Quicken 2004 "Sunsets"

I'm using Quicken 2006 and I won't upgrade until Intuit releases an
Intel native version.

On May 3, 2007, at 10:32 AM, David Weintraub wrote:

> It's one thing not having any support from Intuit. It's another thing
> for the software to purposefully break itself once Intuit decides it
> no longer wants to support it. As of April 30, 2007, you can no
> longer do on line transactions with Quicken. This is not a problem
> with the bank. This isn't Quicken changing protocols, and the older
> software doesn't support the changes. This is Intuit programming into
> Quicken to simply break after April 30, 2007.

Aside from the forced revenue aspect, self-destructing does make some
sense from their perspective. They struggle enough with bank systems
which change protocols on them.

I can imagine the agreements under which they access the bank APIs
requiring a sunset (so that the banks aren't somewhat stuck*
supporting old stuff forever--especially with regulators giving them
deadlines about two-factor authentication and the like).

* "Somewhat" stuck because the bank can always pull the plug on an
API once whatever term the agreement calls for ends (or the
regulators require it, whichever comes first).

   --John

At 10:32 05/03/07 -0700, David Weintraub wrote:
>after I get the upgrade, I am going to start looking
>at other personal finance packages.

Check out Moneydance, http://moneydance.com. Many MD users switched for
reasons similar to this. MD has its rough edges, but it works -- the core
is solid. The more active of the related mailing lists has a participant
profile which reminds me a lot of TidBITS Talk.

I have no financial interest in MD, and I won't claim I'm even a totally
happy user. But I'm certainly a lot less unhappy than I was the last few
years with Quicken.

Edward
--
Art works by Melynda Reid: http://paleo.org

--On May 3, 2007 9:58:10 PM -0700 johnbaxterlistsmac.com wrote:

> Aside from the forced revenue aspect, self-destructing does make some
> sense from their perspective. They struggle enough with bank systems
> which change protocols on them.
>
> I can imagine the agreements under which they access the bank APIs
> requiring a sunset (so that the banks aren't somewhat stuck*
> supporting old stuff forever--especially with regulators giving them
> deadlines about two-factor authentication and the like).
>
> * "Somewhat" stuck because the bank can always pull the plug on an
> API once whatever term the agreement calls for ends (or the
> regulators require it, whichever comes first).

Actually I believe Intuit dictates the API to the banks. I thought the OFX
spec was developed to circumvent that, but if apparently if you want to
claim you are compatible with Quicken's WebConnect or DirectConnect
functionality (which is based on OFX) then you have to pay Quicken for
certification.

<http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,119721-page,1/article.html>

quote from the article:
> Quicken 2005 has dropped most of the product's long-standing ability to
> import transaction data in the .qif file format (the program can still
> import credit card data, but next year's version will eliminate that
> feature, as well). Banks must pay Intuit to be certified for .ofx
> downloads into Quicken; Intuit says that almost 2300 financial
> institutions, including most major banks and brokerages, support .ofx.

<http://www.ofx.net/ofx/default.asp>

I'm using Quicken 2004 on my iMac at home, and, until last Monday, used the online banking features of that program. Now, I'm told it is "not supported," meaning they somehow broke the connection to the bank. I have a MacBook Pro which came with Quicken 2006 installed. I don't have the Quicken installation disk, however. Is there any way to transfer or install Quicken 2006 from my MacBook Pro onto my home computer?

I was also thwarted by Quicken/Intuit. And I sure have bought a lot of products from them. But I didn't trade, I just had the Quicken on-line portfolio site with them. They told me that if I didn't purchase a new program, that I could just go over to Yahoo(which I already had a viewing portfolio account with anyway). I tried to purchase the new Quicken for Mac on line but had a problem using their site. And so phoned them, they had no clue. So I just moved everything to Yahoo. Still wondering why their communication is so vague and lacking. Isn't Intuit a good company? But where is their tech support? Anyway, they lost a sale, not from lack of interest on my part, but by technical expertise on their end. So anyway, my old Quicken portfolio is still visible and I still can log in. This whole bizarre problem might just be that I am using a Mac, and have no PC to log in from. Anyway, their Quicken portfolio thing was great while it lasted, and it seems to be still lasting, as they said it would not do.

On 7-May-2007, at 16:47, don84 wrote:
> Is there any way to transfer or install Quicken 2006 from my
> MacBook Pro onto my home computer?

Pretty sure that simply drag-copying the Application works.

I know I got it on my desktop when my laptop died and I don't recall
doing anything special about it.

Intuit did the same thing with Quicken 2000 (on Windows), which was the last version I used. I switched to MoneyDance in 2003 and find that it is continually improving. Plus it has the benefit of being platform independent and uses a common data file format among the different platforms. The price is most reasonable, has frequent updates that add or improve functionality. As Edward noted, it is not perfect, but I don't know of a software application that is.

At 7:14 AM -0700 5/8/07, jcarter572 wrote:
> .....
>Isn't Intuit a good company?
>.....

No.

--
Marshall Clow Idio Software <mailto:marshallidio.com>

It might be possible, but you'd be breaking the licensing agreement. IMHO, anyone who can afford a macBook Pro ought to be able to spend the $60 (less S&H and tax) for Quicken 2007. It'll be good for another three years. <http://quicken.intuit.com/personal-finance/mac-personal-finance.jhtml>.

On 8-May-2007, at 16:41, baltwo wrote:
> It might be possible, but you'd be breaking the licensing agreement.

How do you figure that?

I'm running it on one machine.

The sunset policy in my opinion is just to create a revenue stream for Intuit. The QFX format is standard and this did not change on April 30th. When I called Intuit, their standard line (from two different reps) was that they would not be able to keep up with the BANKS changes if they did not upgrade their software. They are making it sound like it is the BANK that is forcing them to do this! ACTUALLY they CHARGE the bank to send to Quicken in INTUIT's Standard QFX format.

I can download the QFX file but Quicken goes online to check with the intuit to see if the bank has paid the licensing fee or if the software is too old and then DISABLE the download.

Anyone know of a patch for this? Or I'm finding another program.

BTW: If Intuit reads this. They are loosing a customer. And in this case it is not just ME. I am a technology consultant. I will no longer recommend to my clients ANY intuit software, neither Quickbooks, Quickbooks POS or Quicken.

BTW (again): Quickbooks POS is junk, you have to purchase hardware supplied by Intuit for anything to work. This company just no longer believes in standards.

It must have all started when they killed the QIF format.

[PC-specific, but sufficiently on topic because of the discussion of Intuit customer service. -Adam]

On May 10th 2007 I returned my PC to its factory settings to sort out some annoying bugs, then reloaded all my software, including Windows Vista and Quicken 2004. Although Quicken had been working fine on Vista since Feb, now it won't activate automatically (as it does in Windows XP), so I had to phone Intuit. They suggested two options. The first option is to buy a "final release" CD (for £58), which they had previously sent out free to Quicken users - I never received the free one, but no-one at the Intuit call centre has the authority to right this wrong and send me a free copy now. Option 2 is to buy Quickbooks Regular 2006. I tried this and it won't even install. So my only option seems to be paying £58 for the privilege of using a piece of software for which I have already paid.

I want to import the file into Microsoft Money and screw Intuit, but my Quicken file has a password, so the only way I can do that is to restore my PC to factory, AGAIN, remove the password and then import. Frankly I don't want to risk losing another day staring at my PC only to find this too doesn't work.

I am really pissed off at the incompetence of Intuit for not sending me the free final release, and their inflexibility now which means I have to pay them more money before I can take my business elsewhere.

Once I have converted I will make it a principle never to use Intuit products again.

On May 12, 2007, at 2:40 PM, Jeff Eakins wrote:

> The sunset policy in my opinion is just to create a revenue stream
> for Intuit. The QFX format is standard and this did not change on
> April 30th. ...
>
> I can download the QFX file but Quicken goes online to check with
> the intuit to see if the bank has paid the licensing fee or if the
> software is too old and then DISABLE the download.
>
> Anyone know of a patch for this? Or I'm finding another program.

My bank has licensed the QFX format for Windows but not for OS X; more
revenue stream. I use QIF Master to process the QFX file and generate
a QIF file, then I import the QIF file into Quicken. I do not have
any connection to QIF Master other than a satisfied customer.

Malcolm

On 12-May-2007, at 12:40, Jeff Eakins wrote:
> BTW (again): Quickbooks POS is junk, you have to purchase hardware
> supplied by Intuit for anything to work. This company just no
> longer believes in standards.

I have to object, your use of 'no longer' implies that at one time
their behaviour was different. It was not. They'd been like this all
along.

The only reason I am using Quicken 2006 is because it was free. I'm
certainly not Relying on it.