bit-tech Shopping: Sonic Solutions Easy Media Creator 10 Suite

• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows XP

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Too many programs to list but it will manage most media and any backup method like disks, external drives

Weaknesses: More of a novice program as it is made to be user friendly, but skips some details in burning

Summary: I got used to specifying burning details with my old program which I can't even remember the name. Roxio skips many steps and only requires a few user input clicks for most disks. Anyone can burn a disk with this but to learn to do it better I recommend trying other methods here. The virtual image has become invaluable as it seems more reliable. Making copies is much faster with this method too as it doesn't have to keep reading the original disk. Along with a great disk burning program you get too many to mention here. The main ones make media projects and convert files for use on devices. I don't see any major device that is missing from roxios support. If you need an overall media suite this is one to check.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Realizes that digital media is no longer confined to the pc but also to devices and the internet -- tools handle this part of digital media

Weaknesses: Can't copy encrypted disks due to copyright

Summary: It's a fact-- digital media is on portable devices and the internet. Roxio seems to realize this and has made a big leap to accomodate these changes. Devices have specific formats which only work on one device. The cost of such special programs are worth the roxio suite alone. I didn't think a program for most cellphones existed until I bought this. It resizes photos and videos for the phone. Of course it also compresses to save space. I think I'll hold off on getting another device since I can use the phone as my portable player.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Weeks

Strengths: Added blu-ray, HD, ipod, PSP, phones media file support

Weaknesses: can be daunting to have such diversity in one suite

Summary: I didn't expect the type of features this soon in one product. Although HD dvds have disappeared camcorders like mine use HD. This program will keep the HD quality and back it up properly. Tools to compress keep the disk space to a minimum. videowave editing program has good enough options to create the type of footage I want. The layering technique makes it easy to play around with FX, sound, without touching the set layers. Ditto for photos. There is is layering editing too. It's arranged by media genre so anyone can find what they need right away.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: The interface is the best -- no confusing hidden programs; most up-to-date device support I've seen

Weaknesses: I'd use it on my older pc if I could choose just a few of the programs, but it requires all programs to be installed

Summary: Devices -- Who doesn't need support these days. I can use bluetooth connect to transfer media files to my PSP and ipod. Don't discount the importance of video editing and compression for devices. The programs handle these tasks easily so more can fit on the portables. Burning-- I can do without dual layer for now because the program compresses files onto regular discs. As video gets into HD and blueray though the files will get bigger. The program can span files over several disks if need be. By then though I expect to get a blu-ray or at least a dual layer burner. music/video/photo projects-- complete programs included. Internet audio recorder can make audio files to keep. If I grab music this way the autotagging feature will put the id info into the song file.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Varied programs, everything from disk burning, media editing, backups included

Weaknesses: Don't expect this to work well on a slower pc

Summary: I've gotten away with using 8 but now that I have Vista I needed version 10. It is almost like a different program but with enough similarities to make the learning curve handable. The menu is organized according to media type so you can keep working on a project and go from one program to another. When I'm working in video I start with conversion or editing. The video programs are so much better than in 8. In the timeline program I mark the sections by time and then can delete them. For homemade videos I can add songs or effects. After editing I ususally burn it or transfer to my ipod. These days I make video disks so they can be played directly from the disk and I can save hard drive space. For ipods it will compress the files. It also accepts ipod media so I can transfer it the other way around.