I’ve been a PaintShop Pro user for quite some times and have been through several prior version of PaintShot Pro releases. The version X4 comes with quite some pleasant new features. Specifically, I love the new Manage Adjust Edit tabs that make handling multiple photos more easier. Also, the program is much more stable now. The included tools are quite competitive compared with the higher-priced photoshop elements. In general, PaintShot pro is more intuitive to use than photoshop elements.

This review is for the non-GPS version of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009. I have the Streets&Trips 2006 for couple of years and I also have a portable Garmin GPS. The purpose of owning the Streets&Trips is mainly for trip planning. I prefer to use MS Streets&Trips than Google map or yahoo map for following reasons:n1. Speed: I have high-speed internet connection (10Mbps down/6Mbps up), but the speed of MS Streets&Trips is still far faster than any internet-based map service.

I always buy H&R Block at the beginning of each year. As I found out H&R Block and Amazon always have a 50% discount at the beginning of each year for this software. For the past couple of years, I monitored this H&R Block SW price and I haven’t found better price than this 50% discount. Here are my purchase record for the past couple of years. o 01/07/2012 Got H&R Block Premium, Amazon special deal: $29.

My latest desktop comes with the free Microsoft Office starter package. It has limited functions. I tried the free Open Office from Oracle, but it also missing some functions. So, I come to the Corel WordPerfect Office X6. So far, I am pretty happy with it. The WordPerfect Office can take all the file formats generated from Microsoft Office. So, there is no compatibility issue. Also, WordPerfect Office allows me to save files in all kind of formats.

In the days of high-speed internet connection, the need of compressing files for sending over internet is diminished. Now that window has a built-in program to unzip files directly, the usage of the WinZip is even further reduced. Even worse yet, window’s explorer provides a better user-interface experience than WinZip in terms of un-compressing function. So, what do we expect from the aging WinZip package? The newly added features probably are the reasons to buy it.

First of all, you don’t need to risk you money on this software. They offer full function version for 30-day trial. Corel has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, but that is for purchase made directly from them only. So, try before you buy. Currently, I am using ScanSoft’s paperport software for following manipulations:n(1) To combing multiple documents into a single PDF file. Or remove/extract pages from a multi-page PDF file.n(2) Rotate page(s) of PDF files.

I always buy H&R Block at the beginning of each year. As I found out H&R Block and Amazon always have a 50% discount at the beginning of each year for this software. For the past couple of years, I monitored this H&R Block SW price and I haven’t found better price than this 50% discount. Here are my purchase record for the past couple of years. o 01/07/2012 Got H&R Block Premium, Amazon special deal: $29.

PaintShop Photo Express 2010 is Corel’s entry level photo organizer. It’s easy to use and has an elegant interface. The quick fix feature is a one-touch photo correction tool that amateurs like. One click and the picture is ready to post or print. Corel’s quick fix is remarkably good for most photos. You can also fine tune the brightness, highlights, shadows, and sharpness manually or have the program suggest settings and then tweak them as you desire.

I have been using Quicken since 2000 to manage my personal accounting, my trading business accounting and accounting for multiple rental properties. Before 2000, I was using Excel for accounting, but Excel was just not the right tool for that. I could not image how I could handle all these accounting needs without Quicken. Any time when I want to review how my business is doing, I just need to run a report with Quicken.

I have been making home videos for years. I used VideoStudio 7, 9, X1, X2 plus, X3 Plus, X4,X5 and now the latest X6. I also tried digital video softwares from Pinnacle, Roxio, Adobe Premiere. However, Corel software beats them for stability and easy of use. The Adobe Premiere is a great software, but it’s overwhelming and overkill for most of us. In general, Corel’s VideoStudio is less frustrating than any other softwares.