Microsoft Security Essentials
Antivirus software; free When Microsoft jumps into a category, it's time to pay attention. And when the product is this solid, it redefines the category. This antivirus tool gives you everything you need, offering malware detection in an easy-to-use package with a well-designed interface--and it doesn't nag unnecessarily.
Microsoft Security Essentials coverage Download microsoft.com
Google Chrome
Web browser; free The top pick in our tests is fast and well designed, has a clean and functional interface, supports plenty of add-ons, and provides strong security features.chrome also offers extensive customization options for power users.
Google Chrome coverage Download google.com
Microsoft Office 2010
Office suite; starts at $280 After years of ceding the online productivity world to Google Docs, Microsoft finally builds Web apps into the latest office suite Word, Excel, and PowerPoint all have new features for collaborating online.
Microsoft Office 2010 review Download (trial) office.microsoft.com
Adobe Creative Suite 5
Design software; starts at $1899 For design professionals, this suite of tools remains a class act. Adobe's cs5 Web-friendly features.
Adobe Creative Suite 5 coverage adobe.com
Norton Antivirus 2011
Antivirus software; $40 one-year, single-PC license In our tests, Norton's software posted consistently high malware detection scores. Its well-designed interface is easy to work with, as well.
Norton Antivirus 2011 coverage Download (trial) norton.com
XMind
Productivity software; free and $49 versions If you're interested in mind mapping--a visual way of recording your great ideas--you can pay $349 for the gold standard, Mindjet's Mindmanager, or you can pay nothing for the free edition of XMind. The free version has all the basics, and it works on Windows, Mac, or Linux computers.
PC Tools Internet Security 2011
Security suite; $50 one-year, three-PC license This suite's pricing makes it a great value, and it put up strong all-around malware detection scores in our tests.
Download (trial) pctools.com
Genieo
Browser add-on; free This downloadable add-on for Firefox or Internet Explorer keeps track of where you go and what you read on the Web, and then creates a newsy home page with stories you'll actually want to see. And don't worry: The index stays on your local machine. (#81)
Genieo coverage Download genieo.com
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3
Image software; $300 In addition to offering tools that sort, organize, develop, and publish photos, version 3 enhances Lightroom's flexibility with a new noise-reduction engine and improved RAW processing, as well as a streamlined workflow.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 review Download (trial) adobe.com
Ubuntu 10.10
Operating system; free Ubuntu Linux is a great way to breathe new life into an aging PC or just break free from the world of commercial software. Better still, Linux is arguably the most secure PC platform you can choose.
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