Family and friends can make the holidays the most joyful time of the year, in all ways but one: shopping. No matter how intimately you know everyone on your gift-giving list, finding the perfect present can sometimes be more maddening than finding the single tiny dead bulb that's preventing the rest of the string from lighting.

Luckily, if the people you care most about are computer owners—or are about to become computer owners—the task is a lot easier. Some excellent software was released in 2009, and finding the ideal app for that special someone in your life is just a matter of matching it to his or her personality.

Whether you're shopping for a devoted Mac or Windows fan, someone who always keeps an iron grip on the nearest digital camera or camcorder, or is it just determined to keep all the household PCs safe and secure, you can find them the proper program. Best of all, none of the ones we've rounded up here cost more than $100—but they all deliver functionality that will remain priceless all through 2010.

For the Casual Gamer:

Plants vs. Zombies

$19.99 list

or

The Sims 3 World Adventures

$39.95 list (requires The Sims 3)
Racing games, shooters, and strategy titles may be super-popular this year (as most), but if you know someone who likes things a lot more low-key, these are two fantastic recreational choices. The Sims 3 World Adventures sets its digital charges on globe-trotting tours to Egypt, France, and China. Plants vs. Zombies documents the fighting off of undead infestations using just the whimsical magic of botany. In either case, your laid-back gamer will have hours of fun. And hopefully, since it's the season of giving, you'll get a chance to play, too!

For the Mac Owner:

Bento 3

$49 direct
We're not even going to pretend that the Apple fanatic in your life didn't have Snow Leopard long before the Thanksgiving turkey started cuddling the cranberry sauce. But a nice addition to the latest OS is this new and powerful version of Filemaker's personal database system, which simplifies sharing the data that fills your life with other people, programs, and even your iPhone.

For the Moviemaker:

Adobe Premiere Elements 8

$99.99 direct
Okay, so maybe you won't be making the next Avatar with it. But Premiere Elements 8 is the most user-friendly and feature-rich home video-editing software on the market, with plenty of features like motion tracking, stabilization, clip trimming, and soundtrack mixing that will make even the greenest novice feel like a budding James Cameron.

For the Paranoiac:

Norton Internet Security 2010

$69.99 direct (for 3 PCs)
Whether you're getting a new computer this holiday season or hanging onto the trusty PC you've had for a while, Norton Internet Security 2010 is one of the best ways out there to keep it safe. It's loaded with innovative detection and removal technologies that will protect every system in your home, but not slow them down. That's worth raising a glass of eggnog to any day.

For the Shutterbug:

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8

$99.99 direct
For someone who's new to the worlds of digital photography and image manipulation, Adobe's everyday package offers a robust collection of features and extras at an attractive price. Version 8 doesn't represent many major changes from its predecessor, but it's a must-have complement for anyone who's going to find their first digital camera under the tree this year.

For the Windows XP Addict:

Laplink PCmover

$19.95-$59.95 list
Your loved one needs help. Yes, we all adored Windows XP for a long time, but its time is past. It just is. Windows 7 has been out for two months now and proven itself as solid and speedy, and it's time your friend or family member dumped the 2001 OS for a dash of computing modernity. PCmover transfers settings, accounts, documents, and even applications, so leaving XP won't feel like that much of a loss.

Find more great high-tech holiday gift buying ideas, advice, prices and products here!