Customer Reviews

PINNACLE INSTANT CD & DVD CREATION

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This software is a prime example of what a bad written software can be! After I installed the software, I did not find any good way of trimming away some of the excess fat in order to make a good quality backup (i.e. lack of program options). Fortunately, I found some public domain software - "InstantCopySettings" to help with this. The software takes way too long even on a P4 machine to transcode a DVD. The real icing on the cake is that after it automatically adjusted to fit on a 4.7GB DVD+RW, it complained about not being able to write to the disk. Since it creates the content in its proprietary format, I couldn't even use Nero to burn it to the DVD. DVD Shrink Beta 5 did a great job of converting including writing to the same DVD+RW disk - i.e. the disk was not faulty.

I also tried to make a DVD using still images. Couldn't figure out how to make this work.

Saving the worst for last - this software also installs "Instant Drive". This interfered with DVD Shrink making it hang. I cannot even uninstall the "Instant Drive" completely (amateur programmers!).

I did get the software for free after rebates - but it is collecting dust now! I would recommend staying away from it.

Pinnacle Instant CD+DVD is by far one of the best programs I have ever used. Nero is also very good. Pinnacle Instant CD+DVD is very informative while you are burning a CD. Much more informative than Nero or Easy CD Creator. The graphical interface is very similar to that of Easy CD Creator's, this one, is much better though. This Program Easily allows you to burn Data and Audio CD's, DVD's, and just about anything else you can think of. If you are looking for a good Burning Program, look no further than Pinnacle Instant CD+DVD.

Instant CD/DVD includes a very good suite of tools for burning CDs and DVDs. It includes all the features found in "Instant Copy," which allows you to copy DVDs, even fitting a 9GB DVD onto a regular CD-R or CD+R disc. In addition, Pinnacle throws in tools to capture videos and burn homemovie DVDs and also rip and burn CD music. Usually these tools are not worth the extra you'd pay, but the rebate makes this a very good deal.

The only downside is Instant CD/DVD is slower than the DVD burning program that came with my burner. But, truth is, since burning DVDs usually takes tons of time anyway, whether it's 15 hours or 16 hours doesn't really make a difference to me, hence I still give Instant CD/DVD 5 stars for bringing all your burning needs together nicely.

Since it worked out-of-box on my WinXP laptop, I have no contact with tech support so can't comment on that. My tip for successful burning is: #1, buy a brand-name DVD burner; stick with Sony, Pioneer or Toshiba; the money you save on a generic brand ain't worth the troubles. #2, see tip#1.

I bought this suite mainly because I wanted to create DVDs. The program that came with my computer for this purpose has several problems that I don't think will ever be resolved. Considering the rebate and the extra programs, it seemed like a great deal.

The suite is divided in three main groups of applications: backup, tools and create. The applications contained in the first two groups work fine, but I didn't really perform any critical or complicated tasks with them (based on other reviews, they work great). Where I found problems is in the DVD creation tool, called Expression.

First of all, you cannot import just any .AVI file, it has to be in DV format, which is not the case with many clips (you can always convert them using another application like Windows Movie Maker, but it means an extra step and extra time to finish your project). I also tried to import an MPEG-1 movie. Even when the program did not give me any errors while doing this, it only recognized the first 5 seconds of the movie (when it lasts for about 40 minutes). I think the problem is related to the "auto-detect scenes" feature, but even disabling this option I got the same problem.

Overall, and considering the price, it is still a good deal, but I found that other products, like Ulead DVD factory does a better job when it comes to create DVDs. Just keep this in mind if you are considering this product mainly to perform this task.

My laptop came pre-installed with Instant DVD/CD but my experience is the same as many of your other correspondents; I have yet to burn a DVD successfully - it appears to go all the way then either slows to a trickle, never quite completing the burning operation, or simply crashes. Their web-site is no help, I've installed the most up-to-date patches but there's no improvement and apparently no help. I think I will go back to Nero if I can actually remove this successfully from my PC!

This review is for Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD version 7.06. There is a newer version on the market, so I was able to pick this up cheap, thinking that I was getting a bargain. Guess again. I was hoping that I'd be able to edit video files that I'd ripped from DVD after changing them from VOB to mpeg. No luck. Whenever I try to import video it crashes. Haven't tried other formats yet. Maybe I'll have better luck with avi or mpg, but I'm not holding my breath. In addition, the interface on the video editing software is idiotically simple, yet simultaneously unintuitive, so you get the worst of both worlds.
Patches? The Pinnacle website was no help, having only three links in the support section for version 7x. All of the links were dead, but it didn't matter anyhow because none of them appeared to be related to my problem. Haven't contacted support yet.
Oh, and good luck getting this thing off your machine if you don't want it. Not only does it not come with an uninstall, but it stashes files all over the place, and it screwed up my other burning software so that it wouldn't work! If you install this, make sure you use a program that keeps track of the changes made so that you can completely uninstall it (I think there's something in Norton utilities that does the job). In addition to the craptacular editing program, Instant CD/DVD comes with several other programs, none of which interested me. I have tried the disc burning program--I had no choice since Instant CD/DVD screwed up my Nero files--and it worked the first few times, but it soon started crashing, too. I figure it crashed about 20% of the time. I've also tried Instant Copy, which is included in the Instant CD/DVD suite, as a stand alone program and found it remarkably underwhelming. It takes for-e-ver, even on a P4 machine. I much prefer DVD Shrink, which is free and decrypts discs, unlike Instant Copy.
After spending hours fooling around with Instant CD/DVD I realized that it's much more than just bad software. It's a material refutation of the dogma of free-market efficiency. If Pinnacle is still in business, then clearly, clearly, markets don't work in the manner that economists like to imagine.
The most satisfying thing about this software is the feeling you get when you throw it in the trash.

I bought this suite mainly because I wanted to create DVDs. The program that came with my computer for this purpose has several problems that I don't think will ever be resolved. Considering the rebate and the extra programs, it seemed like a great deal.

The suite is divided in three main groups of applications: backup, tools and create. The applications contained in the first two groups work fine, but I didn't really perform any critical or complicated tasks with them (based on other reviews, they work great). Where I found problems is in the DVD creation tool, called Expression.

First of all, you cannot import just any .AVI file, it has to be in DV format, which is not the case with many clips (you can always convert them using another application like Windows Movie Maker, but it means an extra step and extra time to finish your project). I also tried to import an MPEG-2 movie. Even when the program did not give me any errors while doing this, it only recognized the first 5 seconds of the movie (when it lasts for about 40 minutes). I think the problem is related to the "auto-detect scenes" feature, but even disabling this option I got the same problem.

Overall, and considering the price, it is still a good deal, but I found that other products, like Ulead DVD factory does a better job when it comes to create DVDs. Just keep this in mind if you are considering this product mainly to perform this task.

Read this warning - - - I purchased Pinnacle Studio 11 and Instant DVD came with it. If you want to use Windows XP Drag and Drop, Nero, Roxio or any other burning software, DO NOT INSTALL THIS PRODUCT. As soon as it is installed,this product completely takes over any CD/DVD burner that you have and you will not be able to record with any other software package, including Windows XP and Windows Media Player. It took me several days to find out what happened to XP, The record tab was removed from the CD\DVD properties window and I could no longer use Drag and Drop, or my Roxio burning software. The only way I could get full use back was to un-installed this product. No software should to this, and if I were the makers of Roxio, Nero, and even Microsoft, I would make sure everyone found out about what this product is doing to disable their products.

This is truly a great program. It has all the features of other CD/DVD burning programs and more. Instant write allows you to access the CD/DVD as a HD/floppy but unlike others it allows you to make it accessible on any computer by "closing" it. There is also a single virtual CD drive that is created. The package also includes "Expression" program, which is like a Studio 8 Lite (I actually think it may be better). And of course "Instant Copy" which is sold as a stand-alone program for coping DVDs. The interface is very clean and informative. And with a huge rebate it is very cheap- really to cheap for how much it offers.

I made sure I did NOT install Instant Drive (for that matter, I did not install Virtual Drive or the Music stuff). This left only enough drivers to copy CDs and DVD, and to make Data / Video / Music CDs and DVDs. it has worked well for 2 wks now.

One quirk, the dang thing doesn't Verify its recordings. I'm thinking it's a bug in the sw because it keeps coming back with a bad sector number that is the same no matter which data DVD I write, yet the DVD reads OK. It's just annoying that I can't get verification of the write op.

In spite of that, I'll buy more copies of this pkg for some PCs at work.

/ Vic