professional

Powerful label creator

Label Spirit Simple is a powerful label maker that allows users to create labels with text, images, bar codes, and more. Although the program is a bit confusing at first, the program offers many options for label creation.

The program's interface is not particularly intuitive. The program is separated into two components--Label Edit and Label Print--and it is not readily apparent what either of these does. The Print interface in particular is confusing, with lots of little unfamiliar things crowded into the top of the screen. This is unfortunate, because the interface is otherwise quite sleek, and the look … Read more

Easy tree organizer

Maple Professional allows users to create tree-style hierarchies to organize information. Although the program is fairly simple to use, some of its functions didn't perform as expected.

The program's interface is basic and intuitive. The screen is split into two parts, with the user's tree on the left and the contents of each node of the tree on the right. Users can easily add nodes to the tree with the click of a button. Most of the other buttons on the interface are related to text formatting and should be familiar to users of Microsoft Office products. … Read more

Remarkable photo editor

We have to admit we were skeptical. We've messed around in Photoshop before and had no idea what we were doing. Portrait Professional promised to be easy, but how easy could it be? Surely it would require some kind of photo-editing skills, right? Wrong.

We are not exaggerating when we say that anyone could use this program. It doesn't really get any easier than this. Open a photo, and the program guides you though the process of adjusting a series of outlines over the subject's facial features. Even this doesn't have to be exact. Once you'… Read more

Dell has the Dell Professional P2210 22-Inch Flat Panel Monitor for $199, after $30 Instant savings.

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Photo effects program

LightZone offers users a stunning array of effects that go way beyond simple lighting tricks. With simple design and abundant tools, this is a great choice for photo perfectionists.

The program hinges right on the verge of being cluttered, but its professional layout is spaced just right to keep all the tools at your fingertips and not overwhelm. Commands are clearly labeled and users can easily preview all changes, which make for a great experience. Users begin LightZone by choosing a photo from the file tree on the left side of the screen. Once a snapshot is chosen, users are … Read more

Need a hand, or three?

To say having an extra hand in the kitchen is a benefit would be an understatement. The daily dinner preparation can, at the best of times, turn into a finely orchestrated ballet of twisting and turning (not to mention slicing and dicing) and dancing about the kitchen trying to make it all work just so. And it all starts with the prep work. Having uniformly cut vegetables not only enhances the appearance of dishes, it also helps the cooking process itself as everything cooks evenly. Even in the simple case of French fries, unevenly cut potatoes can lead to disastrous … Read more

Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)

The good: Strong design and Microsoft don't always go together, but they do in Windows 7. Users might take a while to get used to the new taskbar and Aero Peek, but they're a pleasure to use.

The bad: Performance is still hit-or-miss in Windows 7. At the ripe age of seven, Windows XP still performs better in some categories.

The bottom line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP … Read more

Stock trade analyzer

Serious investors don't just rely on a gut instinct to make trades and make money. You can make stock trades with confidence by relying on the analysis tools provided in this feature-filled application. But stability was a real issue during our tests.

ANNI Professional offers technical and fundamental analysis with advanced neural network technologies (that's a big phrase for artificial intelligence) to help traders manage their stock portfolios. It launches a user-friendly interface--similar to the traditional e-mail client look and feel--with a row of icons and a vertical directory tree list of analysis tools. Navigating among the tools … Read more

Professional social networks that take on LinkedIn

You might be using LinkedIn to stay connected with your business contacts, but there are alternatives on the Web that will help you network and enjoy some extra features while you're at it. Whether you want to hang out at some professional parties or you're more interested in sharing best practices, there are some really neat business-centric social networks on the Web you'll want to visit.

Go pro with these social networks

Focus If you're looking for answers to important business decisions, Focus is the social network for you.

After signing up for Focus, you can immediately start researching topics that have some relevance to your business. From finance to customer service, the site is filled with professionals both asking and answering questions on topics that impact business. To push its social element, Focus allows you to write a blog, connect with others in groups, or simply post comments to discussion boards. If you're looking to learn more about your industry and you want peers to help you do it, Focus is for you.

Netparty If you're a young professional, networking is one of the most important elements of your career. If you don't know colleagues, you might lose a competitive advantage over others vying for the same job. That's where Netparty comes in.

Netparty's goal is to connect young professionals in a party atmosphere. The site arranges networking events for young professionals in several cities across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and even South America. It sets up parties at different places around the city you live in, charges an admission fee, and even gives you directions on getting there. From the site, you can buy tickets and get on the V.I.P. list, so you don't need to wait in line. It's a great service. More young professionals should be using it.… Read more