Rating: 
Summary: Is it worth it again this year?
Review: After being an avid Quicken Deluxe and TurboTax user and annually upgrading since 1995, I have decided to switch to Microsoft Money Deluxe. Although I dreaded the possible work involved in importing and massaging my data to work with Microsoft Money Deluxe 2003, it took less than an hour to set up all my online accounts and portfolio. My only regret is that I didn't switch to Microsoft Money and Taxcut years earlier.My decision to switch was based on a number of reasons. 1.) I found it increasingly difficult to manage my portfolio over the last several editions of Quicken Deluxe. Namely, I found that my 401(k) and investment accounts did not accurately track my cost basis when I sold a fund and bought a new one. Every month my broker's monthly return and my Quicken returns did not match. I bought books on Quicken 2002 and never found any information in them or on your website to address these problems. My father, whom I introduced to Quicken in 1997, found the same frustrations. 2.) TurboTax, Which Quicken Deluxe imports into (somewhat), is overpriced compared to other tax software, such as TaxCut and since my wife was working in another state, I always resented the fact of having to buy 2 separate State tax software packages on top of the already expensive Federal TurboTax. I believe that this past year it would have actually been cheaper to have an accountant prepare my taxes than what I spent on your tax software. 3.) Because of some other deficiencies I found in Quicken, specifically the lack of printable Monthly status reports, report formatting during printing, and others, I registered 3 times for Beta Testing between August, 2001 and August 2002 in order to provide Intuit with feedback to help them improve their product since I use it on a daily basis and am quite familiar with it. I was never contacted to join the beta team or even to provide any feedback! 4.) There was not a trial version of Quicken 2003 available, or even a screen shot on their website! I never got any advanced mailings that gave a list of new features. When it was finally released earlier this month there still was no trial version. Microsoft however provides not only a 60 day Money Deluxe trial version, but much more product information on their website. After I downloaded the MS trial version I knew I was going to switch to MS Money and I went out and bought Money Deluxe 2003 the same day. I plan on canceling my Quicken Visa card and registering for a MSN card. 5.) Quicken Premier seems like a ploy to strip out tax features available in Quicken Deluxe 2002 and sell them for yet another premium price. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on many other loyal Quicken users making the jump to MS Money this year.
Rating:
Summary: Too much, too little.
Review: As a previous user of quicken basic and quickbooks, Premier version has just added lots of additional,unnessary and irritating options. Advertising for more of quickens features are displayed on every menu, screen and report/graph. Quicken basic has all the good fundamentals for the average guy or small business even, and if someone outgrows basic move right to Quickbooks Pro. Forget about messing with these useless features that add no value just cost.
Rating: 
Summary: Switching to Money 2003
Review: As many of the other reviewers here have stated, I too have been a user of Quicken since probably v 2.0 for Windows. And, I also have dutifully upgraded each year to each new version. However over the past few years I have become increasingly dissatisfied with the Quicken product. With each new version comes another new interface to learn...and while not difficult, it does seem somewhat inconvenient. But policy changes that Intuit has implemented over the past few years have left me feeling increasingly as though they simply do not care about me as a customer once they have my money. Issues such as poor, unkwnoledgable, and expensive technical support and an increasing amount of advertising for other services within the software are among those that have been the "straw that broke the camel's back". I have been downloading and evaluating Microsoft Money since version 2001 and each year the product has steadily improved in it's capability while retaining it's simple and uncluttered interface. I find it's integration with the companion MSN Money website to be so tight and seemless that I frequently don't know if I am working in the program or on the website. Microsoft support is free either on the web or by telephone...long distance charges apply, but my only call to them was answered immediately. I believe the call cost me $.78...I can live with that!!! And this program is built and designed for Windows from the ground up! If you are already a Quicken user...hey, it's your choice! I prefer the simple, powerful, clean and uncluttered performance found in MS Money! If you are a first time buyer and use a Windows OS, don't even look twice at Quicken...Money is the only program to consider in my opinion!
Rating:
Summary: Worse than junk
Review: Buying this software was the worst financial decision I have ever made. My accounts are so messed up by now that I'm on the verge of starting over, thus losing nearly ten years of historical data. With Quicken 2000 my account balances were reconciled to the absolute penny. I always knew where my finances, but now I don't trust anything I see. I wish I'd never laid eyes on this software.
Rating:
Summary: Worse than junk
Review: I have been a Quicken user for many years, and have never seen a product as unstable as Quicken 2003. Bank accounts that were solidly in balance somehow becomes "out-of-balance" and Quicken forces me to put an adjustment entry that is not needed. This then forces it out of balance, although Quicken says it is balanced. Huh? Also, the Backup utility somehow stopped working and stopped allowing me to create a backup file. I get all sorts of errors now. Maybe the other reviewers are right. I probably should switch to MS Money. Arrrgh!
Rating:
Summary: Problems with Quicken 2003 H&B
Review: I have been a Quicken user for many years, and have never seen a product as unstable as Quicken 2003. Bank accounts that were solidly in balance somehow becomes "out-of-balance" and Quicken forces me to put an adjustment entry that is not needed. This then forces it out of balance, although Quicken says it is balanced. Huh? Also, the Backup utility somehow stopped working and stopped allowing me to create a backup file. I get all sorts of errors now. Maybe the other reviewers are right. I probably should switch to MS Money. Arrrgh!
Rating:
Summary: Problems with Quicken 2003 H&B
Review: I have been a Quicken user for many years, and have never seen a product as unstable as Quicken 2003. Bank accounts that were solidly in balance somehow becomes "out-of-balance" and Quicken forces me to put an adjustment entry that is not needed. This then forces it out of balance, although Quicken says it is balanced. Huh? Also, the Backup utility somehow stopped working and stopped allowing me to create a backup file. I get all sorts of errors now. Maybe the other reviewers are right. I probably should switch to MS Money. Arrrgh!
Rating:
Summary: Do NOT Upgrade
Review: I have been a Quicken user for many years. Since I upgraded to Quicken 2003 Premier, I have had nothing but problems. Very unstable! Crashes my computer! Screens freeze! Do NOT upgrade to 2003.
Rating:
Summary: Do NOT Upgrade
Review: I have been a Quicken user for many years. Since I upgraded to Quicken 2003 Premier, I have had nothing but problems. Very unstable! Crashes my computer! Screens freeze! Do NOT upgrade to 2003.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Nice Upgrade from 2001/2002
Review: I have been a Quicken user since the very early DOS versions. I have upgraded with each new version, many times disapppointed in the new features or interface. The upgrade from 2001 to 2002 was particularly disappointing. The interface did not change much and where it did it took a step backwards. Enter Quicken 2003 Premier. The upgrade to the interface is the best in years. The only criticism that I have is that Intuit does have to work on allowing the user to have more control over the features on the screen. For example, there is a wonderful account bar that you can move to the left or right of the screen, but there is no way to hide it. In certain screens, such as the register screen, it would be nice to have a clean interface. If you have a reasonable investment portfolio you will really appreciate the added tools that Premier brings to the party. Overall, I highly recommend this upgrade for current users and this software for new users.
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