Are you joining the growing number of users who are a little despondent with the avalanche of additions that adorn their disc-burning suites these days? Cyberlink has your number. Because rather than follow the Nero or Easy Media Creator route, its Power2Go 6 instead presents a streamlined collection of tools with a narrowed scope, but a less significant footprint as a consequence.

The software includes what Cyberlink seems to feel are the most appropriate disc burning tools for the majority of us. Supporting CDs, DVDs, HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you thus have the option to burn data, music or video discs, and features are also included for disc copying and audio conversion. There's no label software, photo editing tools or sophisticated editing suites. Cyberlink instead views Power2Go as something that can sit in your system tray (or Vista gadget bar) without you having to fret about it slowing your PC down.

The program is primarily controlled from a simple and logical menu. Here you choose what kind of task it is that you're looking to undertake, and in very quick time you're accessing the appropriate module of the program to do the job. No lengthy loading times here: Power2Go is a nippy beast, and one that doesn't like standing in your way.

Furthermore, each module of the program is also streamlined and logical. Options are contained quite tightly - although there's still plenty for you to tinker with - and most of the work is done through simple drag and drop. Sure, the drop-down menus invite you to try further options, but it almost goes against the spirit of the program to do so. Once you've committed to a burn, its progress is clearly displayed and there's information given throughout.

There's little doubt - as testified by the number of test burns we did without the slightest murmur of error (and our optical drives were picked up with no fuss, too) - that Power2Go is a program that sets about certain jobs and does them well, with little fuss. There is a downside, in that some people have enjoyed the terrific value offered by the likes of an Easy Media Creator Suite or Nero equivalent, where a lot of useful tools are collected together at an attractive price.

Power2Go's retail cost, though, is cheaper than such rivals, selling as a download from the Cyberlink US site for the equivalent of £20. For this, it offers strong value and effective results. It's no market leader, but it's not punting to be: instead, by targeting the mid-range, Cyberlink might have got itself a winner.

A slimline burning suite at a low price. It lacks features of its more expensive peers, yet that's a conscious decision that will appeal to those fed up with software bloat.