QuickBooks 2010 for Mac Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Updated to delete mention of issues that were fixed in the R4 patch...
Intuit's Quickbooks for Mac team has been busy fixing bugs since this product was released, already having published four bug-fixing updates. There are still some issues with the product which can be read about in the Intuit Community forum, but it is clear that Intuit is working to correct reported issues.
Some reports still do not work properly. For example, a Time by Job Summary report is not sorted, and cannot be sorted. Sorting in most reports is somewhat problematic, only sorting a single field (and often not sorting that field in order). The team needs to look at the Windows version of the product to see how data is supposed to be organized.
Itemized statements duplicate some lines and omit others, so that the sum of the items does not add up to the total shown.
There are a few rough edges that require extra mouse clicks vs the Windows product. For example, if you delete a transaction in a screen such as Enter Bills, the window closes and you have to re-open it to delete another. Of, if you are entering certain kinds of time or transactional activity, you only have an OK button to save the result, and then have to click to open the dialog to make another entry. In the Windows version, the dialogs/windows stay open until closed and there are "Save and New" and "Save and Close" buttons.
The Invoice screen on Mac has a pure white background. On Windows, every other line is highlighted in pale blue to make it easier to read the data for the line. Little things like this make Quickbooks Mac feel less polished.
Enter single activity time - has no timer function as on Windows. On Windows you can click start/stop to accumulate time without jotting down the hour from your watch. Intuit provides a new applet called My Time which provides this stopwatch capability, although it is not as full-features as the Windows Quickbooks Timer app. My Time has some very rough edges, most notably that it can only record time for a single employee for a single company.
Windows users have many more shortcuts available for data entry than Intuit offers in their Mac version. For example, in Windows you can use the Ctrl-S shortcut, as in Quicken, to open up the split transaction view of a register entry, or in a date field you can enter "t" for "today", "m" for the first day of the current month and many other date shortcuts. With QB Mac 2010, none of these are available.
Also, QB Mac does not use context menus (right click pop-up menu) consistently or well. When in a checking account register, for example, a right click offers no QuickBooks commands. The Windows version offers most appropriate commands there. QB Mac does use context menus in other areas, so this must just be an unintended omission.
Two service companies without payroll seemed to import fine from QB Win 2008. A third company with payroll brought over less employee information than I would have hoped, even given that Intuit advertises Quickbooks Mac as not having integrated payroll. First, there is no nice Employee Center as there is in QB Win; you just get a list of employees. Second, double-clicking an employee name brings up only the basic address information along with SSN and hire date from "Personal Info". Date of birth and gender are gone - not even automatically created as custom fields to preserve the data. No payroll and compensation data is brought over to QB Mac . Zilch. So, no items, pay rates, frequency, filing status, allowances, withholding, etc. All gone. Presumably all of this has to be entered manually into the online payroll service that Intuit sells. There is no built-in (private and secure to your computer) payroll option as with the Windows version. The online payroll costs considerably more than basic payroll (1 to 3 employees) for QB Win and does not make economic sense for a firm with a small payroll.
Existing paychecks and payroll liability payments, however, display full split detail, but no payroll liability accounts were created in QB Mac, so proper reports for converted payroll cannot be generated. (Actually, NO reports for payroll can be generated - the option just is not there. My memorized payroll reports came across and do report on the payroll items which are otherwise inaccessible in QB Mac. That is really bizarre. If I had not had any memorized payroll reports, then none would be available in QB Mac for my converted transactions.)
The split detail refers to Payroll Items as in QB Pro Win, but there is no way to access, edit or report on these items in QB Mac. It seems impossible to create a new check with the same format. How hard would it be to have a "New paycheck" or "New liability payment" option that gave you the same split info for new transactions? Intuit KB article 1009746 suggests that you must create liability accounts manually and issue checks in a completely different way than the imported checks. So, how can you generate coherent payroll reports for an entire year, where you switched from Windows to Mac in the middle of the year? I don't think it is possible.
A 570 page e-book is part of the product, downloadable from the Help menu. This book, "Quickbooks Mac 2010 The Official eBook" by Maria Langer and published by McGraw Hill, is a tremendous value for anyone just starting out doing accounting with Quickbooks Mac, and even for experienced users looking at features that they may not have used before.
I recommend that you download the free trial of this product before purchasing if you have any questions about whether it can handle your accounting needs.

Click Here to see more reviews about: QuickBooks 2010 for Mac

Easily manage your business on a Mac. Let QuickBooks help your business be more profitable. Organize your finances, track money going in and out of your business, and spot areas where you can save. Stay on top of it all with important information all in one place.

Create invoices, pay bills, and manage expenses
Gain insight into your business with over 100 reports
Access key data fast with Customer and Vendor Centers
Easy to learn and use
Built for the Mac OS--Looks and works like you'd expect


QuickBooks 2010 for Mac looks and works the way you'd expect a Mac to
Back up to MobileMe Prevent painful data loss by backing up your QuickBooks file to MobileMe. Choose one-time or ongoing automatic backup. You can restore it at any time.
Synchronize contacts with Mac OS X Address Book Never enter a phone number or address twice. Save typing time and errors by effortlessly synchronizing contact information between QuickBooks and your Mac Address Book, cell phone, PDA or other iSync-compatible applications. Activate QuickBooks Contact Sync, and selected contacts appear automatically in Address Book. Update a contact in Address Book...the changes automatically appear in QuickBooks. Leave the feature active to keep contact information, including email addresses, up-to-date at all times.
Add reminders to iCal QuickBooks integrates with iCal so you can be reminded to print invoices and checks or to pay bills in one consolidated calendar and never miss a bill payment. Simply check the box next to "Show in iCal" on any invoice and a reminder is added to your calendar. And if you later decide to change the payment terms on the invoice in QuickBooks, iCal is automatically updated with the new due date.
Share data with your accountant or other Windows-based users Share your QuickBooks data with Windows-based users, such as your accountant. Send a Mac file to a Windows user (who can update it) and the Windows user can send it back. Just click the toolbar icon: "Backup to QuickBooks Windows". As QuickBooks creates the backup, it simultaneously creates a PDF file of simple instructions for opening and sending back the file. Send both files to your accountant or Windows user.

Save time when tracking your finances
Easily print checks, pay bills & track expenses Easily print checks, pay bills & track expenses. Aggregate all your checks to be paid and print them in one batch. QuickBooks will keep track of each check so you can keep tabs on where your money is going. Enter bills from vendors. Since QuickBooks organizes everything in one place, you'll be able to access all past payments & bills for each vendor with just a few clicks.
Track sales, sales taxes & customer payments Get rid of piles of paperwork. Easily enter customer payments. Since QuickBooks organizes everything in one place, you'll be able to access all past payments for each customer with just a few clicks.
Accept credit and debit cards in QuickBooks Receive payments from customers easily using integrated credit & debit card processing.
Manage payroll & payroll taxes; offer Direct Deposit (sold separately) QuickBooks Payroll for Mac allows you to easily manage payroll online and export data into your QuickBooks software.
E-mail invoices, estimates, reports & statements Save time and work more efficiently when you e-mail forms to your customers and vendors.
Track time and job costs Make billing customers faster and easier when you track time and job costs.
Create professional-looking invoices and forms Personalize forms, like estimates, invoices, and statements quickly and easily. Add logos, images, and fonts to templates and create your own custom forms.

Get insights so you make better decisions
Organize data all in one place with Customer and Vendor Centers Find what you need, when you need it with the Customer and Vendor Centers. These Centers consolidate key information onto a single screen. The next time a customer calls with a question about his account, simply go to the Customer Center to see his contact information and complete transaction history.
Get a customized overview of your business with the Company Snapshot Customize the Company Snapshot to create a personalized overview of your business and see what's most important to you.
One-click business reports Get pre-designed, customizable business reports to gain insights into your business. See all available reports in one screen to easily choose the right one. Drill down with one click to see the detail behind the numbers. Export any report to Excel--your QuickBooks formatting and formulas go with it.
Import data from Excel, Microsoft Office Accounting & prior QuickBooks versions Get up and running fast by importing data from the tool you use to track your finances now. However little or much data you currently have, you won't have to start over from scratch.
Effortlessly track bills & set due-date reminders QuickBooks helps you ensure you pay your bills on time. Record bills as they come and set a reminder to make sure you pay before the due date.
Track inventory, set reorder points & create purchase orders Easily track your inventory to avoid overbuying and backorders. Indicate re-order points for each inventory good and turn on reminders to automatically let you know when its time to reorder.
Download your bank & credit transactions into QuickBooks Save time and avoid data entry errors. Instead of typing in your bank and credit card transactions, download them securely from over 3000 participating financial institutions and easily import them into QuickBooks.

Save time completing everyday tasks
Get all the tools you need Save time completing everyday tasks like invoicing, bill tracking, check writing and payroll.13 Track sales and manage expenses. Quickly create estimates, invoices and purchase orders. Track inventory, employee time and job costs.
Create estimates and invoices in minutes Duplicate and edit previous estimates to create new ones without rewriting all the details. Use the date picker to quickly and easily enter dates into forms. Simply click in the date field and a pop-up calendar appears to help you select the right date. When it's time to bill your customer, turn any estimate into an invoice with one click or create a new invoice using a familiar form.
Accept credit and debit cards directly in QuickBooks With Intuit Merchant Service for QuickBooks for Mac you can save money and time by processing card transactions directly through QuickBooks for Mac. There's no additional software to purchase, phone line to add or terminal to buy. Just process the credit card and debit card transactions directly in QuickBooks for Mac and the data is automatically recorded in your QuickBooks software.
Run your payroll right within QuickBooks using QuickBooks Payroll for Mac Handle your end-to-end payroll needs, from paychecks to W-2, directly from QuickBooks--or any Web browser, anywhere with Intuit QuickBooks Payroll for Mac. No set-up fees, no minimum contracts and free support from payroll experts.
Track time and create time sheets Save time by tracking employee billable hours with My Time time-tracking software. This free software is included with QuickBooks 2010 for Mac. My Time helps you track billable time, instantly generate timesheets, and easily import timesheet data directly into QuickBooks 2010 for Mac to reduce data entry errors.
Track and make payments with ease Paying vendors is as simple as filing out familiar on-screen checks, printing them, and dropping them in the mail.
Track inventory, set reorder limits and create purchase orders Track inventory automatically as you log sales. When it's time to reorder, create a purchase order with one click. Edit as needed and print. Or email the purchase order as a PDF file.
Easily map and obtain directions to your saved customer and vendor addresses--from within QuickBooks--using Google Maps Open up any record in the Customer or Vendor centers to access links to maps and directions to customer and vendor locations.

Stay organized, accurate and on top of your business
Access key tasks quickly QuickBooks for Mac has a user interface designed to help you find what you need fast. The Home Page brings key tasks to one screen and uses arrows to show how they are interrelated, giving you one-click access to commonly-used tasks like creating estimates or invoices. Badges and placards, at a glance, identify select tasks that need your attention. For example, wondering if you have open invoices? Look for the red badge next to the invoice icon on the Home Page. It tells you how many invoices are open. Then simply move your mouse over the badge and a placard pops up showing you the total balance of those invoices with one click access to a report showing you the detail.
Stay on top of your business Get an immediate view into your bottom line the way you want to see it. Customize the Company Snapshot to create a personalized overview of your business and see what's most important to you. Choose the reports that are most crucial for your business including year-over-year expense and income comparisons, expense and income breakdowns, top customers by sales, and more.
Locate critical data fast Find what you need, when you need it with the Customer, Vendor, and Transaction Centers. These Centers consolidate key information onto a single screen. The next time a customer calls with a question about his account, simply go to the Customer Center to see his contact information and complete transaction history.
Keep an eye on the bottom line Access over 100 customizable reports in the Report Center and quickly see where you're making and spending money. Scroll or search to find the report you need. The Report Center tracks your Favorites, manages your Memorized reports, and helps get you up and running with Suggested reports.
Easily import downloaded bank and credit card transactions Save time and avoid data entry errors. Instead of typing in your bank and credit card transactions download them from over 3000 participating financial institutions that support either Web Connect or Direct Connect, and easily import them into QuickBooks.
Apply one customer payment to multiple jobs Track payments easily by accepting one customer payment for open invoices across multiple jobs.
Streamline estimating and invoicing, and get paid faster Click a button to turn any invoice, estimate, purchase order, or report into a PDF file. Attach it to an e-mail and send it off right away, or group your mail-ready forms together and send everything off in one batch when it's most convenient for you. Either way, you won't have to wait for the post office to deliver.

Customize QuickBooks to meet your unique needs
Create your own custom forms using Layout Designer Personalize forms, like estimates, invoices, and statements quickly and easily with Layout Designer. Add logos, images, and fonts to create your own custom forms. Built for the Mac, it uses familiar tools--including a formatting palette, drag-and-drop interface, and easy-to-use toolbar.
Customize your toolbar to access key tasks in a single click Choose from over 40 icons to customize your toolbar for quick access to the tasks that you do most often. Resize and reposition the toolbar to fit with how you work.
Quickly customize reports Use the Report Center to preview report templates and quickly find the report you need. Select a report to see a preview. Sort, reorder or hide columns. Set date ranges and filter as needed.

Exclusively for Mac
Work on the platform you prefer Designed from the ground up by Mac engineers, and built for Mac OS X (v 10.5.7, 10.6, or later), QuickBooks for Mac looks and works like a Mac, with familiar printing, preferences, and customization. It operates as you'd expect and looks as clean as the Mac you run it on.
Change settings easily QuickBooks for Mac Preferences now has a true Mac look and feel. It's similar to the System Preferences you're used to using. Quickly find the setting you need using the built-in search box.
Share your data with your accountant or other Windows based users Send your QuickBooks data to your Windows-based accountant and open the updated file on your Mac.
Keep contacts organized and up-to-date Synchronize contacts automatically with OS X Address Book or with other iSync-compatible applications.16 Update a contact in QuickBooks and Address Book is updated instantly... and vice versa.
Play it safe with MobileMe Prevent painful data loss by backing up your QuickBooks file to MobileMe Choose one-time or ongoing automatic backup. You can restore it at any time.
Add reminders and to-do's directly to iCal Stay on top of due dates and create reminders to invoice customers in iCal. Any changes you make to the original transaction in QuickBooks will also be reflected in iCal.

Easy to Set Up, Learn and Use
Gain confidence using step-by-step tutorials in the interactive Tutorial Center See how QuickBooks is organized, learn how to complete everyday business tasks, understand how to use new features through simple interactive step-by-step instructions.
Get up and running quickly and confidently Go from installing QuickBooks for Mac to creating your first invoice faster than ever before. It only takes a few screens to create your company file with the New Company Setup Assistant. And Guide Me helps you quickly become familiar with key tasks (like creating invoices) until you're ready to start working on your own. While you're learning, let Live Community connect you with other QuickBooks for Mac users to help you get the answers you need.
Enter data into familiar forms QuickBooks uses onscreen forms that look like the checks, invoices and sales receipts you use every day. The moment you see them, you'll know how to use them.
Quickly access comprehensive help whenever you need it The QuickBooks Help feature enables you to simply type a question and quickly receive detailed help, tips and troubleshooting information right within QuickBooks.
Upgrade quickly, easily and accurately Easily import data from previous versions of QuickBooks for Mac, QuickBooks for Windows, New User Edition or Quicken for Mac.
Get help when you need it Intuit offers a variety of free resources to help you find fast answers and get back to business. Get instant answers using QuickBooks in-product Help. Visit the Intuit Community to connect with other users and experts to ask questions and share advice. Or, search or browse the QuickBooks Support Website with thousands of detailed support topics and frequently asked questions. Personalized assistance from QuickBooks experts is also available for a fee.

Click here for more information about QuickBooks 2010 for Mac