Quicken 2005 for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Two cautionary comments...
Review: Hi, I'm Steve Nelson, the author of this version of the Quicken For Dummies book and other preceding 13 editions of Quicken For Dummies. I'm not going to say a bunch about this book. But because readers new to the "Dummies" series often get confused about (and sometimes even disappointed in) in Dummies books, I wanted to make a couple of comments. FIRST COMMENT: This Dummies book, like many Dummies titles, is for beginning- and intermediate-level Quicken users. So if you're looking for help getting started those first days and weeks with Quicken--this is a great book. However, if you're an experienced Quicken user and want to "take your personal accounting to the next level," the book is probably a poor choice. You should (assuming you've been doing things right) already known the sorts of stuff that are in the book. SECOND COMMENT: Note, too, that like many Dummies books, this title filters information. That filtering of "mostly just the high points" is part of the value. Now one could write an 800pp book on Quicken. (In fact, several years ago, I did just that.) But many people, maybe even you, yes you, want a book that describes just the most important stuff. However, if you're looking for encyclopedic coverage of all Quicken features, this is not the book for you.

These may seem like funny caveats coming from the author, but in recent years I've noticed that people buying books from online bookstores can sometimes be disappointed with Dummies books because there are written for beginners and because they do filter information. (I think people are less likely to be surprised or disappointed with a Dummies book when you can first thumb through the actual book, but that's another story...) Sometimes these people turn into loud critics with searing comments. These critics' comments are, in a sense, very accurate. But those critics sometimes, er, maybe don't get that a Dummies book can't do what they want and still be a Dummies book.

Hope that helps...

Steve



Rating:
Summary: A Quick Way to Quicken
Review: I got audited once by the IRS. When I went in I took four or five inches of paper, most of it generated on the computer by Quicken. Any question I was asked I simply pulled out the appropriate printout to show how I had gotten to the number I had put on the form. I can't say how much having all this documentation saved, but I suspect it was substantial.

Quicken is probably the most popular generalized accounting packaged in use by individuals and small businesses. Over the years it has gotten better and better. So have the books that describe Quicken. This book describes the new Quicken 2005. The author uses the Premier version, but most of what he discusses is applicable to any version, (Premier has more stuff on handling investments). In keeping with the Dummies Books Philosophy, it is written in a light and amusing manner while providing the information needed to get the most out of the software package.

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Summary: Fabulous for Quicken "Newbies" - easy to use!
Review: I have been a Quicken user for years and have been happy with all the improvements over time! Needless to say - I have repeatedly raved about this great software, but my in-laws are computer phobes and have resisted even trying it.

I purchased "Quicken 2005 for Dummies" for them and assured them the book would answer all their questions. Well, they hemmed and hawed for a few more days, but then tried it out. It worked like a charm! Any question they had was answered quickly by the book and they now feel they invented the software! (You can only imagine how ecstatic they were when they discovered google!).

If you are new to quicken, or are already a believer and want to get someone else hooked, this book is really worth it! Thanks Mr. Nelson for a great guide to some super software!