Best Buys in photo and video editing software are based on performance, features and ease of use. 

Apple users are well served by the iLife suite, both for photo and video editing and have not be included in the Best Buys section.

Mobile Photo Editors

[E] Adobe Photoshop Express (free)
Photoshop Express offers a simplified version of the same editing tools you'll find in more powerful desktop software and can quickly polish your images into something web-worthy. 

Features:
versions: iOS, Android
* Advanced editing tools like filters and effects
* Ability to upload photos to popular sites like Facebook

[E] PhotoForge2 ($1.99)
PhotoForge2 takes the basics of Photoshop Express and adds extras like noise reduction and a wealth of image effects.

Features:
versions: iOS
* Advanced noise reduction
* Simulated HDR
* Clone Stamp tool for repairing blemishes

Desktop Photo Editors

[E] Google Picasa (free)
Picasa finds the sweet spot between organizer and editor, offering plenty of ways to retouch, crop and enhance your images along with advanced sorting and organizing tools like facial recognition and geo-location. It's tough to beat Picasa's features and it's free.

Features:
versions: Windows, Mac, Linux
* Timeline view for sorting photos
* Slide-show creator
* Web uploader

[M] Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 ($99)
Deservedly one of the top selling photo editors on the market, Elements organizes, edits and uploads your images in a tightly integrated package. Editing tools that far exceed what's available in free options like Picasa make Elements well worth the money for consumers looking to do more with their images.

Features:
Versions: Windows, Mac
* Photo organizer
* Advanced editing tools
* Slide-show creator

Desktop Video Editors

[M] Adobe Premiere elements ($99)
A video editor for the rest of us, Premiere Elements doesn't have everything you'll find in Premiere proper, but it doesn't require a film degree to understand either. When comparing features and price, Premiere Elements stands alone in the market.

Features:
Versions: Windows, Mac
* Timeline-based editor
* Burn DVDs
* Export to web-friendly movie formats

[M] Pinnacle Studio HD ($49)
Unlike Adobe's application, Pinnacle takes a more traditional approach to video editing tools. It has more features and it's cheaper, but its much more difficult to use. Pinnacle is made be the same company that makes the professional grade Avid and it shows -- both in good and bad ways. It's more powerful than Premiere Elements, but also more complex.

Features:
Versions: Windows
* Timeline Editor
* HD editing
* Burn to DVD