OS X Snow Leopard

Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard is the latest OS from Apple. So what’s Improved?

Product Features

• System footprint is much smaller
• All key system applications are completely rewritten to take advantage of 64-bit
• New Grand Central Dispath technology to take full advantage of multicore
• OpenCL takes the power of graphics processors and makes it available for general-purpose computing
• QuickTime X is the next-generation media technology that powers the audio and video experience in Mac OS X Snow Leopard
• Out-of-the-box Exchange support
• Upgrade from Mac OS X Leopard for just $24.99

If you are an Intel based Mac user,  Mac OS X Snow Leopard is a great OS update at a great price.

Here are more Snow Leopard reviews.

• Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: the Ars Technica review
• CNET snow leopard review

VMware Fusion 2

VMware Fusion 2 allow you to install Windows on you Mac. So you can get the best of both worlds.

Product Features

• Run Windows side-by-side with Mac OS X without rebooting
• Run Windows applications across multiple screens; instantly launch Windows applications from any Mac file, the Dock and more
• Use Exposé to switch between Windows and Mac applications; minimize Windows applications to the Dock
• Run 3D games, design software and other graphics-intensive apps with support for DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2 3D hardware-accelerated graphics
• Use Windows-only USB devices on your Mac, including GPS receivers, cell phones, PDAs, and iSight cameras

If you want to use Windows app on you Mac, VMware Fusion 2 is easiest way to do it.

Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition is the Mac version of the popular office suite.

Product Features

• Streamlined user interface runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs
• Open XML file formats, the Office Art graphics engine, and other features that result in compatibility and file fidelity
• Professional design is within your power with hundreds of new customizable templates and suite-wide themes, SmartArt graphics, and the new Publishing Layout View in Word 2008
• My Day keeps you connected to all of the day’s action. Command your calendar, tackle your tasks, and simplify your day
• Includes: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage

This Student edition is reasonably priced. Check out Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition at Amazon.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 is designed by photographers for photographers. It comes with both Mac version (Native 64 bit) and Windows version.

Product Features

• Enhance specific areas of a photo, or precisely adjust overall color, exposure, and tonal range nondestructively
• Automatically import, rename, and sort your entire shoot; find your photos quickly with powerful yet flexible sorting, selecting, and organizational tools
• Present your work in dynamic slide shows, interactive web galleries, and a variety of flexible print templates; easily upload your photos to popular online photo-sharing sites
• Configure your workspace to manage image workflow and presentation more efficiently thanks to support for multiple monitors
• Every change you make to an image is automatically tracked, so you can return to any state with a single click

With Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2, you spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens. It is on sale for only $249.49 at Amazon.com

Windows 7 Home Premium

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade is Microsoft’s latest Windows OS. After I played with the RC version, I find it is much improved system. In my opinions, this is what Vista should have been.

Product Features

• Windows 7 Home Premium (includes 32-bit & 64-bit versions) makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music–you can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV
• Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation
• Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often
• Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8
• Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade is a much improved system. It costs $119.99 for the upgrade.

Here are some Windows 7 reviews.

• Engadget Windows 7 review
• Gizmodo Win 7 Review

Office Home and Student 2007

Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 is one of the most commonly used office suite software.

Product Features

• Essential software suite for home computer users makes it a pleasure to complete schoolwork and other tasks
• Includes 2007 versions of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote
• Intuitive user interface that exposes commonly used commands; updated graphics and formatting galleries help you to easily produce high-quality documents
• Work with confidence and security thanks to the improved automatic Document Recovery tool and the Document Inspector tool, which removes personally identifiable information from your document
• Enhanced Help system includes online tutorials with step-by-step instructions; includes OneNote, a digital notebook that helps you gather, organize, and search many types of information in one place

Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 is on sale at amazon.com for only $100.99