Getting ready to go back to school is like getting ready to go to work: you're either excited and ready to rock or you couldn't give a rat's bottom about another year of eight-hour days, full of books, energy drinks, projects, and assignments.

Whether you're in high school or college, it's good to keep your PC equipped with the best programs so that you won't be hit with any surprises. Rather than scrambling around, trying to figure out which program to use for what assignment, check out our top picks for Windows and tell your professors to give you their best shot.

---

Top app for The PDF-Bomb: Load and read PDFs without the slowdown, with Foxit.

Foxit is a free alternative PDF program that's both lightweight and feature-filled if you're only looking for a rudimentary reader. It includes tabbed browsing as well as useful annotating tools to highlight useful sections so you don't miss a beat during lecture. Unfortunately, the free version doesn't include any PDF makers but it's a solid, free alternative to Adobe Reader.

Mac: N/A

---

Top app for the disorganized note-taker: Evernote keeps your notes in order.

Whether you're in class or on the go, chances are you'll be able to access Evernote by phone or computer. Even if you don't have access to the Web, you'll be able to save all your notes from class and have them automatically sync wit... [Read more]

You're a student and you're poor. Because of the cuts in Financial Aid (thanks Obama!), you're working at two different McDonalds across town to pay for that triple dorm room. You have to go back to school soon, but you don't have enough money to buy the tools you need to succeed. You resort to piracy and bam, the FBI is on your tail. You flee to Mexico but run into some trouble with the Federales. They deport your behind back to the States and a judge gives you 15 years and says you shouldn't have tried to download that bear -- all of this because you wanted a proper education. Don't let this calamity befall you. Here at Download.com we try to prevent this going to jail thing by finding the best deals for our readers. One of the best times to purchase software at a discount is at the beginning of the school year. That's why we flipped through our partner's catalogs to hand-pick what we think are the best deals. Sure, buying software may mean you're eating Top Ramen for the next couple of months, but hey, it sure beats paying bail.

---

AntiVirus -- McAfee All Access $49.99 (50% off)

Most likely you're coming to school with some new gadgets, and McAfee can protect them all in one package. Keep your PC, Mac, smartphone, and tablet safe from hackers and malware with unlimited protection. But wait, aren't Macs supposed to be safe from hackers? Accordin... [Read more]

Canon's EOS 70D, now supported by Apple software.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Apple released an update Thursday that lets its Mac operating system handle raw files from Canon's new EOS 70D SLR, some new high-end compacts, and an older medium-format camera, the Pentax 645D.

Raw image formats, though proprietary, offer higher image quality and more flexibility than conventional JPEGs. Apple's support means iPhoto, Aperture, OS X, and other software can decode the raw formats from the following new cameras, according to the update:

• Canon EOS 70D

• Fujifilm X-M1

• Leica M

• Leica M Monochrom

• Nikon Coolpix P330

• Olympus Stylus XZ-10

• Pentax 645D

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II

Apple software rival Adobe Systems already released support for the Canon 70D in July, but it's only marked as "preliminary."

The full list of cameras with Apple raw support includes hundreds of models.

[Read more]

(Credit: Pandora)

Pandora's mobile app for iOS and Android has been updated with a new feature for tired users.

The company on Thursday announced that its app, version 4.5 for the mobile platforms, now supports a Sleep Timer. Pandora says that the feature was one of the most-requested options from users.

With help from Sleep Timer, users can determine how long they want music to play as they are falling asleep. After the timer is up, the music turns off.

The addition to the app might be helpful for users, but it's also self-serving for Pandora. The company pays royalties on all music played, so if someone falls asleep and isn't listening to a track, it's essentially losing money. By offering a timer, Pandora is probably hoping some sleepy users will cut down the amount of music being played while they're in dreamland.

Pandora's latest mobile version is available in Apple's App Store and the Google Play marketplace. The app is free.

[Read more]