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there was a time when you bought CD burning software to, well, burn CDs. But, as is the case with so many programs today, doing one or two things well isn't enough anymore. So Roxio, building on Easy CD Creator version 5, has added a slew of programs that move Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 well beyond a mere CD burner into the realm of full-blown digital media studio. Whether you consider this a positive move or not depends on your needs as an individual user. Power users who have their own preferred programs for these side tasks may consider the additional programs as mere clutter, while less experienced users or those looking for a single, integrated tool may be happy to have everything they need in one convenient package. Still others may find Roxio taking important strides toward creating multi-purpose tools that combine related functions, following a course parallel to products like Pinnacle Studio 8 and Sonic Foundry Vegas+DVD, which integrate video editing and DVD creation. You can't help wondering which approach will attract a bigger cross-over market.
While you won't find any major cosmetic changes to the core applications, Disc Copier and Creator Classic, Roxio has made some updates under the hood, including increasing copy speed and providing for DVD support, among others. To Roxio's credit, they have added a DVD burning application along with an integrated Roxio player to play back DVD, SVCD, or VCD, both of which were a must for them to remain relevant. They have also added a new audio application, photo editing software, and an applet that allows you to drag and drop files onto a CD for quick burning. While Roxio dabbled in several similar applications in version 5, these are completely new programs, and the company has taken on a monumental task by overhauling the product in such dramatic fashion. While you might not find all of the functionality you expect in each component, for the most part, Roxio has done a good job of providing for just about every digital media contingency.
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You can't get around the fact that this is a big program. In fact, Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 has grown from a rather robust 200MB for the...