Data Net-Burner v4.0 Software Review - Page 2

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The applet is now ready to be created and the user needs to specify the compression method desired in order to create the applet. The various options include: Fast, Maximum and None. The first option can be used where the compilation is small and the applet file will be large. It is recommended for compilations that are smaller than 120MB. The maximum compression will be used for compilations that are greater than 120MB. There seems to be a mistake at the window because it mentions that both Fast and Maximum compressions will be used for CDs that are smaller than 120MB…

Update: As the author states "...This is not a mistake. The reason is that if you choose either compression then you can save the applet on your hard drive until you are ready to burn. But saving a big one will take up a lot of disc space and takes a little longer to prepare. So if you are going to burn it immediately you will need less drive space and it will burn faster if you choose "None"..."

When the user presses the 'Next' labelled button then the Applet starts being created. The options available are either the 'Finished' button, which saves the applet for future burning, or the 'Burn CD Now' that gives the option for immediate burning of the CD. Whichever of these options is selected the final result will be the same, that is a ready CD.

Photo 5: Data-Net-Burner in the process of applet creation

Photo 6: The last screen where the user prompts either to burn the CD now or save the applet for future burning

The program itself seems to be very stable under Win ME or Win2k. Although operating platforms are very different indeed, the program seems to be performing very well. It is very stable in Win 2k even without the presence of an ASPI layer. At this point we would like to take the opportunity to highlight some points that did not like to us:

- The first thing is that the program shows the 'Update Check' button in one of its stages. This is very positive for the application and the user. The window of the web-site of the Data Net-Burner application, pops-up and the user will manually decide whether or not to download a newer version if this available. In case the user decides not to download the update available there is no option to return to the program and has to re-open it from the beginning. In case the software has no updates available then the user will be prompted with a message informing that there is no update available.

- Another very serious drawback is that the program is not able to alter the recording speed, limiting this to 1X. This might be a fairly easy step for people that use CDRs first time but is a kind of 'bug' since a drive of 8X or 12X speed is more or less useless when is used in speeds like 1X. Although the program 'recognises' the hardware it cannot set a higher speed…

Update: The author suggested that the writing speed is 4x and not 1x. Maybe this problem caused from the specific drive...

- The Help file of the software is not located in the program itself. This is an advantage in terms of reducing the executable file downloaded from the Internet but can act in an opposite manner, since a slow Internet connection cannot give the user the choice to look for help since this is only located on the Web Site of the product. What might happen in case where an Internet Connection is not available is obviously a question set.

- Another point that we would like to refer to is that there is no 'Number of Copies' box where the user can select the times a compilation will be repeated. Moreover there is no way to save the applet that is created and in case a user wants to write a specific compilation more than one times the whole process of applet creation should be repeated from the beginning. It has to be noted that the adding of files in order to create a CD is a fairly lengthy procedure for a yet unknown reason.

Concluding, we can say that Data Net-Burner is an easy to use program for users that have not used any CDR software so far. It is very easy to use, based on four steps. If someone is experienced on CDR software, this one seems to have very limiting capabilities. Perhaps newer versions of the software will become slightly more complicated.