And the 10.5 version I installed did not have any blue-ray support whatsoever. I took a screen shot of both and there are many differences.

Since Starburn has it’s own SDK, other burning programs use the “engine”. In fact I installed another burning software (can’t remember the name), but when I ran it, it said there was a conflict with a version of a starburn DLL file.

Also, you might want to checkout the View > Themes (which really don’t make much difference), but the View > Skin options really do make a difference in the appearance.

Thanks for the Ashampoo 2009 link, I grabbed it and got the key fairly simply.

I said video Blue Ray/HD-DVD. The program can burn an ISO to Blue Ray/HD-DVD and it can also make data Blue Ray/HD-DVD.

When I say video, I mean the same thing as the difference between a data DVD and a video DVD.

Also Jim, the reason you see so many websites listing it as free is because there is a free version. However, the one we are getting at GOTD is ‘enterprise’ – the highest they offer. Enterprise has network burning capabilities while free does not.

In the BAD column you stated “Cannotburn ‘video’ Blue Ray/HD-DVDs (?)” That’s why I assumed it was a stripped down version.

When you hover your mouse over the Burn Image icon, does the tooltip say “Burn DC/DVD or Blue-ray/HD-DVD from the ISO image.

Are you just referring to the fact it only does ISO files?

If so, sorry for the mistake.

Actually I went through my history and could not locate the site where the free version was posted and you had to activate it within 23 hours.

I have located some sites that say it’s free, such as:
http://www.download3k.com/MP3-Audio-Video/CD-DVD-Tools/Download-StarBurn.html

http://www.softsia.com/StarBurn-download-bdrs.htm

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2210271/starburn

http://www.download3k.com/MP3-Audio-Video/CD-DVD-Tools/Download-StarBurn.html

and many more.

Also, where are you getting these freebies? =D

I actually downloaded a free version of Starburn 10.5 with HD and Blue-ray capabilities. What I didn\t realize, it had to be installed within a 23 hour period, just like GOATD.

GOATD is giving us the stripped-down version, although it still is very good software.

Just wondering what’s the difference between the FREE VERSION of StarBurn and this GAOTD (it seems to me that the only difference between the 2 versions is that the commercial one does have the network burning capabilities and the FREEWARE one doesn’t) and why the company now charges $ 49 for this version instead of $495???

It doesn’t make sense does it?

Quite funny price policy, no way…LOL!!

BEST FREEWARE ALTERNATIVES besides yours:

- DeepBurner
- BurnAware Free 2.1.7
- UsefulUtils Discs Studio 3.0.0
- Burn4Free

For the Best Free Alternatives to Nero CD/DVD Burner, see also:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-free-alternatives-to-nero-cddvd-burner/

But if you want a much more powerful burning SW with a video Blue Ray/HD-DVDs capability I suggest you installing these 2 little GEMS (especially the second one):

- AVS DISC CREATOR 3.3.1.337

http://www.download.com/AVS-Disc-Creator/3000-2646_4-195362.html

KEY FEATURES:

· Data Burning with Multisession

Write your data to CD, DVD quickly and easily with AVS Disc Creator. Burn data at a later time in several sessions on to the same disc. Manage your data storage and make most of it!

· Quick Disc Creator

Copy personal home audio in the original quality. Make a quick 1:1 copy with only 2 button clicks easy as 1 2 3!

· True DVD Disc for DVD Player

Create your own DVD disc for home DVD Player. Burn DVD-Video files available on HDD directly on a DVD disc and watch a movie now in home DVD Player. All major media are supported: DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, Double/Dual Layer DVD

· Blu-Ray Data Discs Support

Write your data onto Blu-ray (BD-R, BD-RE) discs. Store your data in the highest possible quality due to the unique BD data capacity of 25 or 50 GB per disc.

· Audio CD Backups

Make personal music CD copies! Use all-in-one tool for various backup needs!

· ISO Image Support

Copy your home video DVD to PC and burn it later whenever you want, as many times, as you need. Make an image of your personal video and save it on PC. Or make an ISO image directly from a disc. Edit, delete or add new files to ready disc images made with AVS Disc Creator. Value your time!

· Quick Complete Drive Info

Find out all information about your drive with one click: supported media, drive speeds, supported discs for reading.

· Wide Range of Supported Media Types

AVS Disc Creator supports CD-R/RW, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, Double/Dual Layer DVD and the latest Blu-ray technology BD-R and BD-RE.

· Wide Range of Supported CD/DVD Drives

Use any CD/DVD recording drives, the software, designed and tested for IDE, SATA, SCSI, USB, and Firewire drives, works easily with most of them.

- ASHAMPOO BURNING STUDIO 9

I used it for the first time just a few days ago and I was very impressed indeed by the speed and high quality of its operations and functions for CD, DVD and BLU-RAY.

It has 2 important new sets of functions than its previous (shareware) versions:

1. Expert Functions

With ABS 9 you can create modified copies of an existing CD/DVD/Blu-ray Disc or a Data CD/DVD/BLU-RAY DISC using advanced settings

2.New Label Designer

With this new feature you can:

- point-and-click label design
- enter your title data with the Ready-to-use themes option
- import track data from your disc
- create labels,booklets, covers for jewel cases, slim cases, DVD and Blu-ray cases
- add your own backgrounds, text objects, images and data tables
- align and edit tools for images and text.

Of course it’s SHAREWARE worth 50 $ but you can exceptionally grab it for free here:

http://for-free-on-internet.com/2008/12/ashampoo-burning-studio-2009-worth-4999-free-promo-on-computerbildde/

Just follow the instructions at the end of the page and have a good time or just add my FREEWARE ALTERNATIVES to your fabulous review should you find them worthy of praise or even better than yours…LOL!!

Cheers from Italy!!

Giovanni