New versions of Quicken take advantage of cutting-edge electronic record-keeping in useful ways. Unlike Microsoft Money 2006--a minor upgrade--my shipping copy of the $80 Quicken Premier 2006 provides compelling reasons to move up from older versions, or even to start using personal finance software.
My favorite new feature: the ability to attach digital images or PDFs--of checks, monthly statements, paycheck stubs, and the like--to your Quicken accounts or register entries, permitting your records to be at hand instantly (this feature isn't in the $30 Quicken Basic, however). The product even lets you encrypt these documents so they can't be viewed from outside the software.
New buttons in transaction entries bring up mini-reports that show all proceedings involving the payee or category within a user-customizable time frame. And the application's renovated Reports Center simplifies creating and accessing reports; customizing your views; and exporting those reports as PDF files so that accountants or other parties can view them easily.
I'm still annoyed about Intuit's withdrawal of support for the .qif data format, but Quicken Premier 2006 is one of the best Quicken versions Intuit has delivered in years.
Smart new features make this year's edition of the market-leading personal finance manager a worthy upgrade.
Price when reviewed: $80
Current prices (if available)
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