Description:
Whether planning a retirement strategy or just balancing a checkbook, it can be tough to deal with financial data sensibly and securely. Quicken 2002 Deluxe helps new and upgrading users devise the best arrangements for their information and plan for the future. The program's Web-page-based tracking system (which integrates Internet Explorer thoroughly) is simple, customizable, and easy on the eyes. Installing the upgrade is practically transparent, and new users will only have to pay attention for a few minutes before taking a quick coffee break and letting the computer do the work. Data entry is painless now that nearly every major bank and investment house has online information access, though this can be moderately tricky to implement, depending on the business in question. Those who are a bit more daring can branch out from basic data maintenance and ask the onboard experts for advice on debt reduction, college payment, and many other common financial milestones. Links to helpful online services abound--though they're incomplete, they're a good start--and users should be able to find information on just about any topic they need. Upgraders will find the 2002 version a bit slicker and better suited to Web transactions, but little is otherwise different. Those shifting from other packages or new to personal financial management software will have a short but steep learning curve. Will Quicken make up for sloppy budgeting, bad investment advice, or the heartbreak of tax day? No, but it will help users committed to financial responsibility achieve their goals without going crazy, and that's more than enough. --Rob Lightner
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