Every year I check out the latest editions of Microsoft Money Plus and Quicken to see what are the new features and if I have any inkling to buy (not yet so far). The description of Quicken 2009 on Amazon lists the standard new features…more banks, better interfaces, blah, blah. Same old stuff theve had fr the past 5 years. I also noted that there doesn’t seem to be a Quicken 2009 Mac version. Where’s the Mac love?
Searching at Amazon for Microsoft Money yielded versions from 2000 to 2008, but conspicuously no 2009 version. After a bit of research I discovered through a Microsoft post that:
“We [Microsoft] have decided against releasing a 2009 version of Money Plus. We are moving off of an annual release cycle for Microsoft Money Plus (no Money 2009 version in the fall), with future release dates TBD.”
Ouch! I read this as Money wasn’t profitable enough and is essentially dead. Not releasing a new version (even if they are correct the the yearly updates aren’t worth it) while Quicken keeps popping them out like bunnies will move the sales figures to Quicken. In 2011, which are you going to buy Quicken 2011 or Money 2008?
The only strategy I think Microsoft might have is to fully move online, maybe leveraging MSN Money. However, wouldn’t it make more sense to transition the customer base over by offering both a desktop version and an online version for at least a few years?
So I guess the battle is over…winner Quicken!
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