A relative newcomer to the genealogy software arena, Pearl Street Software's Family Tree Legends rivals the best programs in ease of use and charting. And as you'd expect from the creators of the popular GenForum <genforum.genealogy.com> and GenCircles <www.genctrcles.com> Web sites, it also boasts several innovative features, most notably its Internet integration. Since Family Tree Legends' debut last year, Pearl Street Software's worked to make the program even better. We took a prototype of version 2.0 for a test drive — here's how it stacks up.

Not just a pretty interface

Uncluttered screens, attractive graphics and a refreshing, pastel color scheme make Family Tree Legends the best-looking genealogy software you'll find. And you can access the program's major functions, such as printing reports, creating a scrapbook and maintaining a to-do list, at the click of a button. Plus, bookmarks and back-and-forward buttons make finding a favorite page and retracing your footsteps as simple as navigating the Web.