Menlo Park, California-based Intuit Inc has announced version 6.0 of its personal finance software for personal computers, MS-DOS Quicken. Enhanced data entry features include IntelliCharge, which automatically enters credit card charges into the Quicken register; automatic bill payment via modem and the CheckFree Electronic Payment Service; access to stock price data from Prodigy; and QuickFill data retrieval and import. Old transactions can be copied and pasted into new ones, fewer keystrokes are required to link data to TurboTax and a new single-line register enables three times as many transactions to be displayed on screen. A loan amortisation function handles fixed and variable rate loans, impound accounts, balloon payments and prepayments; there are 35 pre-set instant graphs for displaying information; and a pop up calendar. Financial planning tools show users how to reach certain financial goals and assess available options. And at the press of a key, a two-way QuickZoom provides an analysis of individual figures, and access to transactions for editing. If coping with all these enhancements proves too much, users can consult coaches that automatically pop up to describe new features or thumb through the improved reference manual provided. Field-specific help functions and alignment checks provide further assistance and the Install feature helps upgraders move existing Quicken data into new directories. The system runs under MS-DOS 2.0 up, needs 512Kb memory – 640Kb is required for IntelliCharge – and needs a graphics board for graphs. It costs $70. Upgrades are $35. Distributors include Ingram Micro, Meriel, Softkat, J B Marketing and Beamcope. Quicken is also available for Windows, Macintosh and Apple II systems with varying feature sets. Separately, Microsoft Corp has launched a $70 Money 2.0 personal finance software for Windows. This can also be used for tax, budget and loan analysis, for tracking transactions and creating budgets. Australian, Canada, France, German and British versions are to be released over the next few weeks, Microsoft says.
