If you have a BlackBerry, you probably need some way to transfer your calendars, contacts and other data back and forth between your phone and your computer. BlackBerry's bundled Desktop Manager software offers simple functionality and more stability than third-party programs with similar capabilities.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager has a simple user interface designed with the average BlackBerry user in mind. This means that you don't really get advanced functionality, but you can easily install new applications, sync your data and copy data to and from your device. There's also a nifty backup function that allows you to backup your BlackBerry entirely. If you rely on the device for your day-to-day activities, you should occasionally run a backup to prevent data loss.

Because the BlackBerry Desktop Manager leads you through most of these tasks, you won't have much trouble doing exactly what you need to do with this program. Setting up the program will take a few minutes, but after you install it, using it will become second nature.

There are a few issues, however. BlackBerry Desktop Manager can be a resource hog on older machines and netbooks. This can cause a lot of frustration for longtime BlackBerry users who want to perform a quick sync at work before heading to a meeting or going home for the night. At 116.9 megabytes, it's a large program that really shouldn't be half as large.

Overall, BlackBerry Desktop Manager is a comprehensive tool with a simple interface, and if you own a BlackBerry, it's pretty essential software. It's just a shame that it's such a large file, but BlackBerry will have to completely redesign the program from the ground up in order to trim it substantially. Still, if you have a fast PC, you'll never notice the downside of this simple, indispensable tool.