The good news is that the majority of these software
applications have demo versions available online for downloading. Unfortunately, the trial versions are usually too limited to get a full appreciation of what the software can do. Look instead for how the program is laid out. Is it designed to teach you or to aid in your own learning? Wenlin, for example, doesn't offer any lessons but works with the material you bring to it -- say, an article from a Chinese news Web site -- and drills you on vocabulary with flashcards. Is its layout intuitive or will you need to spend time learning the software before learning the language? Wenlin is dull. Rosetta Stone is packed with pictures and sound files. Decide your priorities before deciding which software is best.
Along the same lines of knowing your priorities, know what kind of student you are; how you learn, and what level of Chinese you want to attain. Some programs will teach you how to read and write, others will teach you only how to speak the language. Also be aware that it may not be language-learning software you're interested in but translation software instead, crude versions of which are available for free on the Web. Mac users shouldn't forget that Sherlock contains a useful -- and often riotously funny -- translation application. Other applications, like Dr. Eye, will give you an English definition of a Chinese character simply by rolling the pointer over it.
If you're serious about learning Chinese, first be serious about finding the right tool. An exhaustive list of reviews of various language software is available on the Web at http://clta.deall.ohio-state.edu/Reviews/Reviews.htm. While it is somewhat dated (It's review of Wenlin is for version 1.0
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