Daemon Tools Ultra 2.2.0

Computers are getting smaller and smaller. We've gone from desktop computers with big backs to those that are as thin as a pencil. Our laptops used to be large in size as well and now we have laptops where parts of them reach to be as thin as our smartphones, and some even thinner. But with this shift in size we have lost certain features that were and still are very essential. The CD drive, for example, is one of those hardware features that we've seen leave our laptops as of late. And the shift is continuing. The new Macbook Pro with Retina display does not come with an optical drive. Google's Chromebook line comes without an optical drive as well. For the longest, the optical drive was the way in which computer applications were installed on a computer. Nowadays we are able to download almost anything, however there are still some situations where an optical drive can still come in handy. One of those situations is when you have an .iso file that requires a CD to be inserted in order for the installation to be successful.

There is, however, a way to override this request. It is called mounting. When you mount an image file you are essentially fooling the computer into thinking that a disk has been inserted. Daemon Tools is a set of system tools that can be used to quickly mount any image file that you have so that you may access the content on it. By mounting images rather than inserting disks, you open up your computer to a completely new world of possibilities. With optical disks, you are, in most cases, limited to inserting one disk at a time and accessing files on that one disk alone - if you happen to find a PC with more than one optical disk drive on the internet (a legitimate source) leave a link in the comments below and I will buy it just because it's cool. With Daemon tools you can mount multiple image files at one time and interact with each of them. You can copy and or move files from one image to any path on your computer or to another image file that has been mounted. You can both add and remove files from mounted image files; the possibilities are truly endless. And the fun doesn't stop there.

If you have been under the impression to this point that Daemon Tools is just all about mounting images and performing miscellaneous tasks with them, you're on the right track, but that's only the half of it. Not only does the application suite take care of your mounting needs but it also aids you in the conversion process as well. You can use Daemon Tools to easily convert disks into disk images. Until Daemon Tools, there hasn't been a solid application suite that handles both the conversion of disks to disk images and mounting those disk images; you would usually have to search the internet for separate applications able to handle one task or the other.

Let's face it, not everyone is an expert at everything; every now and then, you will run into an issue that you just can't seem to find a fix for. Luckily for you and other Daemon Tools users, there is a full fledged help system included with the application. You can get any answer to any question quickly and easily. If you're a newcomer to this process entirely, you can take advantage of the great help and tutorial videos. They are easy to follow and easy to understand. You'll be a master at this before you know it.

Not all applications can be perfect, but Daemon Tools comes pretty darn close. If I had to give one downside about the application, it would be its price tag. For just under $50, you can get complete access to all of the features discussed in this review. In my opinion, that's a hefty price for the features and functionality of the application, especially now since there are competitors that offer these same great features and services for a $10-20 purchase and in some cases absolutely free. Some may disagree and say that Daemon Tools is worth the $50, but I'd have to argue that they need to price a bit more competitively.