GC publishes an annual index of genealogical software that includes a summary of the software features and requirements, the company s contact information, and citations of which magazine issues contain reviews of that particular product. Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter is another excellent source of information. Dick has done reviews on many software products. Many genealogical organizations also run software reviews in their publications. Genealogical conferences also offer a great opportunity to compare products.
Vendors are often on hand giving demonstrations and workshops.
In addition, talk to your friends about the software they use. As you shop around, you ll discover that many software packages come loaded with a lot of extra CDs and cost a lot more because of them. Check around and see if you already have access to this information for free online or through a subscription service. Try to find out exactly what the CDs cover. There are also some free software options available that you should note.