The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Fireman on December 30, 2013, 07:16:21 PM
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Does anyone here use or have experience with Quicken 2014? My dad, who writes a lot of checks, uses the 2003 version to track and categorize his spending for tax purposes. I think it works fine for what he needs but I did happen to notice that the 2014 version was out and wondered if he could use the upgrade.
He is very good at things in his routine but has a hard time learning 'new tricks.' My questions for the community:
1) Does 2014 offer any significant new features?
2) Will 2014 look so different as to confuse him into not being able to use it.
Also of some concern is his desktop computer and the resources needed for 2014 to run. I'd like to get him something newer computer wise and may end up giving him my newer desktop with Windows 7. I will not purchase any computer with Windows 8 (even for my worst enemy).
Lastly, i've read some material indicating difficulty upgrading data files from the 2003 version or earlier. Anyone have any experience with this facet of the upgrade?
Thanks in advance!
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All I know is...
"They don't call it Quicken because it slows the pulse." -Andy Barker, P.I.
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
I upgrade every three years or so just so it will continue to update stock prices. If that's not a feature he uses, I don't see any point in disrupting what he already understands. I don't know how old your dad is, but my mom's in her 70's. Change is difficult.
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I use the 2014 Quicken version and find it very good. Have had only one issue so far and that was in downloading transactions. Worked thru that with my bank. I used Quicken the first time long ago and cannot remember all of the changes. The user interface is new - more a dashboard feel. Fairly intuitive. Simple indicators when you have things to do like verify transactions in an investment account. The spending categories are many and useful. User configured reports are ok. Could only get last 3 months of TX and find it frustrating that Quicken does not offer a QIF file convertor for Excel. Did not have to upgrade so cannot comment there.
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
I upgrade every three years or so just so it will continue to update stock prices. If that's not a feature he uses, I don't see any point in disrupting what he already understands. I don't know how old your dad is, but my mom's in her 70's. Change is difficult.
While I was home over Christmas, he and I worked through "some issues" he had and he was afraid the program was "broken." I think one issue boiled down to an input error (wrong year on date). The other issue was the program occasionally double entering deposits. Honestly it could be an input error as well but that's harder to tell.
I think it will stay 2003 at least for the time being because he's 74, so yes, change is difficult.