I'm a long term and happy user of Nero 5, have tried out version 6 (audio and file burning only). Version 6 gives you DVD burning capability "native" (you don't have to jump through hoops to use it), an improved front end which is much more vesatile and robust than the wizard it replaces and a nice set of tools. It claims to be more stable. Nero 5.5 was rock solid for me already. Personally I don't use the old wizard or the new front end, but I see how the new front end is an improvement. One thing I do like in the new front end, audio side, is you can check a box to eliminate gaps after tracks automatically-which is necessary on live albums, which I burn a ton of. This is easier than the old system where you could not use the wizard, and you had to change the gap on each track (after track 1) from 2 to zero in the track properties manually.
You can also use the new front end to make a compilation album fairly easily. I don't think you could do this under the old wizard.
Note that the new front end has the default checked for equalizing track volume, which I never do. Be sure to uncheck that unless you want this equalization.
The new tools include a media identifier program, and a program to test your burner and report its various stats.
As far as burning mp3s, I don't do this so I don't know if there is an improvement. If I was to rip mp3s I'd use Exact Audio Copy (EAC) with the LAME encoder. Both are freeware and are highly regarded. There are dozens of freeware programs out there to rip, tag or organize mp3s. I'm not sure what an add-on to NERO would accomplish as you burn mp3s as ordinary computer data files.
Would I buy the upgrade to NERO 6? I don't have a DVD burner and was pretty happy with version 5.5, so probably no, I couldn't justify the expense. But it is not a bad upgrade if you need it. Nero is a great program, whichever version you have.
