With, Intuit strives to make its classic money management application easier to navigate and simpler to understand in less time, thanks to spruced-up visuals. Although a solid balance-keeper and financial assistant, Quicken needs every boost it can get. Web-based software is growing more sophisticated and stylish every day and users are increasingly less wary of dealing with banking online. These conditions form two pincer points squeezing traditional desktop software like Quicken. Many of Quicken 2010's additions are cosmetic changes that streamline and simplify its offering. There's a set-up wizard that guides you through importing your financial information, bill reminders, and budgets.
A new home page summarizes your standing, and pared down navigation makes it easier to find what you need. The most active new feature in Quicken 2010 takes a stab at automatically categorizing your transactions, with a little help from you if there's any doubt. Software that knows Safeway is a supermarket and Macy's is a clothing store isn't rocket science, but it's a must if desktop Quicken is to not become cannibalized by its own Mint.com It's mostly Quicken's top layer that gets prettified. Scratch the surface and many of the app's second-tier tools feel like a throwback to text-heavy data surfacing, like the calculators, planners, and lists. This may not bother legacy users, or those who aren't put off by blocks of texts and charts, but others who have come to enjoy the instant understanding inherent in a well-made infographic may shut the window and move on rather than wade through text. Some tools, like the bill reminder, are still a tad clunky.
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET) Quicken 2010 could use a few more online social net links, too, such as an option to sync reminders to an online calendar. And we're pretty sure we could live without the app installing three icons to the desktop. Really, Intuit. One is plenty.
Intuit isn't blind to consumers' changing expectations in management software, online or offline. Quicken 2010's refurbished look does help, and conservatives who feel more comfortable keeping monetary details locally stored rather than encrypted in the cloud lose nothing by downloading a free trial. For strictly online users with only personal finances (not investments, property, or small businesses), Intuit offers a free, online version to challenge its own Mint.com.
It has budgeting, tracking, and reminders, encryption, an iPhone component, and the added capability to prep the data for tax time, assuming you also use one of Intuit's TurboTax products. If you've used Quicken before, you can import data from previous years. The same goes for anyone switching over from Microsoft Money. Pricing and sweepstakes Intuit advertises on its Web site, including the online version: Quicken Deluxe ($59.99); Quicken Premier ($89.99), which helps track investments; Quicken Home & Business ($99.99); and Quicken Rental Property Management ($149.99). There's also the lighter for $29.99. Intuit is also launching a sweepstakes prize to pay one month's rent-up to $2,500-in December 2009. The contest begins on October 15, 2009.
You'll find the rules.
Quicken 2010 for Windows ®: Getting Started Guide Information You'll Need to Get Started To download your account history into Quicken, you must have Quicken 2010, Internet access, a Golden 1 account number and a Online Banking password. If you do not have a Online Banking password, contact our Member Service Call Center at 1-877-GOLDEN 1 (1-877-465-3361) to request the following:. Online Banking account number (Quicken User ID).
Online Banking password (Quicken PIN/Personal Identification Number) For security reasons, these items may be given or sent to you separately. When you have received the necessary information, this guide will help you enable your accounts for online account services in Quicken. For step-by-step help while in Quicken, click on the topic listed in 'Get Started.' If you have already created an account in Quicken or are converting from a previous version of Quicken, skip 'Step 1.' Step 1: Create a New Quicken Account for Online Access.
Click on 'Tools' and select 'Add Account. '. Choose an Account Type: Checking, Savings, Credit Card, etc. And click 'Next.' . Type 'The Golden 1 Credit Union' or select it from the drop-down list of financial institutions and click 'Next.' .
Software User Guide
Enter your Online Banking account number in the 'User ID/User Name' field. Enter your Online Banking password in the 'Password' field, then click 'Next.' .
User Guide Ipad
Quicken will list all available accounts for online access. In the 'Account nickname' field, type a description for each account as you want it to appear in Quicken. For any account you do not want to add, uncheck the 'Select' box.
Click 'Next.' Note: Your Golden 1 loans will be listed as 'Credit Card.' Step 2: Enable a Quicken Account for Online Account Services. In the 'Accounts List,' select the account you wish to enable for online services and click 'Overview.'
. Under 'Account Attributes,' make sure 'Financial Institution' reads 'The Golden 1 Credit Union.' If not, click on 'Edit Account Details' and select 'The Golden 1 Credit Union' from the financial institution list. Click 'OK' once the change has been made. 'Transaction Download' under 'Account Attributes' should say 'Available.' Click on 'Change Online Services.'
. 'Transaction Download' should read 'Available.' Click 'Change Online Services' and then 'Activate One Step Update.'
. On the 'Account Setup' screen, enter your Golden 1 Online account number in the 'User ID/username' field. Enter your Golden 1 Online password in the 'Password' fields, then click 'Next.' . Quicken will show all available accounts for online access. Select the account that you wish to match with the account in Quicken and any new accounts you want to add.
Sample User Guide
Click 'Next.' Note: Your Golden 1 loans will be listed as 'Credit Card.'
Step 3: Download Transactions for the First Time. Use the 'One Step Update' feature to download all your transactions in one step.
Click the 'Update' icon from the Quicken menu. In the 'One Step Update' dialog box, select 'Download latest cleared transactions and balances,' enter your Golden 1 Online password, then click 'Update Now.'
For further information, please review the Quicken Support website at:.