bit-tech Shopping: Intuit Quicken Home & Business 2008 (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows XP

Rating: 2

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: Sounds like it would be really cool if my bank used it.

Weaknesses: My bank uses old versions of Quicken. I assumed that since I was getting a new version that old versions would have no trouble downloading my bank information into it. It's useless.

Summary: I either have to transfer all my business to a different bank that uses up to date Quicken or enter all my banking manually. The whole point was to use the auto update feature. I can manually enter my banking into a spreadsheet.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: Ease of use. Way it uses transaction "flags" to identify business transactions made from personal checking & credit card accounts. I have always liked the way the Quicken registers look just like a paper checkbook register.

Weaknesses: I haven't found any yet.

Summary: I've used Quicken since the late 1980's when Intuit had less than 20 employees. I haven't found any software that's better. I recently upgraded to Home & Business from Deluxe 2004, partly because Intuit quit supporting 2004 versions and partly because my wife recently started a home-based business. So far Home & Business does everything I expected it to do and more. I track self-directed IRAs, stock transactions and other retirement accounts as well as the business transactions.I think Home & Business will work great for our relatively simple business with no inventory or employees. For a more complex business with lots of assets (equipment, vehicles), employees, inventory and lines of credit, etc. Quickbooks would probably be a better choice.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1 Days

Strengths: Easy

Weaknesses: Not much

Summary: Quicken is a great tool to get your business off on the right foot. The software does what it needs to do without much of an effort on your part.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 10 Years

Strengths: easy to learn and use.

Weaknesses: lack some flexibility in file placing.

Summary: Excellent product. 8th or 9th yearly version I have used in the last 10 years. Continues to help my finances run smoothly. Works well with my bank and credit card accounts. Really helps at tax time.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Great for a small business owner who needs simple invoicing. Better reports available.

Weaknesses: Don't like the NEW tag system as register is now too cluttered.

Summary: Forced to upgrade to this 2008 program in order to receive updates. Have not found any of the new features to be needed. "New" features not worth the price unless you are forced to upgrade.