Pocket Quicken 2.0 :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Quicken to Go!

2002-11-20
I've been a quicken user for years. It's a pain to enter reciepts in bunches so some things just do not en dup getting tracked tracked -- like cash. Now, I am tracking cash expenditures for the first time and it's much easier to see where ALL my money goes.

The Sync is seamless and works wonderfully. When you re-launch Quicken the new transactions are ready for import.

Great product!

Downlad a 14 day trial from Landware.com, but hen you're ready to buy, come back to AMAZON, their price is by FAR the lowest I have seen online. Landware charges [x amount]..

Seamless synchronisation, but major improvements required 2002-10-26
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PROS: Seamless backup to desktop Quicken; useful budget feature; integrated calculator.

CONS: No uncategorized items permitted in split transactions; inability to edit (on handheld) any transaction backed up to desktop Quicken; quirky installation procedure.

Like many others, a determining factor in purchasing a handheld organiser was the potential of managing my finances `on the go'. With so many poor reviews of Pocket Quicken 1.0, it was an easy decision to go with Pocket Money, which worked well. The missing piece was easy backup and importing to the desktop version of Intuit Quicken or Microsoft Money.

Quicken can import a .qif file (containing several accounts) generated from Pocket Money. The trouble I had was importing transfer transactions: they were duplicated and/or adjusted, requiring re-reconciliation. To work with Microsoft Money, you had to create a .qif file for every account in Pocket Money. Quickly annoying with over 20 accounts, required on every synchronisation.

Pocket Quicken 2.0 does what it claims here: flawless synchronisation between handheld and desktop. However, it is one-way only; once transactions are uploaded to the desktop, you can't edit them on the handheld.

Worse, every cent/pence must be assigned to a category in Pocket Quicken. Do the programmers at LandWare not use cash? You withdraw cash from an ATM/hole-in-the-wall; you spend some of it now, some of it later. Well, if you record the transaction in Pocket Quicken, you either have to (a) wait until it is all spent before entering appropriate categories in your split transaction, or (b) enter the split transaction with a large segment categorised as `Misc', then constantly adjust this figure as you spent the rest of the cash. At least on desktop Quicken you can override the `uncategorised items' warning. Sort this out quick, please.

The installation procedure is also quirky. Here is how I managed it: (1) Install desktop Quicken. NB: Set-up password (go to File: Passwords: File); (2) Install Pocket Quicken; (3) Conduct first Palm synchronisation; (4) Open Pocket Quicken; (5) Enter desktop Quicken password in box `Quicken File Password' (leave `Launch PIN' = `-Unassigned-` unless you desire a PIN for Pocket Quicken); (6) Conduct second Palm synchronisation; (7) NB: Conduct future Palm synchronisation with desktop Quicken CLOSED.

Not all is bad news. Pocket Quicken's budget feature is competitively unique, and I find it very useful. Yet if the folks at LandWare can manage to synchronise category lists, why not budgets?

The integrated calculator is a convenient piece of programming. Just wish as much thought went into the rest of the package.

Overall, Pocket Quicken 2.0 is undoubtedly an improvement over version 1.0. Its (one-way) synchronisation is truly seamless, and its budget feature is unmatched. However, major improvements are still required. In the end, I could justify the purchase, with my many accounts and long transaction history. Though I expect some free upgrades from LandWare. I have to say, if you only rely on your handheld, then Pocket Money is likely to be a better experience.

Install/sync bumpy, but works great! 2002-09-24
It is everything I expected it to be. Lets me keep up on the go. Ran into one problem with the install. Pocket Quicken would not sync with my desktop Quicken because I had not set a file password on my Quicken data file. When I set a file password in my desktop Quicken, everything worked fine. Now, however, I have to enter a password every time I use my desktop Quicken.

The program is also very memory efficient. I have lots of transactions in my desktop Quicken and they only took up 67K in my Palm.

I also like the Payee lookup in Pocket Quicken; it works just like the desktop Quicken by suggesting payees based on key input.

Caution: Compatiblity Claims Not Accurate 2002-08-10
I run Quicken 2000 Basic, and tried repeatedly to install this product on my WinMe machine. The installer refused to recognize the C:\QUICKENW directory, where quicken was clearly, correctly, and plainly installed. Tech support told me to try the download version, which I did, only to get the same results.

I upgraded to Quickend 2002, installed into the same directory, and everything worked. Word to the wise: ensure you have a recent version of Quicken, and be careful when accepting transaction from your Palm into the desktop edition...

Good but needs improvement 2002-06-26
I found pocket quicken helpful in keeping me straight with my balances while "on the go". The idea of knowing at any given moment what my balances are is appealling. However, when I tried to add line items expenses to the PDA and then transfer them to the main program, I found that it said it was downloading them and then didn't. I find the only way to keep things accurate is still the old fashioned way of going to the main PC and doing the data entry. So what I thought would save me time, didn't and so it needs improving so that it will do what it says. Perhaps it is because I'm using quicken 2001. I will likely upgrade and see if that makes any difference in the interfacing. Also, I tried keeping a backup copy of quicken on my PC at the office (just in case my home PC ever crashed) and I sometimes take a zip drive backup and update it that way to keep it current. However, when trying to sync my palm with it, that is to update, it only works in reverse ... where Palm gets only latest info from PC not true sync where palm may already be more updated. I had to go home and hotsync to get my palm back to correct figures. So I've told my office PC to simply ignore pocket quicken when syncing to palm. If these two areas could be addressed and stocks updated (as others have said), PC Quicken would really be useful. For now all it can do for me is allow me to download from my home PC to palm (after I've sat at the home PC and trugged out the data entry on the QUICKEN program). I'm still glad I bought it if only so I can know my current balances while on the go. Good idea but needs considerable improvement to be all it is potentially capable of.

Small font and poor customer support 2004-04-21
My install had a lot of hiccups and customer support was no help. They said they would let me know if there was an update available--never happened. I just donated it. I also didn't like the small font.

Pocket Quicken vs. Handmark's PocketMoney 2003-06-30
I have been a long-time user of Handmark's PocketMoney, and recently tried a 14-day trial of Pocket Quicken.

As you might expect, each program has it's strengths and weaknesses.

While PocketMoney has a nicer, icon-based account list, Pocket Quicken seems a little cluttered, with awkward rounded and square "buttons" to switch between account list and register. I also thought PocketMoney had a more natural method of entering data - more like Quicken.

So, if I like PocketMoney so well, why am I giving Pocket Quicken a 5-star rating? It all comes down to the conduits - how the information transfers between your desktop and PDA. Pocket Quicken wins, hands down. PocketMoney requires a manual export procedure, where you have to designate a particular file directory. It doesn't always work all that well, even if you are an experienced computer user. If you are a novice, well, it's just too much trouble.

Pocket Quicken's strengths more than make up for its weaknesses. It works so naturally with your desktop version of Quicken that every Hotsynch keeps both your PC and your PDA current. Compare the free trials of both versions, and I am convinced you will also come to the conclusion that Pocket Quicken is the best personal accounting software for your PDA.

Accounting Synergy! 2003-05-27
I am in awe of this product. It is used with a Palm Zire 71 and synchs with Quicken 2002 on a laptop using Windows ME. It performed so flawlessly after I downloaded and used the trial copy that I wasted no time ordering the full version (Amazon.com, of course). For its intended mobile purpose, I find no reason to fault this program.
Anyone requiring on-the-go data gathering with simple and accurate transfer would do well to try it.

Good product- reliable, convenient, integrates with desktop 2003-04-29
I've been a Quicken user for years, and Pocket Quicken on my Palm m125 has been a real help. I keep track of debit card purchases easily (and am beginning to record cash purchases as well). It synchs reliably and easily to my laptop. (I synch my Palm to 3 different hosts - laptop for my regular Quicken, home desktop for Documents-to-Go and work desktop for calendar and address books. The Palm synch program keeps all of this straight.)

One problem- on a split transaction, I can't add a memo.

Security- has password.

Pocket Quicken 2.0 2003-02-09
This product works great with the PC version of Quicken. Pocket Quicken has virtually replaced my checkbook register. I keep track of all of my accounts on the go. I am able to update my gasoline charge accounts, my purchases from my checking account, savings account transactions, credit card purchases, and changes to any other quicken account, as they happen. This is a great tool for maintaining financial control.