What it is: Screen-recording software

What's cool: When you want to demonstrate how to use your website, explain numbers in an Excel spreadsheet, or record a PowerPoint presentation, you don't necessarily need a video camera. Camtasia Studio captures every frame of a step-by-step demo directly from your computer screen and records audio from your computer's microphone. The video automatically zooms in on the area of the screen where the cursor is most active. The software's easy-to-use interface includes basic editing functions and transitional effects.

Drawbacks: It's available only for Windows. And if all you want to do is convert PowerPoint presentations into videos, it's cheaper to use a free Web-based service like AuthorStream.

Price: $299

www.techsmith.com/camtasia