CNET Reviews - Top Rated Software

Rank Most Popular Titles
1 Adobe Illustrator 9.0: Win98/NT4/2K
An excellent tool for Web graphic designers who have to deal with many different file formats.
2 WS FTP Pro 7.5
WS FTP Pro 7.5 combines outstanding features, ease of use, and performance to make it the best FTP client around.
3 Adobe Premiere 6.0
Premiere 6.0 is easily the best, all-around midrange editing program for Windows. For complex Mac projects, however, choose Apple Final Cut Pro 2.0 instead.
4 Microsoft Word 2002: Win98/ME/2K
This is the first version since Word 97 that's a gotta-get upgrade. With tons of new tools for the single user and a renewed attention to collaboration for those who work in groups, Word 2002 is the best writing tool on the planet.
5 Pocket Quicken 2.01
If you use desktop Quicken, this mobile companion is a must. Once you train yourself to use it regularly, Pocket Quicken will help you keep up-to-the-minute tabs on your finances.
6 Microsoft Picture It Publishing Platinum 2002
Picture It blows the competition away with its variety of features and easy-to-learn interface.
7 Norton CleanSweep 2002
Norton CleanSweep 2002 is our top pick in the uninstaller category. Its powerful set of cleanup tools, simple interface, and quality support are the best around.
8 MemoKit 3.0
MemoKit combines a relatively intuitive memory manager with advanced tools that pinpoint the worst memory gobblers on your computer. It's our favorite memory manager, bar none.
9 Homesite 5.0
This new and improved version of an outstanding code editor is more stable and remarkably well tailored toward the professional Web developer.
10 InDesign 2.0
Choose InDesign for the most sophisticated desktop publishing tasks. Sorry, Quark. InDesign is our new DTP of choice.
11 QuickBooks Pro 2002
We can't say enough about QuickBooks Pro 2002. This small-biz accounting program does it all, so get it stat for your small business.
12 Final Cut Pro 3.0
Final Cut Pro 3.0 is the best choice for Mac owners who edit video that ranges from short commercials to feature-length documentaries. However, its high price and steep learning curve make Final Cut too much for beginners to handle.
13 RecordNow Max 4.0
Despite its weak online technical support, you should get RecordNow if you use a CD burner on a PC--it's that good.
14 Video Explosion Deluxe
Thanks to its pro-level tools and affordable price, Video Explosion Deluxe is perfect for any amateur PC moviemaker willing to brave the complicated interface.
15 Adobe GoLive 6.0
GoLive is our favorite professional-level HTML editor for anyone who's serious about designing and coding or managing a company Web site. However, the program can easily overwhelm hobbyists.
16 WinZip 8.1
This is the best zip compression utility around, and if it is not on your hard drive, it should be.
17 AutoCAD LT 2002
AutoCAD LT is perfect for draftspeople, engineers, and technical illustrators who don't have to work in 3D. For 3D work, you'll need AutoCAD 2002.
18 Audible.com
Audible.com ranks among the Web's best services. If you like your reading material in digital format, subscribe ASAP.
19 CorelDraw 11.0
CorelDraw is the easiest illustration program to master, and it ships with a superior interface and feature set. This is the best choice for novice-, intermediate-, and pro-level artists who don't need speed.
20 Dazzle DVD Complete
Dazzle DVD Complete offers more sophisticated DVD-authoring features than any other PC-based, sub-$100 DVD program. It's ideal for beginners and intermediate moviemakers who work on a Windows machine and don't need video-editing tools.
21 Propel Accelerator
Propel Accelerator can cure the dial-up doldrums. But the $5-per-month subscription service works best if you tend to visit the same sites every day or haunt Web destinations filled with modem-choking graphics.
22 OmniPage Pro 12.0 Office
If you've outgrown the starter software that came with your scanner, OmniPage Pro 12.0 Office is your best next step.
23 Norton GoBack 3.0
If you have Windows Me, skip this utility. Everyone else, keep handy GoBack around to restore system operation and prevent the needless headache of reinstalling Windows.
24 Ulead PhotoImpact 8.0
This versatile program does a great job of handling digital photography, Web graphics, and vector drawing.
25 Steganos Security Suite 5.0
Steganos Security Suite's excellent collection of heavy-duty encryption and Internet cleanup tools is best suited to small business and corporations.