Direction of Microsoft Money

I'v been a loyal fan of Microsoft Money since Money 97
(5.0). Over the years Microsoft has made major
improvements of the software. But it seems the Money
2001 was the last version that was a must have upgrade.
Money 2002 was a slight improvment, Money 2003 was a
waste of cash, and I won't even consider Money 2004 based
on what I've been hearing.

My question is, what is the direction of the software?
The major features users have been screaming for aren't
here. Bugs that existed in Money 2001 still exsist and
Microsoft seems content on work arounds rather than fixes
(Reset Debt Plan button is a good example).

Over the past two years I've realized that Microsoft
Money is the main reason I still run Windows as opposed
to Linux. If a good financial package, with tight
integration with banks (Direct 2-way Banking), was
available for Linux I would switch to it. I'm guessing I
will see Quicken for Linux long before Money for Linux.
Is it worth switching now?

It seem like the only reasons to release new updates of
Money every year is 1) to have the same year on the box
as Quicken and 2) to bundle with the latest tax
software. Why not release a product every 18 months that
has real value?

Ok, now I've got it out of my system. Comments?

Dan

Steve
Fri Sep 12 19:53:27 CDT 2003

I totally agree. Basic convenience features are lacking, the product is a
venue for add-on and pay-for services, and bugs remain unfixed.

Dick
Fri Sep 12 20:48:07 CDT 2003

Hard to argue.

Michael
Sat Sep 13 00:27:25 CDT 2003

Coming from Quicken last year I am perfectly happy with Money, as is.

--

regards,
Michael Abbaticchio
MS Exchange Server MVP
http://www.exchangemvp.com
nospam@abbaticchio.com
"Dan" <john@smith.com> wrote in message
news:2ce101c37989$b62033b0$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> I'v been a loyal fan of Microsoft Money since Money 97
> (5.0). Over the years Microsoft has made major
> improvements of the software. But it seems the Money
> 2001 was the last version that was a must have upgrade.
> Money 2002 was a slight improvment, Money 2003 was a
> waste of cash, and I won't even consider Money 2004 based
> on what I've been hearing.
>
> My question is, what is the direction of the software?
> The major features users have been screaming for aren't
> here. Bugs that existed in Money 2001 still exsist and
> Microsoft seems content on work arounds rather than fixes
> (Reset Debt Plan button is a good example).
>
> Over the past two years I've realized that Microsoft
> Money is the main reason I still run Windows as opposed
> to Linux. If a good financial package, with tight
> integration with banks (Direct 2-way Banking), was
> available for Linux I would switch to it. I'm guessing I
> will see Quicken for Linux long before Money for Linux.
> Is it worth switching now?
>
> It seem like the only reasons to release new updates of
> Money every year is 1) to have the same year on the box
> as Quicken and 2) to bundle with the latest tax
> software. Why not release a product every 18 months that
> has real value?
>
> Ok, now I've got it out of my system. Comments?
>
> Dan

Rob
Sat Sep 13 01:54:09 CDT 2003

I think you are absolutely right. I moved from Quicken 2001 to Money
about 6 mo ago. I'm pleased with what it does. I like it better than
Quicken (which I used for many years starting with DOS versions).

I am immediately struck by how Money seems to be a platform for look and
feel R&D ... it's ahead of the game and I think deliberately so. It's
also clear perceived as a portal app for more e-commerce between the
user and people who want to get our money. lots of experimentation
being done on us. I can see the potential for more Windows software,
e.g. Word, to behave like Money ... portal, links where service can be
bought, frequent upgrades (with little functionality improvements, etc.)

Read Steven Johnson's eloquent article on all this in a Discover
Magazine article at http://www.discover.com/recent_issue/index.html.

Re sticking with Windows to run Money ... I've not tried it, but my
hunch is that you can run Money inside of Linux with one of the
following in increasing order of cost: Wine (free, maybe will work),
Win4Lin (Low cost, $50 or so, probably will work), VMWare (high cost,
250$ or so, surely will work). There is also Cross Over Office but I'm
not familiar with it.

Dan wrote:

> I'v been a loyal fan of Microsoft Money since Money 97
> (5.0). Over the years Microsoft has made major
> improvements of the software. But it seems the Money
> 2001 was the last version that was a must have upgrade.
> Money 2002 was a slight improvment, Money 2003 was a
> waste of cash, and I won't even consider Money 2004 based
> on what I've been hearing.
>
> My question is, what is the direction of the software?
> The major features users have been screaming for aren't
> here. Bugs that existed in Money 2001 still exsist and
> Microsoft seems content on work arounds rather than fixes
> (Reset Debt Plan button is a good example).
>
> Over the past two years I've realized that Microsoft
> Money is the main reason I still run Windows as opposed
> to Linux. If a good financial package, with tight
> integration with banks (Direct 2-way Banking), was
> available for Linux I would switch to it. I'm guessing I
> will see Quicken for Linux long before Money for Linux.
> Is it worth switching now?
>
> It seem like the only reasons to release new updates of
> Money every year is 1) to have the same year on the box
> as Quicken and 2) to bundle with the latest tax
> software. Why not release a product every 18 months that
> has real value?
>
> Ok, now I've got it out of my system. Comments?
>
> Dan

Mark
Sat Sep 13 02:52:06 CDT 2003


"Dan" <john@smith.com> wrote in message
news:2ce101c37989$b62033b0$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> I'v been a loyal fan of Microsoft Money since Money 97
> (5.0). Over the years Microsoft has made major
> improvements of the software. But it seems the Money
> 2001 was the last version that was a must have upgrade.
> Money 2002 was a slight improvment, Money 2003 was a
> waste of cash, and I won't even consider Money 2004 based
> on what I've been hearing.
>
> My question is, what is the direction of the software?
> The major features users have been screaming for aren't
> here. Bugs that existed in Money 2001 still exsist and
> Microsoft seems content on work arounds rather than fixes
> (Reset Debt Plan button is a good example).
>
> It seem like the only reasons to release new updates of
> Money every year is 1) to have the same year on the box
> as Quicken and 2) to bundle with the latest tax
> software. Why not release a product every 18 months that
> has real value?
>
> Ok, now I've got it out of my system. Comments?
>
> Dan

A good simple analysis of Money. I followed the exact same path version.
When I upgraded to 02, it was with high expectations of improved
performance. I should have spent the money on more ram. I bought 03 and
did not even install it until 6 months later. What's worse I failed to send
in the rebate promotion in a timely manner.

I don't have any need for an update in the foreseeable future. It works
acceptably well and I really don't have any wish list or must have list.
There are a few items that "bug" me but they are not "bugs".

Mark Fields

robert
Sat Sep 13 05:03:08 CDT 2003

i usually wait till after new years to get money for free
using (taxcut) rebate but this year it looks like less
features in 2004 (standard). guess it will depend on
what version stores will offer on taxcut rebates.

of course i only use it for portfolio tracking. do not
have much cash flow or debts. ............

---------------------------
aren't we glad we don't have lower case numbers?




>-----Original Message-----
>I'v been a loyal fan of Microsoft Money since Money 97
>(5.0). Over the years Microsoft has made major
>improvements of the software. But it seems the Money
>2001 was the last version that was a must have upgrade.
>Money 2002 was a slight improvment, Money 2003 was a
>waste of cash, and I won't even consider Money 2004
based
>on what I've been hearing.
>
>My question is, what is the direction of the software?
>The major features users have been screaming for aren't
>here. Bugs that existed in Money 2001 still exsist and
>Microsoft seems content on work arounds rather than
fixes
>(Reset Debt Plan button is a good example).
>
>Over the past two years I've realized that Microsoft
>Money is the main reason I still run Windows as opposed
>to Linux. If a good financial package, with tight
>integration with banks (Direct 2-way Banking), was
>available for Linux I would switch to it. I'm guessing
I
>will see Quicken for Linux long before Money for Linux.
>Is it worth switching now?
>
>It seem like the only reasons to release new updates of
>Money every year is 1) to have the same year on the box
>as Quicken and 2) to bundle with the latest tax
>software. Why not release a product every 18 months
that
>has real value?
>
>Ok, now I've got it out of my system. Comments?
>
>Dan
>.
>