Photography - Raw files - can't open them?

[mariner2]

As a pro photographer, I find I'm coming under increasing pressure to shoot in raw format, but it seems a really complex process, and I can't even find any software that will open them.
My version of photoshop is CS1 and hasn't got the necessary bit that will do this.
I've download NEF raw converter from Nikon's own website (3 times) but although it says it's installed and I have to restart my computer to use it, it's nowhere to be seen, and if I right click on a raw file and try to "open with" it's just not there as an option or when I browse for it

[mariner2]

Thanks, do you know what it's called?