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QUICKBOOKS PRO 2008 SOFTWARE REVIEW

Classic Kitchens & Baths is not in the business of tracking expenditures and compiling tax information, so when owner Steven Strano discovered Intuit QuickBooks' easy-to-use accounting software, he was delighted to realize he could spend more time designing and building clients’ kitchens and bathrooms instead of tracking cancelled checks and 1099 forms.

"With the Check Reconcile feature I save a lot of time vs. looking through bank statements and cancelled checks," said Strano, president of the Littleton, Massachusetts-based firm. "Now I have perfect bookkeeping. I print checks that look much better and more professional. I can also print 1099 forms, which saves time."

Strano was using Microsoft Excel and OneWrite before he bought QuickBooks Pro 2008. He also looked at Microsoft Money and PeachTree but decided on QuickBooks software after concluding that "it [was] the best deal out of all the ones I checked."

Despite the software's wealth of capabilities, Strano was up and running within a few hours, helped by QuickBooks' built-in video guides, he said. Classic Kitchens & Baths does not use the software’s inventory feature, and Strano found the customer delete feature to be "a little strange."

Overall, Strano rated QuickBooks 2008 Pro a perfect 10 out of 10.

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
 
How long have you been using this tool?
 
Where did you obtain it?
 
How much did you pay?
 
How are you using this product?
 
Why did you pick this product?
 
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made    this product better)?
 
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
 
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
 
Can you estimate how much time or money you have saved or other measurable benefits your firm has realized    using this tool?
 
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
 
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
 
What would you change about the product if you could?
 
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
 
Who would you recommend use this tool?
 
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
 
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
 
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
 
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
 
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
 
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
Classic Kitchens & Baths specializes in building kitchens and bathrooms, including windows, doors, tiles and hardwood floors.

How long have you been using this tool?
I've been using QuickBooks Pro 2008 for about 90 days. Before that, I used Microsoft Excel and OneWrite.

Where did you obtain it?
I bought it on eBay.

How much did you pay?
It was $125.

How are you using this product?
I am using QuickBooks software for invoicing, check printing and preparing tax reports.

Why did you pick this product?
It was better than other software I considered.

Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?
I looked at Microsoft Money and PeachTree accounting software, but this was easier to use.

Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
Now I have perfect bookkeeping. I print checks that look much better and more professional. I can also print 1099 forms, which saves time.

Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
QuickBooks software will really help when I write my tax report for 2008. My financials will be organized and much easier to compile correctly.

Can you estimate how much time or money you have saved or other measurable benefits your firm has realized using this tool?
With the Check Reconcile feature I save a lot of time, vs. looking through bank statements and cancelled checks.

What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
I really appreciate the software's check-writing, invoicing, estimates and tax reports features.

Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
Yes, for sure. I think it's the best deal of all the ones I checked out.

What would you change about the product if you could?
The Customer Delete feature is a little strange.

Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
I don't use the inventory feature because I don't need it.

Who would you recommend use this tool?
I think any business would be wise to use QuickBooks software. I think it's great.

How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
Not much experience is needed, especially since built-in videos explain how to use it.

Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
No, I was up and running in only a couple of hours.

Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
No, it was so easy. I did have to call support for a product registration number, though, and they were helpful.

How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
I would rate it a 10.

When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
No, I think this should be fine for a while. It offers more features than I should ever need.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
10. I think this is the best system out there.