With its 2004 edition, Money linked itself closely with Microsoft's financial service Web site, MSN Money. This version does one better and provides synchronization between customer's files on their personal computers and on Microsoft's Internet site. If you want to or need to manage your finances from different places (useful for frequent travelers, for example) or if you want one set of data to share with others (your spouses, for example) this solution might make the upgrade worthwhile.

Putting financial data on the Web comes with a price, however. Customers who don't completely trust the security of the Internet might think long and hard before putting financial information into cyberspace. And customers who do chose this option can only use the service for two years before having to upgrade their Money software. Using the program's Web-synchronization features requires customers to create a Microsoft Passport identity and password, which some might not want to do.

The online features are flashy and impressive, but plainer enhancements make the program easier to use. The interface, for example, can now function at two levels. There is an essential view for those customers who only want to use the software to balance a checkbook and do simple budgeting. And there is an advanced view that lets customers customize the program's presentation and keep a more hands-on relationship with their financial transactions.

Money 2005 upgrades some automated features, such as categorizing some transactions (it will recognize some well-known restaurant names and file your expenditures there under "dining," for example). Customers gets some assistance in managing online bill-paying services, and the bill calendar--which provides a quick snapshot of coming due dates--has been integrated into the transaction register.

The program's new planning center includes more than two dozen tools for helping customers make decisions about such matters as paying for college, saving for retirement, getting out of debt, and other financial matters. Many of these same features are also in Quicken, so there's no reason to switch from one program to the other just to get access to basic--even advanced--money-management tools.

Microsoft's goal of building a personal money manager with a seamless link between a customer's computer and Web-based financial services gets ever closer in this version.

Pros: More automation and synchronization with Web-based finance files make it the money manager for people on the move
Cons: Online services limited to two years; most improvements beyond Web synchronization are cosmetic, but useful