Free version vs Pro version?

[sldvd]

I am wondering if I should upgrade from the Free version of DVD-RB to the Pro version?

I know the Pro version has more features, but what if I don't need those features? Is the output quality any higher with the Pro version than the Free version? What about in terms of bugs and stability - anything get fixed in Pro that wasn't fixed in Free?

BTW, I am using the HC encoder.

[jdobbs]

It's a lot more stable, and has many more features. There are some discs that simply won't work with the freeware version. It also takes advantage of HC better.

[Wombler]

The additional features are well worth it too, particularly the 'movie only' option.


Wombler

[manolito]

It's a lot more stable, and has many more features. There are some discs that simply won't work with the freeware version. It also takes advantage of HC better.
Sorry, I should probably just shut up, but I can't resist...:devil:

I have both versions (thanks again, jdobbs), so I am qualified to make comparisons. Most importantly I never had any stability issues with the latest free version, I am not aware of any bugs that need fixing.

The Pro version does have many more features (the segment viewer / editor being the most useful for me), but all these many options can be a little overwhelming for an average user.

And for the Pro version taking better advantage of HC I strongly disagree. The Pro version installs HC 0.23 which is 2 years old now. The first HC 0.24 beta came out in November 2008, the current beta version is from April 2010. This version is very stable and has plenty of new features compared to v. 0.23, so IMO this is the version you want to use. While you can just replace the old version of the encoder with the new one, the Pro version of DVD-RB does not support the new features (unless they are used by default).

The free version of DVD-RB has an advantage here. Since it basically has no HC support at all (it uses the QuEnc command line interface instead), it will not interfere with any settings the user makes via the HC.ini file. So I can use the new 1-pass mode, I can adjust settings for AQ, LumGain, DeadZone, whatever without DVD-RB getting in the way.

The Pro version ignores your HC.ini file and writes a new one with the settings you make in its GUI. So whenever HC learns a new trick, the PRO version must be updated to make use of it.

Both versions of DVD-RB are amazing pieces of software, it's just that I have always been a big fan of the free version...:)


Cheers
manolito

[jdobbs]

Of course you forget that the freeware version was frozen in Dec 2006 -- and there was over a year and a half of bug fixes and improvements that continued on after it was (at a rate of over two versions a month). The freeware doesn't allow for multiple instances of HC (which is considerably faster in an encode than a single multi-threaded version of HC). The HC.INI file has to be setup in order to do that. You can replace the old version of HC with a new one -- no issues -- unlike CCE Hank315 keeps a consistent configuration file.

Stability? Over 50 versions difference! I'm flaberghasted. There are discs out there that the freeware version just won't support, and hundreds of things you just can't do. Look in the logs and count the bug fixes that have been corrected since December 2006 -- more importantly, look at the impact of them. I'd really be depressed if it turned out that a year and a half of hard work added up to nothing of any significance. But luckily, having had the luxury of knowing the capabilities of both rather intimately, I know a whole lot better.

Of course if people weren't so tight fisted, and 1 out of every 1000 regular DVD-RB users donated $10, there wouldn't be a need for anything but a free version. But I guess people become used to getting something for nothing and force a developers hand (at least if he wants to eat).
Sorry, I should probably just shut up, but I can't resist...I couldn't agree more. I guess you probably go to work every day and ask your boss to just keep your paycheck. I don't have that luxury. I thought I could write something that worked really well and people would be happy to donate -- I have been proven wrong. Instead I ended up having to stop the free version, put stupid crap like key control into the software, and spend half of my time writing protection algorithms because even though there was a freeware version people still felt the need to steal from me outright.

Stepping down off the soapbox...

[manolito]

Sorry, I should probably just shut up, but I can't resist...:devil:

Will do from now on, promise...:rolleyes:

It would just be so much nicer if you gave the users the option to make up their own minds which version is better for them (by providing a time limited trial of the Pro version). Everyone has different needs, and all I can say is that for my specific requirements the free version is all I need...

OK, checking out here...

Cheers
manolito

[dale3dale8]

I can tell you this from only using the pro verison two days it is deff. worth the money.

[soneca]

And for the Pro version taking better advantage of HC I strongly disagree. The Pro version installs HC 0.23 which is 2 years old now. The first HC 0.24 beta came out in November 2008, the current beta version is from April 2010. This version is very stable and has plenty of new features compared to v. 0.23, so IMO this is the version you want to use. While you can just replace the old version of the encoder with the new one, the Pro version of DVD-RB does not support the new features (unless they are used by default).

Manolito,

I can not use(default) the latest version of HC with DVDRebuilder because it stops responding in the middle of the encoder. But with the 0.23 version works very well, which always worked without problems.

Any tips?

[manolito]

@soneca

Sorry, I have no idea...
I remember you asked the same question some time ago in the HC thread, and nobody was able to help you there, too.

Cheers
manolito

[sldvd]

Thank you jdobbs and manolito for your detailed replies - you both make strong arguments. :)

I decided to buy the Pro version. And I was pleasantly surprised to see a menu option letting me select DVD-5 or DVD-9. I know I could have specified that manually in the rebuilder.ini file with the TargetSectors parameter, but having that in the menu is so much easier!