Quicken Essentials for Mac User Reviews
Very good
-
"Don't Waste Your Money on This Program"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Only barely adequate for the most simple checkbook accounting
Cons
Difficult to download transactions from online accounts; Tech support is not helpful and they just tell me they are working on the problem. I was able to download transactions from a credit card account, then one day I couldn't. I hassled with Tech Support for over 3 months and they never resolved the problem. I got tired of emailing them, yet it annoyed me no end to pay for an accounting program that doesn't help me with my accounting.
Summary
I wanted a simple accounting program to keep track of my bank statements and credit card accounts. Quicken for Mac is not able to do that with any consistency. I waste too much time and energy inputing data that it can't download.
I feel totally ripped off by the Quicken Mac version. You should be ashamed of yourselves, Quicken, for putting out such a half-assed program and charging people for it. -
"Want to like it but can't..."
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
I'm fine with the limited functionality and I like the look and feel of the software.
Cons
Quicken Essentials uses a different financial institution list than Quicken for Windows, so I can't do online updates for my 401(k) like i could in the Windows version. Why would you have different lists of financial institutions for different versions of Quicken? And why would the Mac Essentials version exclude one of the largest 401(k) providers in the country? This makes no sense.
Summary
On the plus side, when i finally got through to tech support - two calls and a total of 30 minutes of hold time - they quickly agreed to give me a refund when i asked for one. For that i added an extra star.
-
"horrible automation"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Uses Quicken format.
Cons
Automated features that are slow, difficult or impossible to configure, and counterproductive. Lack of Quicken features.
Summary
This is a horribly frustrating piece of software to use. It has many problems but the most difficult for me to overcome is the date picker. You can't de-automate this. You can't avoid the picker popping up. And it's slow. So if you're used to ten-key entry or are just fast at entering your data, you're going to get incorrect entries, even if you're on a very fast Mac. Then there are other bad choices made by the designer; for example the default action for many edits you might make is to change all similar items, a design decision that can (and has, for me) destroy data. The default should be to NOT dump or alter existing data! I thought I could deal with the lack of features that so many complain about. But I've seen few complaints about what has actually turned out to be the problem, all these really odd design decisions that make the program frustrating or counterproductive.
I hate this software. As soon as I get a break in my workload, I'm going to drop it for GnuCash or something else. A sharp rock and a rotting log would be a better accounting tool. -
"Not even a full program"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
nothing but a glorified checkbook register
Cons
Unable to track loans at all. Windows allow you to enter the parameters of the loan to amortize all the payments, however, this is not available in Essentials. I am starting to regret getting a mac, the programs or lite versions or non-existsant. In addition, to reconsile,you are required to have the balances for each one of the account even though they are connected through the web. So you are unable to use the online account balance. A lot of work!
Summary
I have used money management software for years, ever since linking your account online was possible. I believe that software was more advanced than Essentials 2010. It also concerns me to see such a discrepancy between CNET review and the user reviews. I guess I should have listen to the users out there instead of who I thought the "experts" were.
-
"What a total disappointment and waste of money."
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
None that I can think of.
Cons
The program constantly (and consistently) crashes, even though I reinstalled the program 3 times thinking that it might be due to an installation problem or perhaps a computer glitch. But after 3 attempts at installing the program (along with the latest updates) and then having consistent crashes on each try, I think it's fair to conclude that it's the program that is faulty.
Summary
This program is totally unfit to be used. The programmers need to go back to the drawing board and either update Quicken 2007 or totally rebuild this program from the bottom up. The only other alternative is for Intuit to announce that they no longer support the Mac platform. I'm sure there are other program developers out there who are most anxious to fill that gap. If I only knew who they were.
-
"Yikes - Steer Clear of This One"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Honestly, if I think back to the previous Quicken version I'm pretty sure they have identified and eliminated any 'pros' that the product could have had. The mighty have indeed fallen.
Cons
Compared to the prior version, this one is awful. The UI now requires data entry from the ledger view. I just reconciled and the ledger view would jump down to the bottom when I take my hand off the mouse for a few moments. When you enter transactions, the entry leaps to the correct chronological position so you have to re-orient yourself to it's new location. It's like balancing your checkbook manually while flying through a hurricane in a small aircraft.
Compared to the previous version, this one is terrible. I used to love Quicken, but was forced to upgrade when I moved to Lion. The account conversion utilities did not work at all so I had to recreate the accounts from scratch and lost years of history in my primary checking. Today, I noticed that the whacky data entry quirks had caused me to double enter a paycheck. Also, I can't for the life of me figure out how to have repeating transactions automatically enter.Summary
A steaming pile of dookie.
-
"Trash. Conversion program won't even run under Lion."
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
None that I can see.
Cons
The Quicken File Exchange Utility that is supposed to convert my old Quicken 2007 data WILL NOT RUN under Lion. It's a PPC program. So, no old data can be imported. There is no support for investment transactions, so you can no longer track your, um, retirement accounts, kids' 529 education accounts, etc, other than by the "total value". Pretty worthless. There are no scheduled transactions. Reports are extremely limited. On and On. What??? What were they thinking?
Summary
I wish I had read the blogs and reviews BEFORE I wasted my time and money on this app. I will be looking at iBank and See Finance as a replacement, because Intuit is providing an unworkable replacement for Quiken 2007.
-
"Pure Unadulterated Garbage. NEGATIVE 10 stars"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Absolutely none
Cons
Cannot update using a qif file after the initial setup. The only report I could print was a printout of the entire account from day one.
Summary
Total waste of money. I wish I could get my money back. This piece of trash in no way, shape or form resembles Quicken. Total Scam. I was a fool to buy this piece of ......trash.
Note to Intuit about quicken essentials: How do I loathe thee - let me count the ways. (maybe ten thousand?)
Updated on Oct 10, 2011 -
"Awful. D- compared to an A rating for the PC version"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Drag and drop memory. Ease of adding/deleting accounts
Cons
Cannot auto-reconcile, no bill pay, investment tracking. Register is cumbersome to use and modify. Difficulty changing over from PC version to Mac...took forever to get my account reconciled. Very few features in comparison...terrible product!
Summary
If you have ever used quicken on a PC (even the earliest versions) you will be HIGHLY disappointed and frustrated in changing to this product. Would not recommend.
-
"Much better than what the reviews here say"
Version: Quicken Essentials 2010
Pros
Easy to use interface. I added and updated a dozen or so accounts in minutes. Clear presentation of account values and investment holdings
Cons
Trouble connecting with Dodge and Cox account (worked in Quicken 2008 for PC) as well as my wife's Vanguard IRA accounts (also worked in Quicken 2008 PC version)
Summary
I give it 3.5 to 4.0 stars
The reviews here with ratings of 1 are, in my opinion, unfair. I actually put off ordering Quicken Essentials for over a year because of all these negative reviews but after Quick 2008 for PC stopped connecting to my banks a few months ago I decided to give Essentials a try (Quicken 60-Day guarantee was a plus). Needless to say it does what I need it to do, it tracks all my investments, allows me to keep track of my various assets (properties, none brokerage investments, etc) as well as my bank accounts. A few of the auto download features are a little clunky but overall very positive experience.
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
You must be 13 years of age or older to submit personal information to CNET Networks. In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, CNET Networks does not accept name and e-mail address information from users who are under 13 years of age.
All submitted ratings and written comments become the sole property of CNET Networks, Inc. (CNET) and may be used at CNET Networks' sole discretion. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days in batch groups, not in real time. However, CNET Networks reserves the right to remove or refuse to post any submission for any reason. You acknowledge that you, not CNET Networks, are responsible for the contents of your submission.
CNET Networks is not responsible for the content of the publisher's descriptions or user reviews on this site. We encourage you to determine whether this product or your intended use is legal. We do not encourage or condone the use of any software in violation of applicable laws. CNET Download.com does not sell, resell, or license any of the products listed on the site. We cannot be held liable for issues that arise from the download or use of these products.
