In addition to the disc-ripping and -burning capabilities with which Nero first made its mark, the digital-media suite also offers a bevy of options for managing movies, music and photos. Nero helps you create and edit videos and music files, share that content online, turn your PC into a media center, and backup and recover data in case of disaster. Nero 8 includes a revamped entry page in addition to new support for burning and creating HD and Blu-ray CDs and DVDs..
Nero 8 costs US$79 to download, US$99 for the box, and US$49 to upgrade from Nero 7 Ultra Edition. In the past, Nero has not issued a new version of its software every year, unlike so many other brands. Instead, a new package would come onto the market every other year or so. Peppered between each release were significant updates that Nero's 50 million or so active users could download for free. Now, however, Nero will follow an annual version update schedule.
Setup
We had to let an early download of Nero 8 run all night long (the estimate early in the evening was 9 hours), which was maddening. From the disc, luckily, the 30-minute process on our Windows XP test bed was far less arduous. PhotoShow Express and SecurDisc Viewer took about another 10 minutes to install separately. But beware; Nero will install the Ask search toolbar in your Internet browser unless you step through the process slowly and decline, if it's not what you want.
You'll also have to uncheck or check lots of boxes to tell Nero whether you want its apps to open your photos, videos and music files by default or not. You'll have deselect five boxes to prevent Nero from adding that many desktop shortcuts to your computer.
Nero 8 requires a Windows 2000 SP4 or later, XP, or Vista computer with a DVD-ROM and a recommended 512MB of Ram for Vista, or 256MB for earlier versions of Windows. You should have 1.5GB of disk space free and another 9GB to squeeze in DVD files. If you want to record or author high-definition content or record TV shows, you'll need a system beefier than the basic requirements. HD DVD playback requires a plug-in from Nero's Web site, for instance.
Interface
Once everything's installed and you reboot, there will be no fewer than 16 items listed in the Nero 8 folder within Windows' Programs menu. This is a complicated package that can be confusing to navigate. The StartSmart screen is the best place to start. The ketchup-coloured interface of older versions of Nero is gone, replaced by more subtle bluish and gray tones with a list of topics that feels better organised than the sliding bar from Nero 7.
Options along the top now include Rip and Burn, Create and Edit, Home Entertainment and Back Up. The left-hand navigation lists Data Burning, Audio Burning, Audio Ripping and Copy Disc functions. The organisation is helpful, as each of these menu items takes you to collections of applications whose names you may not understand. RSS feeds near the bottom of the screen will show updates from Nero, but we wish it were easier to add our own feeds there, for instance, to display the latest videos shared through MyNero. Instead, you must visit the File--Options menu and add XML URLs. The flame icon in the lower left corner connects to other Nero 8 applications.
Features
Nero 8's new features include: converting DVD files for an iPod, PSP or other mobile gadgets; playing AVCHD and Blu-ray video; and backing up files to CD, Blu-ray and both regular and high-definition DVDs. SecurDisc lets you digitally sign and recover data, and it can make bootable Linux discs -- no more DOS. There's also a free month trial of Nero Mobile. And you can import and share videos via YouTube, MySpace and MyNero. Nero can convert files to MPEG-4 and other formats you prefer.
Once you dig a bit deeper, however, you can easily get lost within Nero's many applications. For instance, when we tried to toy with creating backups, Nero closed the StartSmart window and took us to the entirely different BackItUp interface. We had to close that window for StartSmart to pop up again. However, some users might like this approach because it keeps fewer windows open on your desktop.
A similar thing happened when we selected options from the Home Entertainment menu, which froze our PC. We had to use the Windows Task Manager to reach the otherwise self-explanatory setup interface of Nero Home. Our Windows Firewall kept blocking Nero Home, but didn't tell us so until we tried returning to the StartSmart view.
Behind StartSmart, the look, feel and features of the various programs remains largely the same. Nero Vision 5 helps you make DVDs, CDs and slide shows. You can add chapters and markers to high-definition videos. There's a decent photo editing application, too.
Nero Express steps you through making music or video discs, such as a Jukebox Audio CD packed with your choice of audio files that can be played back on discs supporting MP3, WMA and AAC formats. You can burn a Super Video CD that converts your videos to formats that most SVCD and DVD players can read.
Nero BackItUp enables you to copy and create recovery discs, schedule periodic data backups, and so on.
Service and support
Nero 8 includes a detailed digital manual that connects to online help, to which we weren't fully able to connect. A decent QuickStart printed guide is included with a boxed copy of the software. We'll report back soon with a rated review of Nero 8 after we spend more time testing its features.
My comments here are mainly about POOR Customer service from Nelson at Nero, Inc. from California. I am going to begin backwards with the EMail's I sent/received.
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Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your e-mail. This is an automatic message to verify that your e-mail has arrived and that it is currently waiting to be processed.
Thank you.
Your Nero Sales Team!
***************************************
NERO - BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY COUNTS
*******************************************
Nero AG
Im Stoeckmaedle 13-15
76307 Karlsbad
Germany
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To whom it may concern:
Greetings from the USA %u2013 I have been an avid supporter and user of your software for many moons now.
In fact recently, I was having issues using version 6.6 with my Windows XP-Pro and Windows Vista computers and without much thinking jumped in and purchased your 8.0 upgrade.
After doing this, I received a call from a friend, who suggested that I update my laptop (Windows XP-Pro) and the BIOS on my DVD drive (Windows Vista) everything should work.
So, I tried what he suggested and after performing an update on my Windows XP-Pro computer, your software once again functions and after updating the BIOS on my DVD Burner, which is attached to my Windows Vista computer, your software works there as well!
I wish that I would have figured this out before purchasing version 8 (upgrade last night) as I do not need it. I contacted ASKNET and they put me in touch with Nero, Inc. in California, USA. I spoke with a gentleman by the name of Nelson, who tells me he would not offer me a refund, because the software works. I asked him how he knew the software worked, when I had not even installed it and am using 6.6 very happily now after things are again running correctly. He gave me a bogus phone number for the corporate office in California, USA and I then called ASKNET back and spoke with Chris and he recommended that I contact your department in Germany by using the sales@nero.com address, which is what I am doing here, or I could even go ahead and contact VISA as well as my bank to cancel the order, again for a product that I changed my mind on, after getting your other software to function and work just fine. As you will see below, I am seeking a full refund on my credit card of $63.99 U.S.
If I am not able to obtain my refund, I will un-install your 6.6 software and simply cancel my order with VISA and my financial institution (Bank) and then install the Roxio software that came with my Blackberry, which RIM has informed me works very well with both Windows XP-Pro and Windows Vista.
I do not want to do this, and I am certain that you do not want me to do this. I am a mild mannered man that simply likes your product but does not feel the need to show anger but the CSR Nelson from California, USA has upset me.
Please do what is right and refund my charge of $63.99 U.S. upon receiving this Email to my VISA.
Thank you in advance for your time and understanding.
Regards.
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Thank you for contacting Customer Service. We have received your request and will get back to you as soon as we can. Our business hours are from Monday - Friday from 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. CET (Europe) and 9.00 a.m. EST - 6.00 p.m.PST (Northamerica).
To update your question from our customer service site, click here.
Question Reference Noxxxx03-xxxxx5
Summary: I am seeking a full refund of the Nero product that I purchased last night VI...
Category Level 1: Payment
Date Created: 03/12/2007 10.28 PM
Last Updated: 03/12/2007 10.28 PM
Status: Unresolved
Order Number: xxxxxx112
Customer Number: xxxxx004
Discussion Thread
Customer
03/12/2007 10.28 PM
I am seeking a full refund of the Nero product that I purchased last night VIA the Internet. I do not need the product as I found my previous version 6.6 to function and work just fine after upgrading my computer and flashing the BIOS on my DVD drive.
Please refund to me in full my purchase price of $63.99 U.S.
Auto-response 03/12/2007 10.28 PM
Dear Valued Client,
In order to offer you a quicker service already online, our Self-Help-Portal would like to suggest you the following answers:
Title: Upgrade Order
Title: Serial / licence number not being accepted
Title: Receipt of Backup CD / Package Version
If this response did not answer your question...
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Well, there you have it. If I would have purchased this product from a local retailer, I would not be going through this hassle now. I have never seen such a blunder as this.
The good: Version 6.6 works well in both XP and Vista. NOTE: Be sure to have the XP computer updated and then be sure to flash the BIOS on your DVD drive if you are using 6.6 with Vista.
I am certain that version 8 is nice, but since I am not using it, I can not say.
The bad: Poor customer service. Have to jump through hoops just to get a simple refund. No wonder people take a hack there software.