[stacyb]

I have Toast 6 and am wondering if I should upgrade to Toast 7 or purchase Popcorn 2. Will Toast 7 give me functionality from Popcorn 2? Does Popcorn have different functionality from Toast? I realise Roxio is trying to sell software, but it would be nice if there was something on the site that told me this in an easy-to-read manner. I thought there used to be a chart (or maybe I'm imagining things) that explained the features of each and I can't seem to find it...

If it helps, my current main uses for Toast 6 are:
- DVD data disks (backing up large video files)
- Turning AVI files into DVDs readable on regular DVD players (but performance is kind of slow)

Currently using Handbreak to backup DVDs (rip to MPEG-4) but would love to be able to do this either within Toast or something with an easier-to-use interface. Would also love to be able to more things, but not sure what more I would be able to do in Toast 7 or Popcorn that I can't do in Toast 6.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[tsantee]

For your uses I recommend Toast 7. The data DVD spanning feature can be useful with those back ups. The much improved MPEG encoder along with AC-3 audio is a big plus compared with Toast 6. Popcorn 2 has a few advantages over Toast 7 regarding extracting or further compressing content from existing video DVDs, but Toast 7 does all that Popcorn 1 did plus all the other Toast features that neither version of Popcorn have.

[stacyb]

tsantee, on Dec 9 2006, 11:20 PM, said:

For your uses I recommend Toast 7. The data DVD spanning feature can be useful with those back ups. The much improved MPEG encoder along with AC-3 audio is a big plus compared with Toast 6. Popcorn 2 has a few advantages over Toast 7 regarding extracting or further compressing content from existing video DVDs, but Toast 7 does all that Popcorn 1 did plus all the other Toast features that neither version of Popcorn have.

thanks so much! that's what i was thinking, but i wasn't entirely sure. the biggest problem i'm having with toast 6 is that it doesn't like some of my .avi files. i've downloaded both the most up-to-date divx and the xvid codecs, and have a version of quicktime pro 7, but get a "missing required codec" error when trying to load some AVI files - not all, just some. any suggestions? will toast 7 solve this issue?

[tsantee]

stacyb, on Dec 29 2006, 03:55 AM, said:

thanks so much! that's what i was thinking, but i wasn't entirely sure. the biggest problem i'm having with toast 6 is that it doesn't like some of my .avi files. i've downloaded both the most up-to-date divx and the xvid codecs, and have a version of quicktime pro 7, but get a "missing required codec" error when trying to load some AVI files - not all, just some. any suggestions? will toast 7 solve this issue?

I don't know if Toast 7 will change that result. I think the only codec it adds is the DivX playback, but I may be mistaken. Check out this page for a possible codec that may work and also follow its link to the AC3 co-dec: Perian.