Description:
Small business owners dismayed by Intuit's lack of Macintosh support for QuickBooks will be pleased with MYOB's latest release of AccountEdge Version 2. In addition to easier setup features in this new version and a colorful interface designed with Mac OS X in mind, AccountEdge 2 works closely with MYOB's free QuickBooks conversion utilities for the PC--meaning that the Macintosh can now run the accounting show for your business regardless of any previous platform-related investment in QuickBooks. Overall, the effect of the new AccountEdge 2 navigation interface is clean and practical, emphasizing the activities of business over accounting jargon, and displaying each activity in the context of overall workflow. The improved bank register allows users to enter all new transactions on one screen--ATM withdrawals, checks, deposits, sales, etc.--and with one click, you can download your online banking statement and have it automatically compared against records on your hard drive. Accounts can now be tracked by name, for those who hate memorizing their account numbers. Invoicing also got a bit easier, allowing users to add headers and subtotals so sales can be categorized and described in ways useful to the business. Service-oriented business owners will rejoice at being able to bill for time and materials on a single invoice, and at the ability to create packing slips at the same time as creating invoices or orders. AccountEdge 2 continues earlier support of inventory and payroll functions, as well as exporting to file formats that accountants using CaseWare and Microsoft Excel can read. Small business owners with older Macs, or, rather, older versions of the Mac OS, have the most to gain from AccountEdge 2. Currently Mac OS X won't allow AccountEdge full fax capabilities, and there may be certain problems sending e-mail depending on how the user has configured their mail account. As of this writing, Mac OS X users are also restrained to using the software only in single-user mode; OS X does not permit AccountEdge 2 file sharing and attempting to share AccountEdge files on a Mac running OX S with a Mac running OS 8.6 or 9.x can permanently corrupt company records. (MYOB and Apple are currently working to resolve this problem for future releases.) However, users running AccountEdge 2 on Mac OS 8.6 or 9.x should have no problem running the software in multi-user mode. --Elizabeth Aoki
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