I've heard nothing but good stuff about Rosetta Stone, so that's the program I'd go with.

DH minored in Spanish in college and just loves it. It sure has come in handy with his work!

I have a friend who used Rosetta Stone. She got to be very good, but it helped that our school has a huge Hispanic population and many bilingual employees to help her practice. She ended up going even further by going to Mexico and South America for group immersion trips. She thought Rosetta Stone was terrific.

DS is in the military and he tells me that they use Rosetta Stone and that it's very highly thought of.

If it matters, Rosetta Stone recently brought out V4, so the V3 was sold on overstock auctions for something like $99 for all 5 levels. I missed that (hadn't decided yet - curses!) but I did find it on my local c's list for $180 for all 5 levels, with headphones, unused, in original packaging, etc. I decided I didn't need the V4 with that kind of cost differential. I can see it now on my c's list for $250; maybe you can find it on yours for less. It's my summer project too :) hth

My husband taught himself French a couple of years ago, and he did it by downloading free programs from the internet and listening to them on his iPod during his commute. He supplemented this by getting a book on French grammar and studying that, and he took children's French books out of the library, and graduated to young adult novels. He also downloaded the French news every morning (and still does). We watch French movies, too.

He felt that Rosetta Stone would tether him to the computer, and he wanted to have more flexibility. He is now fluent and his vocabulary is extensive. The last time he went to France on business he went alone, and had no difficulties (I am fluent and usually acted as interpreter). Now I'm superfluous!

les, we must be twins. I also have a mind numbingly boring job, and I also want to learn Spanish. I also have a DS who majored in German in college, spending a year in Heidelberg, and my younger DS is triple majoring in Business, International Studies & Spanish, and he spent a year in Sevilla. So my kids are living the interesting international life that I only dreamt of.
In addition to 3 years of HS Spanish I have taken community classes over the years, but I am much better at reading simple Spanish phrases than actually communicating in it. Though I surprised myself recently in Mexico when I was able to tell the taxi driver to turn right. I think that the important thing is having other people to practice with.