Despite the awful pun in the name, Nero Burning ROM is a serious contender in the CD mastering stakes. The latest incarnation, version 4, features a slick user interface and a host of options which place it head to head with Adaptec's Easy CD Creator Deluxe.

Installation is straightforward, and it will scan all devices connected to the PC looking for a CD Recorder. In the case of a machine with a number CD devices, or a CD and a DVD, it will attempt to identify which of the devices is the Recorder and which it can use as sources to copy from. If multiple recording devices exist then Nero has an option to select which drive you wish to use when creating a CD.

Like Easy CD, Nero features support for numerous CD formats and types, including audio, data, mixed mode and Video-CD. For data CDs there are numerous standards supported, including UDF and ISO. Thankfully the slick user interface makes negotiating the various options and settings available relatively pain-free. Better still, for the casual or non-expert user the program features a Wizard which makes the process of creating or copying a CD a breeze.

Burning a new CD is a simple matter of selecting to create a New CD or Copying a CD. For a new CD you are presented with a slimmed down set of options: Audio, Data or Mixed. Attempting to create an audio disk on a Rewritable CD leads to a warning that not all CD players recognise RW media. For data CDs an Explorer-type drag and drop interface makes for a quick and intuitive method of selecting files. In all cases once the selection of files or audio tracks has been completed it is time to hit the 'Burn' button to create the CD.

Where possible Nero will allow the copying of CDs on the fly, that is direct from CD to CD rather than via an image file on the hard disk. This is a process which shows up any weaknesses in the hardware or the software set up of a machine, and in practice Nero passed with flying colours.

For audio CDs this latest release of the software allows for the automatic support for MP3 files, which can be added directly to audio disks without the need for conversion. MP3 files can simply be dragged and dropped into an audio compilation and Nero will handle the conversion process, warning if any of the files are likely to be problematic or cause poor quality sound output.

Support also exists for the over-burning of CDs, though the help file goes to great lengths to warn of the dangers of this process.

While the program includes a number of other features, such as the ability to make sector-by-sector disk backups and to create bootable CDs, these options are less likely to appeal to the average user. In terms of core functionality, Nero works well and has a user interface that simplifies the most common tasks. For more expert users it doesn't cut corners and the functionality it offers rivals any other program in this sector of the market. At a few pounds less than Adaptec's offering, this is certainly one to consider.