Standard CD/DVD authoring

The Bottom Line: Roxio continues to improve a strong suite and keep Toast current with the release of version 8. If the Mac OS and Apple's bundled apps don't meet your disc-creation needs, pick up Toast at once.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 8, CD-R, DVD-R, MacOS, QuickTime 7.1 or later

The Bottom Line: Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 builds on past success by offering a huge range of features and unparalleled ease of use, making it the right suite for most people.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP, 1 GB, 500 MHz, 128 MB, 8, CD-ROM, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 500 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 5.01 or later, Windows Media Player 7.1 or later

The Bottom Line: Despite some stability problems, Pinnacle Studio 9.0 is a remarkably powerful video editor and authoring app for both home and professional use.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 800 MHz, 9, CD-ROM, Sound card, Graphics card, 800 MHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.4, Apple MacOS X 10.5, USB port (compatible with 2.0 specification), MacOS, iMovie HD

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, 1.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, 12, DVD-ROM, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 3D accelerator card with 64MB of memory, 1.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, 1.8 GHz, 14, DVD-ROM, Keyboard, 64MB video memory, Mouse or compatible device, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 1.8 GHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, 1.8 GHz, 14, DVD-ROM, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 3D accelerator card with 64MB of memory, 1.8 GHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 1.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, 11, DVD-ROM, DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0 compatible graphics card, 3D accelerator card with 64MB of memory, 1.8 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, Windows, DirectX 9.0 or later

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, 1.8 GHz, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, 1.8 GHz, Windows

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, 800 MHz, DVD-ROM, Sound card, 800 MHz, Windows, DirectX 9.0c or later, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0