When I had my first computer with the burner, I immediately hurried to install a program called Nero Burning Rom because, by all accounts, it was the strongest and most valid software for burning and copying CDs. Nero has never been free but since up until a few years ago he was considered the best on the square, rather than risking burning CDs and DVDs with poor free programs, it was an affordable sacrifice.
Over time, however, I learned to surf the Internet better and to discover not only that the free and open source programs were not so bad but, in the specific case, that Nero, as the version changed, added new functions often useless and it became increasingly cumbersome and slow.
In the end I had to consider how Nero became the most negative example of the so called " bloatware ", exaggeratedly big and heavy programs that do nothing more than alternative and free software.
In these days it has been proposed, on the Nero.com website, the possibility to download for free the lite version called Nero MediaHome (before it was Nero Burnlite), I was intrigued and I tried it, mindful of its success and its very strong popularity still today (also because it is often pre-installed when buying a new computer).
Nero MediaHome the latest version can be downloaded for free directly from the Nero.com website or from other sites such as CCM.
Nero works on every Windows computer, both Windows 10 and Windows 7 and, just for its fame, I had already included it in the list of the best programs to burn CDs and DVDs .
Nero MediaHome, during the installation procedure requires you to install some sponsored products to be denied or removed immediately afterwards.
The Nero program is identical to the previous versions and the paid version only that most of the functions are blocked.
With Nero Free you can only copy discs and burn video and audio files on CDs and DVDs .
All the rest cannot be done:
- no Audio ripping (bringing the tracks of a CD on the computer in mp3 format);
- no cd with photos and videos mounted on presentation;
- audio CDs and DVDs with films cannot be created;
- an ISO boot disk cannot be created;
- BlueRay or dual layers cannot be burned;
- it is not possible to create live CDs for virtual machines;
- you cannot print labels on the CD even if the recorder would allow it;
- you cannot recover data from damaged CDs or DVDs;
I thought then how these limitations lead, an inexperienced and even a little unwary user, to think that one should absolutely buy Nero Multimedia Suite, name of the full version of this program, when instead there are really free alternative programs capable of doing the same things and even more.
As written in the guide for creating and recording DVD and CD discs with the recorder, you can do 15 and more different operations using software similar to Nero, completely free of charge.
The names are quite well known: ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP and DVD FLick to say my three favorites.
In essence, Nero aficionados will certainly be able to download and install this not too lite version of Nero MediaHome, absolutely limited in functions but still free for personal use.
Those who are not related to this famous brand, can without any doubt erase the name Nero from the mind, even for the future and even if you need a professional program.
