Reviews
94 MA XIMUMPC NOVEMBER 2004
123 Copy DVD
Burning DVDs is as easy as 1-2-3. Or is that 3-2-1?
Y
ou shouldn’t confuse 123 Copy DVD with the now-defunct 321 Studios’
DVDXCopy, but we can see how you might make that mistake, what
with the similar packaging and the whole “321” and “123” thing.
Unlike DVDXCopy, which lets you burn movie DVDs right out of the box,
123 Copy DVD doesn’t touch copy-protected movies—unless you download
an additional plug-in, which just happens to snap right into the program. In
other words, 123 Copy DVD manges to skirt the thorny legal issues.
Once we obtained the small plug-in we were off and burning. 123 Copy
DVD capably transcodes video, even in cases where the movie is too large to
fit on a single-layer disc. Out of the box, the program doesn’t yet support dual-
layer discs, but the company says it will soon add the feature.
We used the exceedingly long director’s cut of JFK to test the program’s
transcoding ability. All other DVD copying programs we’ve tested have pro-
duced unsatisfying output when it comes to this oversized, three-hour-plus
movie, but 123 Copy DVD performed admirably. We compared the output from
it with a disc made using DVD Shrink ( http://www.dvdshrink.org ), a freeware DVD
transcoding and ripping program that’s popular among the staff. 1 23 Copy
DVD’s copies generally looked better. While DVD Shrink can be tweaked for
better results, we think the two apps are for different audiences. DVD Shrink
fans are advanced users, while 123 Copy DVD users are likely to be the fire-
and-forget crowd.
One feature we like in particular is that 123 Copy DVD doesn’t force you to
activate the app online like other commercial DVD duping programs. When
developers put this restriction on their software, it means your ability to rein-
stall the app in the future depends on the continued existence of the company.
—GORDON MAH UNGUnlike the now-defunct
DVDXCopy, 123 Copy
DVD doesn’t let you
copy squat without
first downloading a
plug-in.MacGurus 4-Bay Burly SATA Kit
This DIY storage solution is A-OK, but is it
sufficiently cool?T
he idea behind the Burly Kit is this: You want to run a four-drive array
for backup or storage, but either your PC is too cramped or you don’t
want that many loud, steamy drives raising Cain inside your case.
The alternative is an all-in-one package that includes a four-drive enclo-
sure, a dedicated 300W power supply, and an 80mm rear exhaust fan—in
other words, the Burly Kit. The cooling is adequate, but in addition to the
exhaust fan we’d like to see a fan in the front of the enclosure to blow
cool air over the drives. (You can buy optional cooling add-ons from
http://www.macgurus.com .)
Cooling concerns aside, the enclosure holds four drives that can be
either 5.25 or 3.25 inches in size. The only catch is that the drives have to
be SATA, and the selection of 5.25-inch optical drives is slim these days.
The kit includes four internal SATA cables, four 3-foot external SATA
cables (you can order 6-foot cables for an extra $20), and four 3.25-to-
5.25-inch conversion brackets. Indeed, as promised by the Burly Kit’s
packaging, there is “some assembly required.” While all the necessary
parts are included and clearly labeled, the Kit is definitely not meant for
folks who are averse to tinkering.
To get our review unit up and running, we had to install adapter brack-
ets on each hard drive and lower them into the enclosure. We then had to
install the backplane connectors and SATA adapters. The only component
not included is a PCI SATA adapter with external ports. You either have to
buy one separately or just run the external cables through an open PCI slot
space to the SATA ports on the mobo.The result is an external
drive array that runs just as
fast as an internal setup—you
can’t say that about any USB or
FireWire solution. It’s just that
in exchange you incur the addi-
tional cost, required assembly,
and limited cooling.
—JOSH NOREMQuality construction, easy assembly.CASE AT FRY’SMACE IN EYES
A single exhaust fan and no SATA adapter.$215 (120 for 2 drive unit), http://www.macgurus.
comMA XIMUMPC VERDICT 8
Our review unit came without drives, but you can
buy Burly Kits that include either 74GB Raptors or
Hitachi 7K250 hard drives.Easy to use and decent transcoding.STAR TREK IISTAR TREK IV
Can’t dupe copy-protected content without
obtaining a plug-in first.
$30, http://www.123copydvd.comMA XIMUMPC VERDICT 8