bit-tech Shopping: Intuit Quicken 2005 Deluxe (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 98 SE
• Microsoft Windows ME
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 4

Time with product: 20

Strengths: Does all the basic things that MOST people want to do.

Weaknesses: Too many cluttered screens and time consuming to get everything set up as you want.

Summary: Used Quicken since it was DOS and Used Quicken 98 on WIN98SE machine and does ALL I want without cluttered screens and undesired data. Was disappointed with Q2004 so would probably not care for any new versions. Unfortunately Q98 won't run on XP and WIN98 no longer supported by MS, so am forced to upgrade. Am really considering going to MONEY as YOU KNOW MS WILL SUPPORT IT.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 14 Days

Strengths: no comment

Weaknesses: no comment

Summary: What a great price with good products.I was pretty satisfied using quicken 2004 for printing check and inputting the transaction. And I decide to buy quicken 2005 which is upgraded version of 2004.I like this item. it's easy to use and simple.Thanks.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 4

Strengths: Easy to use and install.

Weaknesses: New requirements for importing makes it less convenient.

Summary: I have been using Quicken for nearly 10 years. It is a great program. The only reason that I upgraded was because my version was no longer going to be supported. The new program has many of the same great features. I have to say in this day and age of more integration of programs with the internet and accessing your bank, etc. This program makes it harder. If your institution does not support the new method, then you can no longer import and must manually enter transactions.It have made me reconsider as to whether I should reconsider Microsoft Money.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Weeks

Strengths: Organize the Personal Finance effectively

Weaknesses: Costly Tech Support

Summary: I am in market for a finance management software for my personal use. I selected the Quicken software. The Quicken is the great product and manage our personal finance need very effectively. Overall it fullfills most of the stuff except some.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: stable, does most everything you need for personal finance

Weaknesses: busy screens, difficult to customize screens

Summary: First off, I've been using Quicken for 15 years since it was a DOS program. I have never used Microsoft Money so I can't compare it to that or other personal finance software. In general, I think Quicken is a great personal finance software program (hence why I have used it for so long). It can do most anything you want - keep track of checking accounts, investment accounts, credit cards, mortagages (automatically figuring out principal versus interest if you give the loan details), stock options, etc.But the incremental benefits from upgrading from version to version aren't all that great. Just when you get everything the way you like it (especially the look and feel of the screens), the new versions seem to change everything. So once I get comfortable with a version, I tend to keep it for a while. I had Quicken 2002 but was notified that certain online features would no longer be supported in that version - Stock quote downloads, financial institution download information like credit card transactions) - and that I would have to upgrade to Quicken 2005. I hate being forced to spend more money to maintain features that I thought I had already purchased. [I still use Windows 98SE on one computer and Microsoft is still supporting it.] I don't know if they are going to keep pulling support for other versions as they age in order to drive sales of newer versions but if they do, I will consider switching to a different product.So I upgraded and I haven't really noticed anything different other than I have to get used to new screen layouts. I find the Quicken 2005 screens to be very busy with too much information squeezed on a screen. I can minimize certain windows but can't get rid of them competely. Overall I would say for first time purchase - yes buy Quicken, but for upgrading from a previous version - no (unless of course its a version they won't support any longer.)