Lately my disc burning is next to nothing (yay for large hard drives and fast connections). I started to think about swapping CDBurnerXP (and its questionable portable status) for something definitely portable that I can keep neatly tucked away most of the time.
InfraRecorder development was quiet for a while, but it had been recently revived with new release and portable version from PortableApps.
What it does
App has usual interface with home screen that lists tasks and horizontally split Explorer-like windows for projects. It seems to settle as de-facto standard for burning software and it fits just fine here.
I hadn’t burned (ever) audio discs and such, but data and ISO burning so far were smooth and reliable.
Strong features
- all core tasks covered;
- some advanced options (if you ever need them);
- no fluff – clean and snappy.
Usability
While I like clean look default toolbar icons are definitely too small for comfortable use. Option to change them is also unobvious in View > Toolbars > Customize > Icon options.
Large task buttons look nice, but they are hardcoded and stay English when another interface language is chosen.
I like such type of interface myself (with tuned toolbar), but it is not as good as CDBurnerXP to recommend to novice user.
Overall
Fast, efficient, open source with completely portable version. Interface probably caters to techies more, but that’s for you to decide.
Home http://infrarecorder.org/
Download http://sourceforge.net/projects/infrarecorder/files/
Portable http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/infrarecorder_portable
How to organize setup packages
Install or update K-Lite media codecs in single click
QuotePad – simple and efficient notes app
CDBurnerXP – what you need (without what you don’t) for burning discs
Nero DiscSpeed – optical drives and discs test
Open Hardware Monitor – quick efficient PC health check
CrystalDiskMark – simple read/write drive benchmark
Klok – simple project hours tracking
RegFromApp – simple registry monitor
SmartSniff – simple packet capture utility
AutoIt – programming kept simple
Simple spreadsheet to track your budget
My favourite CD/DVD burner application.
AFAIK it is a frontend for the cdburner tool ported from linux, and as such, with a smarter task manager such as process explorer you can even check what command line is used with the current settings you clicked from the GUI.
It was very comfortable when I had to burn 50+ copies of a CD, as after burning the first disk, content assambled, and settings set from the GUI, I could burn the following 50+ pieces from a terminal window’s command line simply with the UPARROW (command history) + ENTER key combination instead of clicking my way through the gui all the time.
@szekelya
Wow, that’s hardcore. :) I think CDBurnerXP has option for burning multiply copies of disc… Anyway I had no need for years.
Optical discs are damn unreliable, all those years of supposed storage is complete BS for non-factory self-burned ones.
I use to try Infrarecorder a time, but I make several roster with this, so I continue using CDBurnerXP until Infrarecorder become more stable. Anyway like you say, now I don’t burn many disk ;).
@Chocobito
Ehm, roster?.. :) Woke up in the middle of the night (caught cold) and kinda slow, heh.
Anyway was it with older version or with recent 0.50?
Eh? I write roster? I mean Coaster, I think, or something like that :D. I have really critical problem with this soft in version 0.49.
PD: Sorry if I choose weird words sometimes :(