Nero Linux moves ahead with HD DVD, Blu-ray support

During the CeBIT computer show in Hannover, Germany, Nero announced plans to launch Nero Linux 3.5, which now promises to run on Linux subnotebooks with smaller screen resolutions.

Although there are several different options for Linux users wanting to create CDs or DVDs, Nero Linux is different because it offers users the ability to back up Blu-ray and HD DVD content easily. Further, the GUI in the Linux version is very similar to the one used in Windows.

Windows users who transition to an open source Linux distribution are oftentimes left with very few programs that operate similarly in both Windows and Linux - Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird being the best examples. The Nero Linux GUI is very similar to Nero for Windows, though some subtle changes had to be made.

Originally known as Nero Burning ROM software, Nero is one of the most popular burning software among Microsoft Windows users, with more than 275 million copies of Nero software sold around the world. Nero first introduced Nero Linux in 2005, though like its Windows-based cousin, it's a commercial product. Users have to pay $24.99 after the trial period of the software ends.

A trial version of the older Nero Linux 3 is still available to users making the transition to Linux. Nero Linux 3.5 should be available later this month.