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Over the years, Intuit's QuickBooks has had its detractors in the Mac community, but with the release earlier this month of a new version of the accounting software, the company hopes it can win more hearts and minds in the Applesphere. QuickBooks 2010 improves on the "Mac-like feel" of its predecessors and has new features aimed at making small businesses more profitable, according to Intuit. One irritant in past editions of the program was the time it took new users to get up and running with the software.
QuickBooks for Mac clarifications
Posted by: QBWill 2009-10-20 09:33:44 In reply to: John P. Mello Jr.
CTinCT,
You are correct in stating that QuickBooks for Mac does not offer built-in payroll. However, I wanted to clarify that QuickBooks Payroll for Mac *does* integrate with QuickBooks for Mac, in that it exchanges data with QB for Mac. (It creates checks in QB for each run of payroll and enters payroll liabilities.) Many customers appreciate the fact that the QuickBooks Payroll for Mac is a web application, as it allows them to run payroll from their home or while on vacation.
jragosta, I am sorry to hear you are frustrated about Intuit's overall lineup of Mac offerings.
To address your QuickBooks concern, this is part of a larger limitation--inability for multiple users to access a company file at the same time. We are listening to our customers and are aware of the issue. Beginning with the 2009 version, QuickBooks for Mac integrates with Xsilva's Lightspeed Point of Sale. We have gotten very positive feedback from customers using this solution. Finally, it sounds like you may be speaking to the Quicken support forum. The QuickBooks for Mac forum (at community.intuit.com) has a vibrant community that is very proactive in helping fellow Mac users.
Best,
Will Lynes
Product Manager
QuickBooks for Mac
You are correct in stating that QuickBooks for Mac does not offer built-in payroll. However, I wanted to clarify that QuickBooks Payroll for Mac *does* integrate with QuickBooks for Mac, in that it exchanges data with QB for Mac. (It creates checks in QB for each run of payroll and enters payroll liabilities.) Many customers appreciate the fact that the QuickBooks Payroll for Mac is a web application, as it allows them to run payroll from their home or while on vacation.
jragosta, I am sorry to hear you are frustrated about Intuit's overall lineup of Mac offerings.
To address your QuickBooks concern, this is part of a larger limitation--inability for multiple users to access a company file at the same time. We are listening to our customers and are aware of the issue. Beginning with the 2009 version, QuickBooks for Mac integrates with Xsilva's Lightspeed Point of Sale. We have gotten very positive feedback from customers using this solution. Finally, it sounds like you may be speaking to the Quicken support forum. The QuickBooks for Mac forum (at community.intuit.com) has a vibrant community that is very proactive in helping fellow Mac users.
Best,
Will Lynes
Product Manager
QuickBooks for Mac
1) The upgrade price is a mere $20 less than the full price ($179 vs. $199)
2) After all these years Intuit has still not restored integrated payroll into Quickbooks For Mac. More than 15 years ago the product had such a critically-needed feature. Then the Mac version of the program was discontinued by Intuit. When it reappeared it no longer included any payroll features.
When Quickbooks did include payroll, a user could annually purchase for $40 an update file for the tax tables.
A cost benefit analysis argues that $179 for a fairly minor upgrade is not worth it. When Intuit resumes including payroll functions in some future version only then will an upgrade be needed.
2) After all these years Intuit has still not restored integrated payroll into Quickbooks For Mac. More than 15 years ago the product had such a critically-needed feature. Then the Mac version of the program was discontinued by Intuit. When it reappeared it no longer included any payroll features.
When Quickbooks did include payroll, a user could annually purchase for $40 an update file for the tax tables.
A cost benefit analysis argues that $179 for a fairly minor upgrade is not worth it. When Intuit resumes including payroll functions in some future version only then will an upgrade be needed.
I would strongly advise against buying ANYTHING from Intuit until they learn to write Mac apps. Just a few examples:
- Quicken Mac is badly crippled, missing many key functions that are in the Windows version, uses a completely different file format than the Windows version which makes sharing data almost impossible, and charges banks extra for Mac support so Mac users are often left out in the cold.
- QuickBooks. Doesn't network with a Windows Quickbooks system. Has anyone explained to Intuit that networking is a standard part of computers these days?
- Quickbooks Point of Sale. No Mac version. Probably not a bad thing because POS is an appropriate moniker for Point of Sale (we wanted to move the data file to a new server and were told that we had to delete POS from every workstation and reinstall it to simply move a data file. Or consider that it took 4 weekends to get it to work on a simple 5 user network).
If you go to Intuit's support forums, their disdain for Mac users is obvious. After dozens of Mac users tell them we want file compatibility for Quicken and equivalent functionality, their only response is "Mac users are different and don't need the functionality that Windows users need".
The entire mess was especially appalling because Intuit's CEO was on Apple's board for ages. He should have been kicked off years ago.
BOYCOTT INTUIT until they decide to write decent Mac software.
- Quicken Mac is badly crippled, missing many key functions that are in the Windows version, uses a completely different file format than the Windows version which makes sharing data almost impossible, and charges banks extra for Mac support so Mac users are often left out in the cold.
- QuickBooks. Doesn't network with a Windows Quickbooks system. Has anyone explained to Intuit that networking is a standard part of computers these days?
- Quickbooks Point of Sale. No Mac version. Probably not a bad thing because POS is an appropriate moniker for Point of Sale (we wanted to move the data file to a new server and were told that we had to delete POS from every workstation and reinstall it to simply move a data file. Or consider that it took 4 weekends to get it to work on a simple 5 user network).
If you go to Intuit's support forums, their disdain for Mac users is obvious. After dozens of Mac users tell them we want file compatibility for Quicken and equivalent functionality, their only response is "Mac users are different and don't need the functionality that Windows users need".
The entire mess was especially appalling because Intuit's CEO was on Apple's board for ages. He should have been kicked off years ago.
BOYCOTT INTUIT until they decide to write decent Mac software.
