112 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two cautionary comments..., September 1, 2004
This review is from: Quicken 2005 for Dummies (Paperback)
Hi, I'm Steve Nelson, the author of this version of the Quicken For Dummies book and other preceding 13 editions of Quicken For Dummies. I'm not going to say a bunch about this book. But because readers new to the "Dummies" series often get confused about (and sometimes even disappointed in) in Dummies books, I wanted to make a couple of comments. FIRST COMMENT: This Dummies book, like many Dummies titles, is for beginning- and intermediate-level Quicken users. So if you're looking for help getting started those first days and weeks with Quicken--this is a great book. However, if you're an experienced Quicken user and want to "take your personal accounting to the next level," the book is probably a poor choice. You should (assuming you've been doing things right) already known the sorts of stuff that are in the book. SECOND COMMENT: Note, too, that like many Dummies books, this title filters information. That filtering of "mostly just the high points" is part of the value. Now one could write an 800pp book on Quicken. (In fact, several years ago, I did just that.) But many people, maybe even you, yes you, want a book that describes just the most important stuff. However, if you're looking for encyclopedic coverage of all Quicken features, this is not the book for you.
These may seem like funny caveats coming from the author, but in recent years I've noticed that people buying books from online bookstores can sometimes be disappointed with Dummies books because there are written for beginners and because they do filter information. (I think people are less likely to be surprised or disappointed with a Dummies book when you can first thumb through the actual book, but that's another story...) Sometimes these people turn into loud critics with searing comments. These critics' comments are, in a sense, very accurate. But those critics sometimes, er, maybe don't get that a Dummies book can't do what they want and still be a Dummies book.
Hope that helps...
Steve
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous for Quicken "Newbies" - easy to use!, November 10, 2004
This review is from: Quicken 2005 for Dummies (Paperback)
I have been a Quicken user for years and have been happy with all the improvements over time! Needless to say - I have repeatedly raved about this great software, but my in-laws are computer phobes and have resisted even trying it.
I purchased "Quicken 2005 for Dummies" for them and assured them the book would answer all their questions. Well, they hemmed and hawed for a few more days, but then tried it out. It worked like a charm! Any question they had was answered quickly by the book and they now feel they invented the software! (You can only imagine how ecstatic they were when they discovered google!).
If you are new to quicken, or are already a believer and want to get someone else hooked, this book is really worth it! Thanks Mr. Nelson for a great guide to some super software!
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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Personal finance software guidebook, March 6, 2005
This review is from: Quicken 2005 for Dummies (Paperback)
Quicken 2005 for Dummies is the latest edition it the Quicken for Dummies series, all editions written by Stephen L. Nelson. Nelson also wrote all editions of the QuickBooks for Dummies. Whereas Quicken focuses on personal financial record keeping, QuickBooks focuses on business accounting. If your immediate interest is taxes, you might want also to check Taxes 2005 for Dummies by the same publisher, Wiley. More than a million copies of the various editions of Quicken for Dummies have been sold, and that indicates consumer satisfaction with the book in general. It is an easy-to-use guide to the popular Quicken personal finance software.
Although focused on Quicken Premier software for Windows, Quicken 2005 for Dummies contains useful guidelines, tips, and warnings for any Quicken user. The Mac user can refer to the Quick Start card that comes with the Quicken 2005 for Mac for Mac-specific information, like backing up Quicken data and keyboard shortcuts.
After a brief introduction, the book is divided into six parts, the first providing a brief overview of the Quicken 2005 software. The basics section covers checkbooks, accessing online accounts, generating reports and charts, balancing accounts, and calculators for investments, retirements, college, and taxes. The home finance section addresses credit cards, debit cards, petty cash, mutual funds, and stocks and bonds. The business section has a chapter on payroll and one on receivables and payables. The concluding section lists frequently asked questions, with answers, and provides both finance tips and Quicken troubleshooting tips. Part 6 contains an appendix on Windows and a glossary of financial and computing terms. The book also has a detailed table of contents and an index. Introductory and basic material fill half the book; home finance and business follow for those who wish to do more than basic personal financial record keeping. A reader can jump directly to text about the specific topic or task of interest at the moment. One need not read the book from start to finish.
Like all Dummies book, Quicken 2005 has marginal icons to mark tips and warnings. Bold-face type and type changes make it easy to follow step by step, and additional text expands upon each step for the novice. The text is illustrated with corresponding screen images, but these "screens" are too small for easy reading; I have to wear my glasses to read the text but remove the glasses to read the screen images.
The author warns that moving Quicken data from a Macintosh to Windows involves exporting, and he "can think of about a million things more fun to do than exporting Quicken data from a Mac to Windows" (p. 22). That is it for Mac-specific content in this book.
Another word of caution comes from Jeffery Battersby, who in MacWorld (February 2005) reviewed Quicken 2005 software. Battersby concluded his review, "In the end, Quicken remains the hands-down best way to track your personal finances," but, he added, "Quicken's tax planner is no substitute for a trip to the accountant, especially if your tax situation is even a little bit complicated." Similarly, Quicken 2005 for Dummies is a good guide for record keeping but not a substitute for a tax accountant.
That said, Quicken 2005 for Dummies will help the Quicken 2005 user get done the job of keeping personal financial records.
[...]
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