Call it a "burning obsession." In our continuing search for new CD-R software, we have yet another contender: MyCD from Veritas, the backup software giant.
Brian Greene, the product manager, said in an interview that MyCD reflects the fact that CD recording has gone from the realm of power users into the mainstream. Newcomers to the burning world, he said, need solutions that are simpler than prior software packages.
And the product bears that out. MyCD opens up with a straightforward graphic interface with two big buttons: "Make an Exact Copy," "Create a New CD" (plus smaller "Program Options" and "Look for Updates" buttons). Clicking either choice triggers a wizard that leads you through the creation process.
MyCD is designed so that it automatically handles various test and setup options for your recordings. For example, if you are copying from one CD drive to another, it will automatically test speeds and data transfer rates, and set the recording speed and hard drive buffer size accordingly.
Veritas plans a power users' version later, and Greene said MyCD benefits from having a robust burning engine that will form the basis of both versions. In my unscientific tests---try to make a recording while running other programs at the same time--MyCD seemed to run reliably. But Veritas still warns users against using other programs at the same time you are trying to make a CD.
Some features are missing. There is no CD labeling package included in the software as there is with Adaptec Easy CD, nor does it have CDDB support (Veritas blames CDDB licensing hassles). On the other hand, MyCD should have a street price of $30-something as against $80 for Adaptec Easy CD.
MyCD is simple and easy. If you want to have the zillion options of, say, Nero, you will hate it. If you want to just stick a disc in and record, it is a promising option.
MyCD can be ordered directly from Veritas:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/316/tr.cgi?cd1
Easy CD Creator Deluxe:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/316/tr.cgi?cd2
