Pocket Quicken 2.0

Your mobile Quicken companion lets you skip the monthly chore of receipt-typing by effortlessly capturing everyday transactions directly on your Palm OS handheld. Important account information, such as contact names and numbers, current and ending balances, as well as individual transactions, are automatically transferred from the desktop. Pocket Quicken is a true mobile companion to the Quicken desktop product and provides excellent connectivity via Palm's built-in HotSync technology. There is no double entry and you can always keep your accounts up-to-date. Transferring data is quick and hassle-free.

Pocket Quicken makes it easy to keep your finances organized. With a single tap of the HotSync button your Quicken categories and groups are transferred to the organizer. Use your Palm OS handheld to effortlessly capture checking, credit card, and cash transactions while you are on the go. Included are two of Quicken's most popular timesaving shortcuts: QuickFill and Memorized transactions. Combined, these features enable you to record day-to-day transactions with only two strokes of the stylus. Just start writing the payee's name and a new transaction is automatically created with all the details filled in.

As you might expect, each program has it's strengths and weaknesses.

While PocketMoney has a nicer, icon-based account list, Pocket Quicken seems a little cluttered, with awkward rounded and square "buttons" to switch between account list and register. I also thought PocketMoney had a more natural method of entering data - more like Quicken.

So, if I like PocketMoney so well, why am I giving Pocket Quicken a 5-star rating? It all comes down to the conduits - how the information transfers between your desktop and PDA. Pocket Quicken wins, hands down. PocketMoney requires a manual export procedure, where you have to designate a particular file directory. It doesn't always work all that well, even if you are an experienced computer user. If you are a novice, well, it's just too much trouble.

Pocket Quicken's strengths more than make up for its weaknesses. It works so naturally with your desktop version of Quicken that every Hotsynch keeps both your PC and your PDA current. Compare the free trials of both versions, and I am convinced you will also come to the conclusion that Pocket Quicken is the best personal accounting software for your PDA.


Huge improvements over previous versions   March 21, 2002
M. Hoffmeister (NY USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I didn't expect too much change when I purchased this newer version of the software. I simply had misplaced my original CD and had to re-order this new one. But I can say this investment was well worth it. Gone are the days where you had to configure this software in special way to even sync your accounts. It all is done now automatically for you. It lists all my accounts (or at least the ones I do not exclude), I believe in the older version it was limited to 10 or 12 accounts. Split transactions now can include another account, which didn't work before. The lack of the sync with budgets does not bothe me, because I never configured themmin Quicken anyway. The interface is a whole lot nicer as well. On the downside, it appears that syncronizing with the Palm takes now a little longer (but maybe that is because I can now see 3 months of my old transactions for every account directly on my Palm).