XB77
Wed Aug 02 22:00:42 CDT 2006
Ironically The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg did review Money
Essentials and Quicken Basic today: "Financial Software, Made Simple," WSJ,
8/2/06, page D1. Some quotes:
..."But both software makers realize that there are only a limited number
of customers for complicated, deep financial software. So, both are moving
this year to simplify things for the rest of us who aren't as enamored by
ledgers and numbers, but still might like to get a better handle on how we
spend our money. This week, we reviewed new versions of these top financial
programs that omit or play down their most intimidating features, focusing
instead on simple budgeting and online bill payments."
...
"Both programs did a good job of minding their target audiences: normal
people who want a simple program without dizzying charts and confusing
set-up processes. Microsoft Money Essentials offered a cleaner interface
with less clutter on the screen, but we could see more information at a
quick glance on the Quicken Basic home page, which we preferred. And
overall, Quicken seemed to offer a more detailed, yet still easy-to-use,
program that we think is more appealing to users."...
Doesn't give us much hope about Money improving, just getting dumber..
"Dick Watson" <littlegreengecko@mind-enufalready-spring.com> wrote in
message news:uY7K0EktGHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> So scanning in documents is the key ingredient. Yikes. Next we need it to
> add a voice recorder so it can record and store your ugly calls with the
> phone company to sort out billing errors. Maybe they should add a
> counterfeit money printing feature?
>
> Remember these things above all else about the annual reviews:
>
> 1) The reviewers don't actually use the products from day-to-day for their
> personal finances. (Anybody who says Money "[r]equires Windows Live ID for
> maximum security" clearly has read the dialog boxes that tell her this,
> but
> not understood that it doesn't actually mean much. What's the increase in
> "security" from a local Money file with no password or anything to the
> same
> file using Passport for authentication? I'd love to hear a spirited
> defense
> of that.)
>
> 2) The magazines exist to sell advertisers access to reader's eyeballs.
> Intuit and Microsoft are advertisers. Hence, they are **the** customers of
> the magazines. (Note no mention of the Essentials edition, and no mention
> of
> Deluxe as a sensible and cheaper alternate to Premium for many people.
> Note
> also that the "pick of the litter" selection alternates annually. Who will
> be shocked when M08 has the pick next year whether or not it adds scanned
> documents?)
>
> "Bruce Chastain" <bchastain@XNOSPAMXhyperfeed.com> wrote in message
> news:uaP6zrjtGHA.476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Quicken 2006 review
>>
>>
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1996812,00.asp
>>
>> Money 2007 review:
>>
>>
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1996582,00.asp
>
>