[naashraf]

As the subject says. Is there any other app which can do, if not all, the same tasks but at lower price? All I want is DVD+RW DVD-RW and CD-RW burning, copy disks, making music cd, data cd/dvd and easy way for multisession disk burning.I dont want tape recording as i think Toast offers.

[InactionMan]

A lot of this can be done with software included in the OS.

Firestarter FX is pretty good for other stuff and can be downloaded at macupdate.com, there's also a kind of nasty thing call CDroastX or something that chunks all the unix burning tools into a barely usable GUI.

I'd provide linkage but it's late and I'm lazy.

But I'd say no. But it is worth the trip to the SaltMine if you really need it.

[Ebby]

I am very bias when I type this so take that into consideration.

I bought toast at a computer store for $100 with a $50 rebate. Turns out when I opened the box, the rebate didn't apply to me. (everything was legal-ese and worded to give a false impression) Anyways, I opened the box to read the terms & conditions and couldn't return it because the S/N was accessible. Long story short, I feel scammed and as such don't use the software much. If you really need a feature and will use it a bunch, it could be worth the $50, but it is not a $100 piece of software.

[naren]

Are there free apps that accomplish most of what you ask? Yes! Are they really, really annoying and tedious? For the most part, yes!

[naashraf]

well, i don't ask 'free' for these tasks. But $100 is too much, don't you think?

[drewprops]

Depends on how badly you need its features. The best way to get Toast might be when buying an external burner - it used to be included for free by many resellers. I never did it so I can't swear that it was a fully functional version, qualifying the user for future upgrades.

On my iBook, in Panther, Toast always feels like a faster solution to the OS-based burning options. When you drag your files into the Toast window its instantaneous, unlike the copying/buffering/whatever that occurs with the operating system's disc burning method.

The ability to create specialized discs, burn multi-sessions, VCDs, etc is very useful.

[JamesS]

I believe either this month or last macworld did a review on the new toast. Check it out and see if it fits your needs.
Personally I love the software.

[ast3r3x]

I believe Toast Lite is what comes with most burners.

I use toast...well a lot. It's is a wonderful piece of software that has no equal. There is a myriad of little shitty programs that together and ungracefully reproduce all of Toasts features, but it's a pain.

It all depends on how much you will use it, I'd guess you'd be using it enough for it to be worth it, but I can't say for sure.

Originally Posted by naashraf As the subject says. Is there any other app which can do, if not all, the same tasks but at lower price? All I want is DVD+RW DVD-RW and CD-RW burning, copy disks, making music cd, data cd/dvd and easy way for multisession disk burning.I dont want tape recording as i think Toast offers.

DVD-R/W - CD-R/W, copying, music, multi session is all taken care of by the Finder and iTunes, albeit the Finder again is annoying in that it has to create a duplicate to burn from, so if you are trying to burn 4.3GB is data, it's a pain in the ass.

+R/W and movie discs, and your time back are what toast will give you.

Of course I say this living on a miners salary. Is it worth the buy? Yes. Should you buy it? Who Knows. Will I buy it someday? Yes.

[Track_40]

I just got Toast and love it so far.

Back around Christmas, http://XLR8yourmac.com posted a small link to Roxio's site (http://xlr8yourmac.com/archives/dec04/122204.html) where they were selling Toast 6 +Jam for 50% off -- $99 (reg $199). Sometimes other offers like this popup.