

Weaknesses:
Took hours to attempt installation which then fails. Even with uninstall tool provided by Nero, impossible to uninstall without hacking registry. Installs Ask Toolbar even if select do not install

Overall Evaluation:
Waste of time and money - shockingly bad software. Don't buy this software. As other reviewers have said, it takes hours to install, if you can get it to install at all. I have a high specification laptop running Windows Vista 32-bit Business and I'm an IT consultant with 34 years of experience. It took me several days of registry hacking to 'successfully' install this update.

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Total reviews: 4,313

  • www.nero.com
  • 090 5789 0135
  • Nero
  • £49 inc VAT
  • £59 for box version

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