This isn't directly pertaining to automotive or F-Bodies, but I know some of you are also running a small business and this info about QuickBooks Pro may be helpful. I've been using QB Pro 2001 since I started my business last year. I've been sent prompts from Intuit to download their latest version of the software by e-mail before and done so without any problems. If you are prompted to download to a new version now I caution you AGAINST doing it.
A couple of days ago I downloaded the latest version. Now I have a big problem. As some of you know that are customers of mine. I e-mail a copy of your invoice to you as well as include a hard copy with the order. This was one of the reasons why I chose QB Pro over the standard QB in the beginning. Now when I try to e-mail an invoice the software dumps me into their QuickBooks Business Services Online Billing site. If you accept their terms you'll get charged for the service on a monthly basis (undisclosed fees). So now I have to pay for a feature that was previously free? I don't think so. I'm calling QuickBooks on Monday to have them walk me through re-installing my old version of the software. I just hope I won't lose any data in doing so.
I just wanted to prevent someone else from having the headaches I'm going through. Maybe if enough of us rail against this policy they will change their thinking? I need to warn my accountant on Monday about this also. This only affects you if you e-mail your invoices to your customers. I have a work-around of converting it to a pdf and sending it if I have to, but I'd prefer not doing so.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

Is this another Microsoft program, or is someone else trying to copy Microsoft's rip off practices?

 

QuickBooks is a very popular accounting software package made by a company called Intuit. They had warned me a while back that they were no longer going to support e-mailing the invoices. I have a work-around, to print the invoice to a pdf file, then attach it to an e-mail to my customer. But it is a lot more cumbersome to do it that way.

I had a bad feeling about upgrading the software this time for some reason. Now I know why. Monday their tech support will hear from me. Problem is, as I recall if you want quick tech support you have to pay for it. Does this sound familiar?

Lon

 

When you upgraded, wasn't there an option to back-up your old version, in case you had problems with the new one and wanted to go back...?
If that is the case, you should be able to go back fairly easily.
However, they were probably 'clever' enough to not include that in this upgrade, since they were going to change stuff and start charging?

 

I'm sure you've experienced this before. A screen pops up saying a new version of the XYZ software you are using is available for download. Two buttons, "download now" or "decline". It popped up 3 times annoying the heck out of me. For some reason I was reluctant to upgrade to the new version. It would be nice if clicking on the button leads you to a web page that compares the version you are using to the new one. As you wrote, it would also be nice if you could easily revert to the old version. I'm just hoping I haven't saved my data to the floppy since I upgraded versions. Fingers crossed that I can load the old version or revert to it.

Lon

 

OK ranting and raving over. I contacted QB tech support. Here's the story. All I have to do is "Accept" the terms of the agreement. The basic e-mail continues to be free. No change there. They have deluxe features and a free 45 day trial to try them out. I don't need or care to. So, bottom-line for now I'm good to go. They did warn me that they "Sunset" older versions of the software (as does every software company). As of next year they no longer support the QB 1999. I have QB 2001 (they incorrectly showed me as having QB 2000, but they verified my reg# as being QB 2001. I'm still good for a few years more at least.

Lon