Burning an ISO -- the first step toward Linux/BSD obsession

Once you figure out how to turn a downloaded ISO file into a bootable CD or DVD, you've got all the tools you need to begin exploring the hundreds of Linux and BSD distributions that offers users the flexibility they crave -- and the right price (i.e. free) -- to see what runs best on their various computers.

I don't know if I've blogged on this yet, but PolishLinux.com has a nice tutorial on how to burn ISOs with various software tools in Windows and Linux.

I'm feeling a bit deja-vuish about this post, but if ever there was a post to do twice, this is the one.

Since I'm usually at work when I download these on our fat broadband pipe, I tend to use Windows to make my CDs and I use ISO Recorder, a fine application.

I use the built-in disk utility in OS X to turn ISOs into bootable CDs. Here's how to do it. Here's an even shorter explanation.

So here's the deal. In most Linux distributions and all version of OS X, you can burn an ISO with tools you already have. Only Windows makes you add a software package. Many people use Nero, which is great if you've got it.

I have the feeling that even if Microsoft added ISO-burning capability to Windows, people would be squacking about it for anti-competitive reasons. Or, MS might thing that anything capable of making bootable CDs encourages Windows users to try other operating systems (it does!). But Windows still should have it.

If you do have Nero and want to use it, here's how it burns an ISO.

Like I said, on Windows, ISO Recorder is blissfully easy to use. There are versions for XP and Vista. It appears that the Vista version allows the burning of images to DVDs, but since I neither have a DVD burner nor a Vista box, I can't test this feature.

... and I need a DVD burner ...