Rating: 
Summary: Upgrading from QB2002 has cost me thousands of $
Review: Our family owned, consumer electronics install company, has used 3 differant versions of QB since 1995. Each upgrade prior to buying QB2004 went smooth. Since our company is replacing our main computer and the QB 2002 disk is MIA after a fire at our business (saved all the records because we regularly back up onto zip drive); we decided to purchase QB2004.
After loading 2004, the problems began! Every few days a customer that bought and paid for something 3 to 4 years ago, shows up in the accounts receivable as owing money. Yet when you look at the customer' s account register it shows the customer paid the correct amount. And when we try to delete the customer's transactions so we can reenter them and possibly clear the problem; an error message pops up which says "C=75 this program will shut down - contact program maker" When we call Intuit they won't talk to us about a product defect unless we pay an additional $279.00 for a year of support! You would think after paying over $200.00 for a software program you would be entiltled to at least 90 days free support &/or warranty.
We also noticed that our attempts to deleate these stray transactions have screwed up our checking account register which took 2 people 2 days to find these deposit entries are still in the register but the progam does not add or subtract them from the total. Now I'm paying 3 people for about 5 full days to re key in about 2.5 months of business entered in QB 2004 into QB 2002. We bought a used copy off of ebay, put it in new computer, restored our back up of our files that we made in QB 2002 format (prior to converting them to 2004 format) and now have to rekey in about 500 enteries so that we can stick with QB 2002 which has served us fine!
I will be looking in to competivive accounting software to switch to begining our next physical year!
Rating: 
Summary: Great for small businesses
Review: A great product for any small business
Rating:
Summary: Vast improvement over previous versions
Review: And it is much better than doing things by hand. I went from spending hours and hours tracking my small business finances, to just a few minutes a week. It is wonderful software. There is nothing really bad I have to say about it other than there is a small learning curve. I do my payroll and quarterly tax reports all directly from within Quickbooks. All my finances are tracked and the report generation features are very powerful. If you are starting a business, or already have one, I highly recommend this software. It simplifies things tremendously.
Rating:
Summary: Pay now, pay later, always pay
Review: Be aware that the product you buy today will be 'sunsetted' in a few years, if it lasts that long. And they only offer a token discount to upgrade. There is no value in being a repeat customer because they show no consideration for your loyalty. I don't view their decision to discontinue support for a product as an effort to provide better customer service, but rather an excellent way for them to substantially increase revenue without regard for the consumer. The idea of them requiring you to pay for a newer version of the software so they won't be overburdened servicing their own product blows my mind.
Rating:
Summary: Greedy company and OK software
Review: BR>I have been using Quickbooks for more than 4 years and it does everything I need to run my consulting company.
Having said that - I hate using Intuit software and wish there was an alternative that can import Quickbook files directly to make the transition possible. The alternative is to key-in every transaction from the last 5 years...
I just upgraded from QB2001 Pro. Not because I wanted to, but because Intuit used blackmail to force me. They are going to stop supporting the Payroll on QB2001, while making it impossible to do it maually. You have the choice of buying the QB2004 which does not have any significant improvement over the QB2001 or lose the ability to do your payroll.
The only advertised feature that I liked was the ability to import transactions directly from your bank. However, even here Intuit managed to antagonize me by making this feature useless. Unlike all other financial programs (Money, Quicken...) QB2004 requires a special download file format that is incompatible with the formats banks use regularly. As a result, Bank of America (with Intuit's cooperation) is charging $17.95 per month for the privilege of downloading the data in this special format (other formats download free). With our average of 25 banking transactions a month that comes to over $0.70 each. This is simple greed on their part (I will be looking for another bank as well).
American express, for example, does not charge anything extra for this service.
Other problems:
* I ordered my QB2004 copy on 12/4/03. When I tried to check status one hour later I found (on the website) that there was no record of my transaction. I called Sales (long wait) and was told that the order was received. At this point I told her that I want to cancel and buy at a local store. The answer was that it was too late since the order was already sent to the warehouse and they cannot communicate with it. However, I could return it later at their expense. So I went and bought it at Costco for 60% of Intuit's price. After 2 weeks I got email telling me that the software was being shipped, a week later an apology for the delay, and then nothing. As of today (1/6/04) I have not received it. Great performance for a software company.
* Intuit's so-called Support is the ultimate greed trip. They will not talk to you before they get your credit card number. Then they will decide if your issue deserves the limited installation or known bug free support. They do not offer e-mail support and their "knowledge base" is practically useless.
* Almost any activity in QB2004 generates some sales pitch. There is no way to turn this off (like MS Money).
* And it is buggy. I found-out that QB2004 remains in memory after you exit (using more than 52MB) doing who-knows-what in the background. As I said, 'Support' was useless so I still have no idea how to free that memory except through the Windows task manager (ctl alt delete).Summary: Adequate program sold by a greedy and incompetent company. Don't get sucked into it if you have a choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Improved over 2002 version
Review: For the most part, there has been some negative sentiment and reviews from users regarding their purchases of Quickbooks Pro 2004. It was enough to concern me to think whether I should purchase the program or not. Those reviews were not regarding installation problems or conflicts on their computers. They were complaints regarding Intuit designing the newer programs with traps in the program that would require you to purchase additional services. It is true that there are fees for running payroll annually but I don't use it so no $$$ lost. Actually there are two problems I have come across. The first: when making payments, an icon appears right alongside your payment that wants you to order checks from Intuit. You cannot eliminate this option but have to dig through help and look in a very hidden location to place a proposed check number when you want to be reminded again. I put in 9999 so I probably won't hear from it for a long time. Of course many may find this reminder helpful. I suppose I will, but personally I become offended when I can't turn on or off the preferences. The second problem is in emailing forms and reports. This is another option my 2002 version did not have. The problem is that when you click on emailing the report, a quickbooks browser opens and takes you to an intuit site where you have to login and before things got worse, I disconnected. They should allow you to simply attach to outlook express if anything. What is a plus with this update version is that reports can be saved in pdf format (adobe acrobat) and you can manually email these attachments yourself. I like and have used this option!
This program is a very helpful tool in our real estate business where I can keep track and make reports of all properties. For those not familiar with the software, when you desire to enter an expense, a screen will appear that looks like a check. This check can either be printed on the intuit or third party checks or you can unclick "print" and write out your own check and just use this area to enter the expenses. You enter the payee, $$$, date and information in the lower section of the amount(s) from that same check that you want to enter into one or more categories or across many classes. For example, if I want to pay John the handiman $500 for work on properties, I can allocate $200 to "accounts" for electrical, $100 for painting and $200 for roofing, any accounts which you can personally set up. Further, if a portion of the payment is for another property address, I simply click on the appropriate property I have originally entered way back under "class" and separate the $$$ proportionately. Another column is available for entering the "job" so I can keep track of a specific project. Virtually every conceivable option is available for keeping proper track of expenses. When I deposit rent checks, I simply click on "make deposits" and enter the click on the tenant's name in the dropdown list and allocate the payment to the "class" or property. Again easy to keep complete track of expense and income. At the end of the year, I email the backup program to our accountant and he finshes the tax forms. Bank account balances can be kept and basis for properties for the long term.
Of course, if you are using this program for the first time, you enter a lot of information on various introductory screens to customize the program for your type of business.
As far as installation, I already had Quickbooks Pro 2002 installed. The instructions say to install right over top of the old program so the old information can be converted over. Screens appear that comfortable tell you what is going to happen. I would recommend backing everything up prior to upgrading. All went well.
I am very satisfied with the program. I was reluctant to try Peachtree since they say you can't keep more than 2 years of information readily open to see or modify prior to archiving (there seems to be no limit here unless your backup file gets too big- I'm at 600kb and climbing right now). I will give this rating 4 stars since I am satisfied with the program. If there would be more useful and exciting changes, I would have given it a perfect rating. Feel comfortable in purchasing this program.
Rating:
Summary: Great Product
Review: I am a small business owner that recently switch from Simply Accounting to QuickBooks Pro after one year and I felt compelled to let you all know this is a marvelous product. It is a very powerful software that can be customized to meet the needs of most small business. I was extremely please with its ability to quickly create customized invoices, statements, do comparative analysis and generates various graphs. Additionally, accounting or data entry mistakes can be quickly corrected or permanently removed. If you have decided to purchase this product, I strongly recommend seeking assistance/training from a certified Quickbooks expert in your area. This will certainly make your experience pleasant and rewarding
Rating: 
Summary: send a big pile of money to intuit
Review: i am sorry to say i have used quickbooks pro for 6 years
the interface is good, software is great, BUT the never ending
FOR A FEE gets overwhelming, i own a small business and did my own books with QB pro, enough was never enough, got a question, better have $70.00 in one of their approved bank accounts or just get in line again, and hope you can understand the person on the phone ,,,,, LOOK carefully before you bind yourself to any accounting software, intuit will bind you and never let loose.. until you buy your way out
tomh
Rating:
Summary: Still has Advertising
Review: I have been using Quickbooks Pro 99 and recently upgraded to 2004. I loved 99 but felt I should upgrade before it got too obsolete. I am sorry I did. The new "Company Navigator" has been hard for me to get used to but, the thing I don't like the most is the "Company Solutions" box. All it is is advertisements for monthly services Intuit offers and you can't get it off your screen!!!!! I paid full price for this program and I still get advertisements!
Rating:
Summary: Still has Advertising
Review: I have been using Quickbooks Pro 99 and recently upgraded to 2004. I loved 99 but felt I should upgrade before it got too obsolete. I am sorry I did. The new "Company Navigator" has been hard for me to get used to but, the thing I don't like the most is the "Company Solutions" box. All it is is advertisements for monthly services Intuit offers and you can't get it off your screen!!!!! I paid full price for this program and I still get advertisements!
|
