GloryLogic Software has just issued version 1.0 of a disk burning program that likely won't need much upgrading or fixing. They did it right the first time. BurnAware burns CDs and DVDs [including Blu-Ray (BD-R/BD-RE)], disk images, allows for multiple burn sessions so you can add successive backups to a disk or new software to a backup of your collection and it supports all current hardware. It does more I won't list here.

BurnAware works on Windows 98/NT/2000/XP and Vista (32 and 64 bit), it has no adware or banners and it has that ever-so-attractive zero price tag.

Though it's called BurnAware Free Edition, the web site has nothing I found to buy. I had a question about how to activate the verification feature for data CDs, something that I consider critical for backups but you don't find on many burn programs. The reply to my email was in my inbox five hours later (it arrived about midnight, so you know someone is paying attention there).

I have set aside my Nero in favor of BurnAware's simpler interface, more modest demands on resources and clear, understandable Help files. It's simple, it's clean, it's free and it works very well.