Paid version: Nero Burning Rom
Open source alternative: InfraRecorder
InfraRecorder is an open-source alternative to commercial CD- and DVD-burning software. It was first developed during Google's Summer of Code in 2006. It uses a standard graphical interface for creating disc images and an express creation wizard that helps guide you through the process.
The good: InfraRecorder is a really capable piece of software that allows you to burn all the usual kinds of CD and DVD types. It also supports the creation of dual-layer DVDs and the burning of ISO and BIN images. We got perfect results from discs burned with the software and had no trouble using it from start to finish.
The bad: The interface is quite basic and not as accessible to less tech-savvy users. More sophisticated and well-designed wizards in programs such as Nero are better at easing newbies through the creation process. The program is also a little slow when preparing to burn a disc.
Conclusion: If you're used to manually creating DVDs and CDs, InfraRecorder is perfect. It worked flawlessly for us and produced great results. Technophobes, however, will prefer the idiot-proof wizards provided by commercial software bundled with pre-built PCs.
Download it here: infrarecorder.sourceforge.net
