Customer Rating: 
Summary: I need more than this!
Comment: I just bought this at Borders because I needed it this weekend, but I'll be taking it back. I've just ordered "The Missing Manual" from Amazon, instead. I, like some other reviewers, feel like it is trying to market its online services more than serve as a reference manual. I won't be using those services. Yet, when I have a question like, how do I retroactively enter paycheck information, there are no answers. It's basically trial and error. Hopefully The Missing Manual will be more helpful. I'll be reviewing that soon.
Customer Rating: Summary: Extensive Coverage
Comment: I thought the book was great. I normally buy Quicken softeware every two to three years, and the book on that particular software. My expereince is that both the software product, as well as the book have improved a lot over the years. The book is easy to read with numerous tips throughout. Also highlighted are the changes over the previous year.
Great reference book.
Customer Rating: Summary: What's what!!!
Comment: I would like to see accounts, categories, recordings, reconciling, cash flow,... performed first, and then online banking and investing as an options at the end of the book. After all, I bought Quicken as tool to setup accounts, cash flow, debt, and property.... I can look into online banking and investing when all else satisfactory. This book doesn't do this in that order. I think it trying to promote online banking and investing. I been following these quicken books for years and they all seem to promote online banking and investing, and not why I bought Quicken. I want to setup my accounts first and maybe use online banking and maybe invest.
Customer Rating: Summary: Frustrating
Comment: I read "Quicken 2008 The Official Guide" which I found to be wordy and help menu English (this is what you do, but no why do you do it information). I tell you more about using Quicken at tax time in Chapter 19, as discussed in Chapter 2 and other frequent and lengthy phrases that gave me the impression that the author was being paid by the word rather than teaching me the subject. I ordered this book and "Quicken 2008 The Missing Manual" as a package and the missing manual came a month later. I am glad it did because I would not have read "The Official Guide" if I would have started reading "The Missing Manual"
Customer Rating: Summary: Handy Product Guide
Comment: This is a great reference guide for Quicken. I am a long time user and always buy Maria's book to see what the latest edition of Quicken has to offer. I don't agree with some of the other reviews. She does cover all of the major features, including the five financial centers, how to enter information and what is new and what's changed. The book is designed to either be read cover to cover or you can just read a chapter that interests you. If you are deciding how much data to track, Maria does offer some suggestions for how to use Quicken to meet your goals. If you have the Deluxe or Premiere editions of Quicken, you also have the handy household inventory and emergency records organizers that she covers as well. She also covers how to customize the toolbars, make backup copies and cutomize personal views. The book does cover a lot of info in Quicken and is a great reference tool. Well worth the price.
