Shop for business and productivity

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 36 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 isn't perfect, but it's the best dictation software available. We don't find this upgrade necessary for the most basic dictation, although new features may benefit heavily accented English speakers and those who rely heavily on voice commands. Read review

Specs: 1 user, 10, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microphone, 16 bit sound card, DVD-ROM, Internet connection, Speakers, 1 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 177 reviews

The Bottom Line: Overall, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade if you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations to share with others, and Outlook is better than ever, but you can stick to your current software if you don't feel that it lacks anything. Read review

Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, 500 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 99 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you're ready to let go of old habits from previous versions of Word and want to make sleeker-looking documents, Microsoft Word 2007 is worth the upgrade. However, less-expensive alternatives handle its core features without the clutter. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 3 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Printer, 4x CD-ROM, Internet connection 56k, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution, 1 GHz, Windows, Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 55 reviews

The Bottom Line: Office for Mac 2008 may be the best pick for business users, but most people can get by with less costly alternatives. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.4.9 or later, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 500 MHz, MacOS

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 89 reviews

The Bottom Line: Overall, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade if you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations to share with others, and Outlook is better than ever, but you can stick to your current software if you don't feel that it lacks anything. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, 500 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 1 user, 11, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64 bits) SP1, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 (32/64-bits), Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64 bits) SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition SP2, Microphone, 16 bit sound card, DVD-ROM, Internet connection, 1 GHz, 1.66 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 8 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS X Server 10.6.2 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.5.8 or later, DVD-ROM, MacOS

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 30 reviews

The Bottom Line: Intuitive interface design and easy access to useful features make iWork the best office suite choice on the Mac. Though it lacks some of Microsoft Office's advanced options, iWork '09 is an emerging powerhouse in its own right. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.4.11, Apple MacOS X 10.5.6 or later, DVD-ROM, Intel Power PC G4, Intel Power PC G4 Power PC G5 - 500 MHz, MacOS, QuickTime 7.5.5 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 9 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Sound card, Printer, Speakers, 4x CD-ROM, Internet connection 56k, 1024 x 768 monitor resolution, 1 GHz, Windows, Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 65 reviews

The Bottom Line: Quicken 2010 is a solid finance package, especially for novices, but offers little that's substantively new. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, 2x CD-ROM, XGA monitor, 400 MHz (Microsoft Windows XP), 1 GHz (Microsoft Windows Vista) - 400 MHz, 1 GHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 233 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista, DVD-ROM, 500 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews

Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 233 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Overall, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade if you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations to share with others, and Outlook is better than ever, but you can stick to your current software if you don't feel that it lacks anything. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 1 install, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.5.8 or later, DVD-ROM, 1280 x 800 monitor resolution, MacOS

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews

Specs: 1 PC, 1 portable device of the same user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, DVD-ROM, 1024 x 576 monitor resolution, 64MB video memory, 500 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, DirectX 9.0c

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 isn't perfect, but it's the best dictation software available. We don't find this upgrade necessary for the most basic dictation, although new features may benefit heavily accented English speakers and those who rely heavily on voice commands. Read review

Specs: 1 user, 10, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microphone, 16 bit sound card, DVD-ROM, Internet connection, Speakers, 1 GHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 233 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 15 reviews

The Bottom Line: Office for Mac 2008 may be the best pick for business users, but most people can get by with less costly alternatives. Read review

Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Apple MacOS X 10.4.9 or later, DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, 500 MHz, MacOS

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: 1 PC, 9.0, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2, 4x CD-ROM, 4MB video memory, Mouse or compatible device, 1 GHz, 1.6 GHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Despite some compatibility setbacks, Corel Home Office suite is useful for creating documents. Its conscientious size, small-screen optimizations, and attractive price make it a good buy for a Netbook office suite, or for saving space by shedding advanced features. Read review

Specs: 1 user, USB drive, Mouse or tablet, 1 GHz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: Although it's pricey, Microsoft's PowerPoint 2003 is still the reigning champion of presentation software. You'll get a wealth of customization options, though not when it comes to export formats. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, Microsoft Windows XP or later, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 233 MHz, Windows

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Corel WordPerfect Office X4 suite best fits those who prefer traditional interfaces for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. We found the features rich, but the execution sometimes clumsy. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Mouse or compatible device, 466 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later