advice on software programs...

Anyone have any advice on which general astro program I should put on my Xmas list? Ease of use is important, as I'm not hugely computer oriented. For using mostly as a mapping and observing tool. Telescope interface would be a plus, but not necessary. I'm getting a new computer, so hard drive space shouldn't be problematic. I'm getting overwhelmed looking at websites for starry night, the sky, skytools, ecu, skymap pro...
Thanks!
Mary

You can get Starry Night Backyard for free from Kazaa's web site. They also have Photoshop 7.0.
Not that I'm condoning "sharing" software. :-)

Mary:

Do NOT listen to anyone that advises ripping off software companies! There are lots of cheap (or free) products that work nearly as well as the more expensive ones. For instance, "The Sky" is one of the standards (and rightly so). It comes in a myriad of "flavors", including a student version that is included in the back of some textbooks. The best free product I use is XEphem, but it is only for Linux machines (I think). It is as good (or better) than many of the $100+ products out there. I would suggest that you go to a freeware/shareware site and download a couple to see what you like.

Pat

For free, get Cartes du Ciel:

http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/index.html

It's a great program, and the price is right. However, I do find it has a somewhat steep learning curve. I think the Starry Night programs are the easiest, as well as perhaps the most visually appealing. Backyard might do all you need. You can see the differences on their site, which you said you had already looked at. I have Starry Night Pro (version 3) and like it quite a lot. No, it doesn't do everything that The Sky upper levels will do, nor Cartes for that matter, but it does what I need and does it in a way I find easy to use. It was worth the money for me, but that's a personal thing. I will almost certainly upgrade to the new version 4.