The Bottom Line: Student 2006 is an excellent homework helper for late-elementary, middle, and high-school kids. If you already use Microsoft Office, it's a good buy. If you don't, it's too expensive.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 98, 16 bit sound card, Speakers, 4MB video memory, DVD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 333 MHz, Windows

Specs: 1 client, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, 130 MB, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Intel Pentium - 233 MHz, 128 MB, Windows

Editors' Take: Visio 2003 is an excellent tool for turning technical concepts into visual diagrams.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, 160 MB, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Intel Pentium - 233 MHz, 128 MB, Windows

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, DVD-ROM, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution, 700 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 7 or later

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later, SVGA monitor, 500 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, DVD-ROM, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution, 700 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 7 or later

Specs: 1 client, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP 6, 234 MB, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, CD-ROM, Intel Pentium - 133 MHz, 112 MB, Windows

Specs: 5 users, 5.7, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 98, 50 MB, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Intel Pentium - 133 MHz, 32 MB, Windows

Specs: 1 user, 8, Complete package, Palm OS 3.0 or later, 200 KB, Palm OS

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, DVD-ROM, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution, 500 MHz, Windows