Software gifts for Windows Scrooges

The gift guide for enthusiasts too clueless, cheap, or strapped to buy the software they really ought to have.

SkypeOut, the telephone alternative

Perfect for: Avid VoIP users whose friends and family still use phones. What: When Skype's free VoIP service isn't a practical or even possible way to reach someone special, a SkypeOut account lets you call landlines and mobile phones at reduced rates from your computer. Purchase Skype Credit online. How much: Skype Credit starts at $10, a large enough sum for a thick, meaty international call.

Photo Credit: Skype, CNET Networks