Both suites are composed of multiple individual modules--Nero counts 18, Roxio has 25--most of which are accessible via a launcher or individually through Windows' Programs menu. Each suite has its assets, and each makes strides with features on the periphery of disc burning; which suite you'll prefer depends on which capabilities you value most.

In spite of the packages' similarities, the two vendors' approaches to software design couldn't be more different. Nero has a tradition--continued in version 7--of adding cool features without much concern about how simple they are to access or master. Roxio not only adds features, but it also expends more effort making its suite easier to use--a daunting task given the sheer number of components involved.

Nero 7 Ultra Edition's new advanced features include high-definition video editing, 7.1-channel surround-sound editing, a musical beat editor and dance synthesizer that exports files to the sound editor, and a living-room interface (for more on the two packages' living-room-centric aspects, see "Beyond Burning"). But I found little improvement in the program's interface from version 6.6--in fact, the Nero suite's often downright unfriendly design and workflow could use a complete rethinking.

By contrast, Roxio has made significant progress toward improving its product's ease of use in version 8, as well as adding features such as a DVD music disc function and high-resolution video editing. Simple data and disc-maintenance chores are now easily accessible, and virtually every component has been imbued with the attractive look and logical workflow that version 7 introduced. The result is a much more cohesive feel, though the overlapping capabilities of many modules can still get confusing.

Here's how the two suites and their various modules--all of which have their own monikers--stack up on the fundamental tasks. I looked at preproduction software from Roxio and early production-level software from Nero. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous sloppy glitches in Nero's interface, such as a reference to a previous version of one Nero module; we expect most of these glitches to be corrected when Nero issues its first patch. (Keep reading for my updated take and PCW Ratings based on final production software.)

Data: Between Nero Burning ROM and Roxio Creator Classic, Nero remains our choice of the two old-school data-burning applications--even though it retains an interface that is poorly organized in spots. Roxio's Creator Classic program may be prettier and easier to use, but it simply can't match the wide variety of CD and DVD disc projects, the disc image handling, and the integrated audio ripping and encoding that Nero Burning ROM offers.

As fun as Nero's sound mixing may be, I found Roxio's new, brilliantly simple DVD music disc function far more useful. In this mode, Roxio creates a DVD movie disc, ditches the video to produce more space for an audio track (created from imported MP3s and other audio files), and uses the DVD menu to sort and provide access to the tunes. You can fit far more music on a 4.7GB DVD than on an audio CD--and you can play it in any DVD drive or player.

DVD authoring: Though I consider Nero's DVD authoring (creating DVD movies or slide shows with menus from your own clips, photos, and video) good, Roxio has the distinct edge. The beauty of its templates and the way the new, integrated versions of MyDVD Express and MyDVD guide you in turn through the DVD authoring process make the task easy. Plus, the suite adds some nice image editing, organizing, and secure Web sharing capabilities (via its PhotoSuite and LiveShare components, respectively).

By comparison, Nero Vision 4's restrictive workflow and arcane language make the otherwise powerful app seem crude. Nero's suite also has no answer for Roxio's CineMagic, which deftly automates the production of video discs with professional-looking menus, fades, and musical tracks.

Video: Each suite offers extensive and capable video capture and editing. For editing, I preferred Roxio's more traditional stand-alone VideoWave 8 component, which is easier to learn and supplies more on-screen storyboard space than Nero Vision 4 does.

When it comes to the high-resolution video handling new to both suites, though, Nero has the advantage. VideoWave 8 and Nero Vision 4 can now edit and export high-definition video (up to 1920 by 1080 resolution, also known as 1080i). However, Roxio exports to DivX HD or Windows Media 9 HD, which may cause compatibility issues down the road. Nero's export format (Nero Digital) is completely compatible with H.264, one of the codecs included in both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD specs. Many experts believe that H.264 is the heir apparent to MPEG-2--which means you would be able to play your video five years from now. Exporting video in high definition can be time-consuming, though: It took more than 2 hours to reencode my 5-minute 1440 by 1080 clip created by a Sony DV camcorder.

Both suites can compress dual-layer content to fit on a single 4.7GB DVD. For this task Nero's Recode offers more options by far, but has a nearly unfathomable interface.

Backup: Roxio includes the robust, full-featured Backup MyPC 6 (a $70 product on its own, sold as StompSoft's Backup MyPC 2005) and adds a new, simpler Backup component for uncompressed file backups to disc or hard drive, which takes care of my only gripe from previous versions. However, the new Backup component has no restore function, relying instead on the stand-alone Roxio Retrieve program that's stored with the backup. That may be handy for CD/DVD backups, but a pain when you want only to restore from a hard drive.

Nero improves its backup capabilities over those of previous versions with dramatic changes to BackItUp--the only component in the suite whose workflow and interface the company took the time to rethink and reorganize. Not only is defining a backup much easier than before, but a new calendar lets multiple users schedule backups from across a network, and you can now image (back up to one large file) a boot partition. You can even save a new job before executing it; this improvement eliminates my one major complaint with the version of the tool in Nero 6.