Quicken Deluxe 2006 offers most of the tools that most individuals need to manage their finances, except the willpower to stick to a budget.

If you're a first time Quicken user, the Guided Setup wizard will walk you through the installation process. Installation is quick and easy, although setting up your accounts and categories can take a little time. If you already use a previous version of Quicken, you can import your information with a few clicks.

Many Quicken users go for several years without updating the software, because they don't find a compelling reason to upgrade. If you currently use Quicken 2004 or earlier, you may be surprised to find that Intuit has changed the .QIF file format, and now uses a proprietary .OFX format. Some banks don't yet support this format; others charge a fee to support it. Check with your bank before buying or upgrading to any 2006 version of Quicken.

Quicken can do most of the typical things you would expect personal finance software to do, including track checking, savings, and investment accounts, plan and manage a budget, bank online, and pay bills online. It can also do something you might not expect: attach a scan of a bank statement, canceled check, receipt, or warranty to the appropriate entry in the register. This is a particularly handy feature if you need to prove that you made a payment, or if you use Quicken to track a home office or small business checking account.

A Mini Report button, located next to each payee or category, lets you view a recent report of any spending for that payee or category, or view a full report for that payee or category, another way to help get a handle on a budget.

Quicken Deluxe can also download and track IRA and 401(k) account information, help you plan for college expenses or your retirement, and look for any tax deductions with the Tax Deduction Finder you might otherwise miss.


Pro: Easy to use. Includes most of the tools that most individuals need to manage their finances and achieve financial goals. The file attachment feature can simplify recordkeeping or bail you out in the event of an audit.
Con: No outstanding new features or improvements from the 2005 version. Some banks don't yet support OFX files, or charge a fee to support them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Intuit Inc.
2535 Garcia Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
1-650-944-6000
http://www.intuit.com



Minimum requirements (PC):
Computer: IBM or compatible Pentium 200 (Pentium II 300 recommended)
Operating System: Windows 98/2000/Me/XP
Memory: 32 MB RAM (128 MB RAM recommended)
Hard Disk Space: 100 MB, plus 45 MB for Microsoft Internet Explorer if IE 6.0 or higher is not already installed (IE 6.0 included on CD-ROM)
Monitor: SVGA (800x600) with 256 colors (1024x768 with 16-bit color recommended)
CD-ROM Drive: Double speed (4X or higher recommended for multimedia)
Internet Connection: 14.4 Kbps modem (56 Kbps or higher recommended)
Sound: Sound card and speakers recommended
Printer: Any printer supported by Windows 98/2000/Me/XP