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TurboTax Deluxe for Mac 2002

TurboTax Deluxe for Mac 2002

List Price: $49.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: TT Deluxe for Mac 2002 The One-click update Merry-go-round
Review: I have use Macintax and Turbotax for the last few years and generally have been very pleased..until this year, 2002. I am running Mac OS 9.2.2 and this is my story. I ordered the CD in mid January expecting to file my taxes at the split second that I received my W-2's. Well all was going as planned, I had my tax forms ready to file. Then I said to myself, "Self, lets check for updates using the one-click update feature just to make sure that I was using the latest forms and software". The one-click update looked like it was working..it went through all the downloads and update installation. I did the one-click update again just to be sure and it told me that the Turbotax Engine needed to be updated again. I went through the update sequence a few more times just to make sure that I wasn't doing something wrong. The updater could not be satisfied! Well after trouble shooting this for a few hours and dealing with the Turbotax Technical Support Chatline 3-4 times, I was told to wait until mid February for another Mac Update. Goodbye to the split second tax filing. Next year--Goodbye to Turbotax

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Worked nearly flawlessly for me
Review: I have used both Kiplingers and TurboTax products in the past with good results, and this year's effort using TurboTax for Mac was no different. Installation and updates were easy, and with broadband access, I had no problems with download times (including the download of the state version).

Yes, there are a few ads scattered throughout, which was a bit annoying since I'd paid for the product (as opposed to an ad-based online site). But that was a very minor annoyance to me that was no worse than the average web site ads we've all learned to ignore.

I did wait until mid-March to file, in part so as to take advantage of any product updates & bug fixes. That meant starting and stopping work on the return several times, and it was very simple to pick up where I'd left off. I e-filed and got my return through direct deposit in about a week.

The only problem I have is a result of my own carelesness: I lost the rebate form for the state program, and so far cannot find a downloadable rebate form on the Intuit web site.

All in all, I'd have no reservations at all about recommending this product or about buying it again next year. (Used on a G4/400, 384mb RAM, broadband access)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Worked nearly flawlessly for me
Review: I have used Turbo Tax on a Mac since 1997 with good results. I don't know why the 2002 version was such a disaster but perhaps it is related to this being the first one written for OSX. ...

In short, probably my worst software experience in 25 years of using computers. ...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: 2002 OSX Version a Disaster
Review: I have used Turbo Tax on a Mac since 1997 with good results. I don't know why the 2002 version was such a disaster but perhaps it is related to this being the first one written for OSX. ...

In short, probably my worst software experience in 25 years of using computers. ...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS AWFUL PRODUCT
Review: I should have listened to the other reviews here, but the fact that I'm running OS X 10.2 on a G4 gave me hope.

As reported extensively elsewhere, this product is buggy and poorly designed.

Some examples:

* Key questions for tax form data entry are obscured by buggy graphics -- I oftentimes had to make reasonable guesses.

* After keying everything in, I was prompted to download the latest updates. This process took over *3 hours* on a phone line. It would have been faster to drive to work over the weekend to get a T1 line.

* The internet setup did not use my system defaults for internet connections. I have some knowledge of this and was able to set them correctly, but doubt if many people have the knowledge necessary for this step.

* Because I have multiple options for filing status, I expected and was led to believe that the software would analyze which one is best for me. It did not. When I changed the filing status by hand, instead of walking me through the necessary changes to the forms, it simply complained about the errors to my forms. I now have no idea if the return I have completed using this software is correct -- simply because I want to analyze "what if" with my filing status.

* The software is filled with ads for financial institutions. When encouraging you to save in an IRA, it insultingly places advertisements for a few investment houses nearby. ...

Bottom line: It is easier to fill in U.S. tax forms by hand, including multiple filing options, than to use this buggy, poorly designed, frustrating, and annoying software.

Back it goes -- don't waste your time.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Good product gone bad
Review: I used TurboTax in 2000 and 2001; it was simple and error free. But 2000 was a nightmare in several respects. When I tried to locate the self-employed health deduction location, for instance, I simply got a message telling me what had to be done and the software didn't take me there. I had to do a manual override. It kept telling me there were errors (I was using EasyStep) but when I would fix the ones it found it would tell me there were more than before. I opted to download the current upgrades, which, it said, would take just a "few minutes." At 56k it too an hour and a half. Then it printed the quarterly estimated tax vouchers for 2003 with letter across it saying that they required a software update to print properly. We're in July of 2003 and they aren't ready? They have turned a relatively simply and effective application into an abomination. It took me 5 hours to do our simple taxes, and I eventually had to just send the forms off with "error" still being reported. The prior two years I spend about 2 hours using TurboTax.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Built for OSX
Review: I was worried this version was only going to work in Classic 9 emulation, but it's native for OSX. Works like it always has and had no trouble importing last years taxes done in OS 9.

It is pricey, but considering that it can work in OS 9 and X, I forgive Intuit.

I can understand the frustration of the folks who had problems with early releases of the product - but for those of us who procrastinate with our taxes - everything is working fine.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I use it from habit and am afraid to try "Tax Cut"
Review: I've used it on my Mac since it was called "Macintax", and have had no problems. I object to its cost and wonder why it costs more than the PeeCee version. I also object to Intuit's practice of requiring rebates to get the price they advertise.
"Tax Cut" by Kiplinger is cheaper and I understand that it now will allow you to import the previous year's data from Turbotax, but I have resisted changing from something that works.
If you have experience with both, please post your comparison.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Windows issues
Review: If you had a Mac with OSX, you could simply print as a PDF (built in to OSX). Then you can file/print it anywhere you want to.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: At Intuit, Customer Service and Tech Support are oxymorons
Review: If you suffer from low blood pressure, trying to use this product is a great way to elevate it in a hurry. First, you have to download a huge update file to make the program current. Second, part of that file, the now infamous mfdiper section, wouldn't download for me and I am running System 9.2 (Intuit admits it won't work with System 8). WARNING: mfdiper can cause system freezes. Third, after failing to download the update file I tried to contact Intuit for tech support. The live chat box came up and promptly, filled with hundreds of lines of computer code. I was unable to get through with online chat which precluded any chance of calling their service number to pay for the privilege of finding out why their download won't download. I, too, am a long time turbotax user but this was the last straw. No wonder Intuit stock was just downrated...


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