Average Rating: 
Rating: - Don't throw your Quicken away
I wasn't too sure if I wanted to switch from Quicken to MS Money, so I downloaded the trial from Microsoft's website ...As a recent user of Quicken, I wanted to see if Money was worth shelling out for my new, home-built PC. Being on a LAN, it was a relatively quick download. Installing it was where the interesting stuff began.Money doesn't let you run the first-time-setup wizard more than once. I had two credit cards and one checking account, and I didn't have the latest statements handy when I was installing it. So when I tried to modify my accounts later on, I was completely bemused. In comparison, my Quicken program lets me run a wizard each time I want to add an account--great when I got a new credit card after installing the program. Money also does something I don't like--it adds a lot of shortcuts to your desktop--at least three at last count. It also added a sort of "Live Money" taskbar button. I don't know what other people tend to do, but all I want in a financial program is finance tracking. I want to see where my money went and whether I'll have enough money at the end of the month, without having to log onto 3 different websites and doing some math. I don't want my financial program to link itself to my MSN Passport and connect to MSN Money unless I tell it to, and sadly, Money doesn't tell me that I have a choice in the matter. I suppose if I were more inclined to fiddle around with the settings, sooner or later I would find a way to turn it off. But I would prefer to be asked before it's done. Just a quibble. Money's pretty, and offers a lot of intergration with MSN Money if you like that sort of thing. It's sort of unfamiliar eye candy, but worth a look. And with the rebates [offered], it's much cheaper than Intuit's offering. That said, I still prefer Quicken for quick familiarity and the layout's ease-of-use. Let's not make me take a class just to learn to use my financial software, Microsoft. Good job, but you can do even better.
Rating:  - Great for first time instal, but as an upgrade.
I think that this version of MS Money is good in the fact that it has become more task based and it has a lot more fuctionality with the MS Office programs. I also have found that it is a bit faster the some of the previous versions. The few things that I do not like about it however, are really just personal preference. I don't like the fact that they have gotten rid of a large portion of the customizations for the home page. I also found when I was pulling my tax information for this year, that the reports were not the same as the previous version and I had to build my own. Other then that, I think that it is a good peice of software.
Rating: - Good product
Upgraded from 99 to 2003 and have not regretted it.Plus points:
1) nice reconciliation system that is much easier to use than it has been in the past
2) QIF import that does not duplicate transactions left right and center
3) nice GUI, with suitably toned down look and feel
4) good set of standard reports
5) nice integration with online services
6) great upgrade path/data take on from 99 Minus points:
1) sponsorship/logos
2) sometimes complains of an error with online downloading but does not seem to have lost/missed any data In addition YOU DO NOT NEED A PASSPORT to use the online services. I use online services and do not use a passport. I secure my money file with username and password as always. All in all a robust product from MS and good value for money with the rebate. Definitely upgrade if you have a really old version of Money.
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