Planet of the APPS: with so many software options out there, we can't blame you for feeling a little overwhelmed. So where do you begin when choosing the best ones for your business? Our 2004 Complete Guide to Software can make a world of difference

Entrepreneur, May, 2004 by Liane Cassavoy

www.mailfrontier.com

(866) 366-7726, starts at $15 per user ($2,000 minimum) for the annual subscription

Network security system using a combination of personal blacklists, statistical and Bayesian filters, and community input to block spam. Also protects against viruses fraud directory-harvest and denial-of-service attacks.

Solaris 8 and 9, Windows Server 2000/2003

NETWORK ASSOCIATES

McAfee Internet Security Suite 6.0

www.mcafee.com

(800) 338-8754,$69.99

Includes ViruScan, Personal Firewall Plus, Privacy Service and SpamKiller applications. Also includes protection against spyware and adware, a pop-up blocker, file protection and a file shredder.

Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

POSTINI

Postini Perimeter Manager

Enterprise Edition

www.postini.com

(888) 584-3150, $6 to $30 per user per year ($2,500 minimum)

Hosted e-mail security system that protects against viruses and spam. Protects e-mall systems against directory-harvest attacks, often used by spammers to gather employee e-mail addresses.

Runs on any platform.

SYMANTEC

Client Security Small Business Edition

www.symantec.com

(800) 441-7234, $509 (five-user pack)

Combines antivirus, firewall and intrusion-detection applications for remote users and networked clients. Platforms; DOS, Macintosh, NetWare, OS2, Windows

Requirements: 98/98 SE/Me/NT 4.0/ 2000 Professional/XP

SYMANTEC

Norton Internet Security

2004 Professional

www.symantec.com

(800) 441-7234, $400 (five-user pack)

Designed to protect computers against online threats, including viruses, hackers, identify theft and spam. Includes tools for recovering lost and damaged files and thoroughly deleting confidential data

Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

TREND MICRO

PC-cillin Internet Security 2004

www.trendmicro.com

(800) 228-5651, $49.95

Protects against Internet-based threats, including viruses, hackers, privacy threats and spam includes personal firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware and privacy protection. Price includes a handheld version for Palm and Pocket PC PDAs.

Windows 98/98 SE/Me/2000/XP

V COMMUNICATIONS

System Suite 5

www.v-com.com

(408) 965-4018, $59,95

Utilities suite includes antivirus, security, anti-spam and data-recovery tools. Also includes hardware diagnostics and an uninstaller.

Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP

ZONE LABS

ZoneAlarm Pro 4.5

www.zonelabs.com

(415) 633-4500, $49-95

Firewall with added e-mail protection, remote-access protection, safeguards for personal information, a cache cleaner, pop-up ad blocking, cookie controls and Hacker ID to trace attempted attacks by hackers.

Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP

WEB DEVELOPMENT

ADOBE

Atmosphere 1.0

www.adobe.com

(888) 724-4508, $399

Authoring tool for assembling and creating interactive 3-D Web sites. Supports sound, streaming audio and video, and animation. Requires Atmosphere Player (a free plug-in) for viewing.

Windows XP

ADOBE

FrameMaker 7.1

www.adobe.com

(888) 724-4508, $799 for Windows $1.329 for UNIX/Solaris

Tool for repurposing and publishing content in print, as PDF documents and on the Web. Includes XML file handling and support for print vector graphics.

Mac OS 9/OS X, Sun Solaris 2.6 and higher, Windows 98 SE/2000/XP