Customer Reviews

Roxio Popcorn [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For quite a while I have been using DVD2oneX to compress backup copies of commercial DVDs and then Toast 6 to burn the copies (after using DVDBackup or MacTheRipper to unprotect the DVDs). Although DVD2oneX works it can be very frustrating to go through the motions to compress the DVD and then be told by Toast that there is not enough room on the blank DVD to make the copy. Popcorn provides information to allow the user to decide whether he wants just the movie or the whole disk and then advises what level of compression will be used and the resulting relative picture quality. Then it compresses the DVD and burns it. I've used it on 6 DVDs so far, including three that I could not compress small enough with DVD2oneX, and had only one hiccup. It said I had a Mac OS system error and refused to process one of the DVDs - until I figured out that I didn't have enough disk space for Popcorn to do its job. A great product.

Ok, so you have read other reviews, but notice there is one thing lacking - the real world. Well, here is what is : no computer and software is perfect. Popcorn does come very close in my book, because it does exactly what it says. The use of Mac-the-Ripper and Popcorn = copies of DVDs. C'mon, people, maintain a perspective here - that is NOT a license to rip off what you haven't paid for. That is wrong, no matter what justification you want to use.

Having said that, for those who want to make LEGAL back-up copies of the DVDs you have bought and paid for, I don't know of a better way to do so. However, there are missing elements in the equation, and that would be time and space. If you do not have the proper combination of computer and blank DVD, it will take you about 1 1/2 hours to make a copy. I have a iMac G5 2 GHz, and the compression alone took 1/2 hour, but I was also using my computer to check e-mail and the like. Here is the minimum to get in the door according to Roxio :

PowerPC G3 or faster processor (G4 or G5 processor recommended)
Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later
200 MB of free hard drive space to install
Up to 15 GB of temporary free disk space may be required while using the software
DVD recorder
Blank recordable DVD discs

So, copying is not going to be a fast process, but you also must make sure you have about 20 GB of free space on a hard drive connnected to your computer to make sure Popcorn has enough "leg room" to get the job done. That is not to say that Popcorn will take the space away forever, but it does need "scratch space" to write temp files as part of the compression process. If I remember 15 GB is what Popcorn requires as an absolute minimum, but play it safe and just leave the 20 GB free and you will be fine.

Aside from that, go nuts. The interface is minimal and if you can't hack it then get your kidlings to help you. It really isn't that tough. Pick the source, and pick full disk or movie only then hit the big button on the bottom right. That's pretty much it. This assumes also that you have already MTR'd the DVD, and you are copying the Video_TS folder.

Will Popcorn work perfectly for you? Who knows! Computers are built and programs are written by humans. If you have done all the required maintenance on your computer, have the latest OS software, I don't see where there would be a problem. Popcorn is that rare breed of software which works exactly as promised, so if your computer is up to the task, then buy it and go nuts

Roxio advertises POPCORN as a copier for non-encryted DVDs, of course, they know that many consumer are not buying the product for this reason. Popcorn has the ability to burn a dvd from VIDEO_TS files. Therefore, using a free DVD ripper program, you can create backups of your DVDs very easily. Popcorn works perfectly, and should be priced higher. The compresser works like a charm, and I think a 5-year old could do it. If you're looking to make backups of both commerical and other DVDs, this is perfect. This is the real deal, of course if you don't use a ripper it is quite pointless (except for things that a Videographer might give you which are usually not encrypted, like from a Wedding).

Popcorn is an almost perfect program that is EASILY worth its cost. It does what is is supposed to do without complications of any kind.

I've read some of the other reviews on this and other sites and feel convinced that most of the negative reviews, or those reporting "problems", are being written by folks who are using bad media or a bad DVD recorder. I'm using a Pioneer DVR-109 on a mac G4 Dual 500 and the program works like a dream EVERY TIME.

In perusing any negative "reviews" you might want to keep in mind that many of them may well have been written by persons associated with Roxio's competition. Mac users have needed this program, and I'd hate to think that anyone was scared away from it by bogus reviewers.

I have been an avid user of DVD2One X for quite a long time. The first time I used Popcorn I became an avid user of Popcorn. I enjoy the simplistic interface, which still allows me access to advanced options. Not only that, but I am getting the reliability of the biggest name ever in Mac CD/DVD recording, Toast.

My Disney movies have never been happier.

My kids love nothing more than taking out their DVDs, throwing them around and scratching them. With Popcorn, I can backup my DVDs at will and let the kids have their own copy. Disk get's destoryed? I can quickly create another one (with the help of a free Mac DVD ripper).

If you are like me and have kids and want to backup your own DVDs, check out Popcorn, you (and your wallet) will not regret it.

I can also create their own jewel case covers with Roxio's Discus software that is included for free.

This program really does do it all. All you have to do is insert whatever DVD you would like to back up and it will Extract, Compress, and Burn the DVD. It is well worth the price for anyone with an extensive DVD collection that they would want to backup just incase your factory DVD gets scratched or messed up. I have had no problems so far and all the DVD's play crystal clear with no signs that they have been compressed.

This product does a great job burning DVD's on the Mac. One thing is you will need to download an upgrade if you are using OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

I've got Mac OS 10.3.9 on Powerbook G4 12 inch with superdrive. So far it's worked well, only 1 coaster out of 10. I use Mac the Ripper on my DVD collection, then use Popcorn to burn. I think for a product like this, if it works 80-90% of the time, then it's worth your $40.

This is working great for me and my DVD collection.

I did my research before purchasing and found that there is no FREE software on the Mac to do the compression of a DVD to fit onto the blank... regardless of what some of the previous posts are saying. This does the compression and burning in a single step and it ROCKS.

This was where I learned everything I needed.

http://homepage.mac.com/joeweaver1/dvdinfo/