PAYTRUST-BILL CENTER-HOME WIN 95/98/ME/NT/2000 GENERAL Review

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(More customer reviews)Paytrust.com is one of the most useful online services in existence. While most Internet savvy users will have online bill payment capabilities through their banking institution, Paytrust allows for RECEIPT of detailed bills at a designated mailbox in Sioux Falls, SD (sorry, there is only one location at this time). These bills are either scanned in or, if the merchant has electronic billing, sent electronically to Paytrust. They are then viewed by the user on the web site. With the separate and distinct mailing address, the service provides address privacy.
If you argue that your credit card or cell phone provider has electronic billing, Paytrust also eliminates marketing materials from these entities because they will STILL send solicitations and sell your information even after you request omission from their marketing list or use their electronic billing. Not only can you view incoming bills, which banks (as far as I am aware) do not offer, but Paytrust also helps eliminate junk mail. In other words, any junk mail that Paytrust receives in your mail box will be destroyed. "Important" documents such as convenience checks and cards are mailed to an alternate postal address.
The functionality and usability of Patrust are great. The web site is very easy to use and offers both a basic layout for dial-up users and a richer interface for broadband users. After receiving a bill, the users is sent an email notification telling you the payment amount and balance if applicable. You can chose to pay the bill via Paytrust or use means of your choice.
If you travel or move frequently or just hate junk mail, Paytrust can't be beat. Basically, it gives you address privacy with high level of convenience. Say good bye to the direct marketing association.

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QuickBooks Pro 2006 Review

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(More customer reviews)Sadly Quickbooks 2006 is only a minor upgrade from Quickbooks 2003. Users should also be aware that they will be forced to upgrade this software. at considerable expense, every 3 years. Also payroll services are not included and cost $150.00 more PER year. See "QuickBooks Standard Payroll Subscription" on Amazon.
The upgrade from Quickbooks Pro 2003 went very smoothly. Unfortunately the software, with no notification to the user, adds a second user to the XP operating system, necessitating logging on as a particular user when your computer boots.
We've found no real benefits from this "upgrade". The software boots much slower thanks to the DOUBLING of the company file. New users may find the redesigned home page useful and despite a great deal of verbage - that is about all that is new here.
New users should take advantage of the 30 days of free support - after that Quicken's dubious support is very high priced.
Quicken's business model is important to understand. They do not tweak their software, from year to year, for increased useability. The only changes that Quicken seems to devote their programming talent toward are new features, some well implemented and some poorly implemented - I don't think it matters to them - anything that will suggest a reason to purchase or upgrade the software. How easy the software could function on a day to day basis seems to be never given a thought.
Secondly Quicken expects your purchase of this software to be the first of many purchases from them. New business owners often will need expert help to set it up. Quicken, will of course, provide you with the name of a certified Quickbooks consultant, who for a fee, will set up the software. The software now comes with an on screen tutorial that may help some new users but it seemed less than complete.
New business owners should test all competing software to see what works best for them. Quickbooks is not bad software but it doesn't seem to evolve in a manner that is really sensitive to user's needs.
New users should also be aware that Quickbooks update feature routinely downloads very sizeable files that seem to do little if anything. A high speed internet connection is strongly suggested.



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QuickBooks: Pro Edition 2006 is the leading choice of small businesses for fast and easy financial management. Track money going in and out of your business more accurately.Routine tasks like payroll, invoicing, tracking bills and check-writing can be done in minutes instead of hours. With the click of a button, you can see past-due invoices or overdue bills. Or instantly see your entire business relationship with any customer or vendor. If you ever want to get in touch with them, all the contact information you need is right at hand. Also at your fingertips are invaluable customized reports. These reports let you slice data any way you wish. You'll see what's really going on with your business in a way never before possible. Isolate expenses. Identify your largest customers. Track your areas of biggest growth. The possibilities are endless. And when you need to share your data, you can easily import and export from Microsoft Excel and a number of other programs. QuickBooks Pro helps you enhance your professional image as well. You can customize and print professional forms. Easily add graphics and personal messages. Seamlessly print letters and envelopes with Microsoft Word. QuickBooks gives you the time, resources and knowledge you need to grow your business like never before.

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Quicken Deluxe 2011 Review

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(More customer reviews)It was bad enough when Quicken simply littered your desktop with icons linking to Quicken Loans, Free Credit Reports (which are never free) and a sundry of other financial pay-to-play products. Now they've taken things to a whole new level with ads literally BUILT INTO the GUI (Graphic User Interface: the 'skin' with which you engage with the program). An example: in the new 'refinance calculator' there is a large banner ad for CHASE BANK. The refinance calculator itself is poor and majorly inferior to free ones available online, but more on that later. I don't expect to pay upwards of $50.00 for a piece of software that contains banner ads! That is simply unacceptable. In freeware, I understand it, but not in something I paid full retail for!
Adding insult to injury, INTUIT has actually removed one of the best features of previous Quicken releases, the CASH FLOW monthly chart. They've replaced it with a projected balances chart which is ugly, harder to read, and doesn't convey nearly as much information as the previous version. A line chart is inferior for the purpose, and INTUIT hasn't even managed to make the data points (low and high balance points along the chart) display the actual balance when you mouse over them. This is a miserably bad design--they've managed to take a very useful tool and turn it into garbage.
The supposed new features are junk. The refinance calculator is extremely simplistic compared to far better online versions (check out Equitrend Financial Calculators if you're looking for sophisticated, free calculators). It doesn't allow the user to enter current mortgage interest rate or PMI, and instead makes you enter the total payment and then the "impound / escrow amount." If you have your mortgage set-up to be tracked in Quicken, the tool cannot incorporate that data into your analysis. You must manually enter everything. The tool also does not take into account the tax implications of your refinance. Overall it is a tacked on, basic calculator that is nearly useless.
The obligatory re-skin of the program (which INTUIT trots out each year rather than making substantial or meaningful changes) is adequate, but unnecessary. Every year they tweak fonts, colors, and layout, and design elements. This year is no exception. None of the changes make the program more efficient for the end user. I don't have a problem with utilitarian designs, as long as the underlying software is substantial. INTUIT seems to leverage much of their development budget into GUI tweaks, while doing little to improve the software itself.
Another major issue is that INTUIT cannot manage to keep their data file consistent from year to year. 2011 is no exception and required me to convert my 2010 data file. Admittedly this was much more painless than the massive difficulty many experienced with upgrading from 2008 or 2009 to 2010. I wish that the developers at INTUIT would make a forwards compatible data file type and just stick with it.
SUMMARY:
PROS:
1) Potentially better GUI (depending on your preferences)
CONS:
1) Ads built into the GUI itself
2) Removal of a significant feature (cash flow and balance chart)
3) No substantial improvements to the underlying programs
4) Added 'features' are poor quality, even when compared with free alternatives
5) Requires yet another data-file conversion
6) Expensive! Especially considering the ads built into the program
FINAL THOUGHTS:
What am I getting for my money here? If you love this version of Quicken, can you kindly explain to me why it is worth upgrading? I have yet to find a single compelling reason. Am I missing something or did I just flush my money down the toilet?

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