Open Letter to Intuit
Joe Ragosta
Dear Intuit:
I have been a loyal user of Quicken and MacinTax for 8 years. I have been
happy with your products and have recommended them to friends.
Your decision to cancel Quicken for the Mac has cost you a customer. Just
to make it clear what it has cost you, you will no longer be selling me a
copy of :
Quicken for Macintosh
Quicken for Windows (yes, I have both)
MacinTax
You may see only Quicken for Macintosh sales, but like many Mac users, I
only buy cross-platform solutions. So, you'll be losing three software
sales instead of the one sale you think you're losing (not counting the
friends who I will no longer recommend Intuit to). If you decide to
reconsider your decision, I'll be happy to reconsider mine.
--
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
http://www.dol.net/~Ragosta/complmac.htm
DC
Amen, brother. Funny.....Intuit's CEO is on Apple's BOD.....
Bill Altenberger
I know what you mean(sigh)! However, my spin on the subject is that
I would love to see Intuit's tax division go out of business altogether.
Imagine what a flat tax would do to that division..
Bill
In article <joe.ragosta-17...@wil69.dol.net>,
Tony Minkoff
This really sucks. I'm surprised that sales are so poor. Just about
everybody I know who owns a Mac owns Quicken.
It seems to me to be pretty devastating that such a key application would
be discontinued. Imagine if Microsoft Office or Photoshop were
discontinued for the Macintosh. This can't be good for encouraging people
to buy Macs.
More disturbingly, it's an apparent vote of no-confidence from a man who
sits on Apple's board of directors (Bill Campbell). Ouch again.
--
Tony Minkoff
tmin...@cts.com
anthony...@ccmail.mitchell.com
Benjamin Smith
On Fri, Apr 17, 1998 11:04 PM, Tony Minkoff <mailto:tmin...@cts.com>
wrote:
>This really sucks. I'm surprised that sales are so poor. Just about
>everybody I know who owns a Mac owns Quicken.
>
Tired of upgrading. Quicken 98 is not that much different than Quicken 97.
It was a big difference from Quicken 96, however. Maybe Quicken 99, if it
offered some real compelling differences, rather than a few features and
more web stuff that the customer does not care for as much as Intuit may
think the customer cares for, Mac users may want to upgrade.
Ben S.
Fred
In article <B15D88E...@209.109.224.197>, be...@ix.netcom.com says...
Good rationalization. Reality is that there aren't enough Macs anymore
that can keep companies in business. Joe screamed and ranted that no major
companies were leaving Macs, well here's the start of the slide..
Brad Hutchings
Joe,
I agree with you. Shocked? Someone told me they put Quicken for MacOS into
maintenance mode. Anyone know if that's true?
Brad
<mailto: "Brad Hutchings" br...@hutchings-software.com>
<http://www.hutchings-software.com>
Got OpenDoc? Got Cyberdog? Then try Rapid-I Button. Tried it? Then buy it!
Point your Cyberdog to the Hutchings Software web site.
Lance Togar
Joe Ragosta wrote in message ...
>Dear Intuit:
..
<SNIP, I'm not buyin' your stuff anymore!!>
..
I'm sure this'll have a major effect after they've seen your spin enhanced
opinion of this issue... ooops, non-issue:
..
> dvd...@aol.com (E) wrote:
>
> > Quicken drops Mac claiming low sales.
>
> On the other hand, they are still making MacInTax, citing very strong
sales.
>
> In other words, Quicken isn't that compelling a product, and all of the
> Mac folks who bought it over the last few years aren't upgrading to newer
> versions.
>Joe Ragosta writes:
>That was the case for me. Quicken is happy to release a new >version every
>year. I find that buying about every 3rd version was sufficient.
..
..
Gregory Loren Hansen
In article <joe.ragosta-17...@wil69.dol.net>,
Joe Ragosta <joe.r...@dol.net> wrote:
>Dear Intuit:
>
>I have been a loyal user of Quicken and MacinTax for 8 years. I have been
>happy with your products and have recommended them to friends.
I'm curious about these open letters I see now and then. Is it just
posted to us, is it also e-mailed to the company, or did you lick a stamp
and drop it in the mail?
The latter, of course, is the most effective of the three.
(I'm not aiming at you in particular, Joe. I'm curious about the "open
letter" phenomenon. By the way, I thought it was a concise and effective
letter.)
--
Stay alert! Trust no one! Keep your laser handy! The Computer is
your Friend!
Richard Dean
Below is an email I got as an Intuit beta tester. Note that they seem to
be saying Mac users can now look forward (ack!) to using quicken.com for
their financial needs (not!).
If quicken sales have been down its probably because lots of folks, like
many of my friends and colleagues, can't figure out wy they should
upgrade. Q5 works just fine for my mom and dad... my brother and his wife
use Q6... why pay the price when the old one does what you need. I lay
part of the blame on Intuit... but I did love using Quicken, even if I
didn't use all of the features they shoved in.
And now there are none... :(
>From: be...@intuit.com
>X-Sender: beta...@popd.ix.netcom.com
>Date: Sun, 17 Dec 1995 23:45:12 -0700 <-- their mailer problem, not mine
>To:
>Subject: Quicken for Macintosh
>
>
>
> April 17, 1998
>
>Dear:
>
>I' m writing to inform you of a difficult decision we've made here at Intuit:
>
>This fall, we will not be releasing a new version of Quicken for Macintosh
>as we have in years past. Instead of developing another desktop release
>for Macintosh, we've decided to assign our Macintosh development resources
>to the important task of implementing expanded personal finance
>capabilities on the Web, providing significant new benefits on Quicken.com
>to all our valued Intuit customers.
>
>The Mac community has been so quick to pioneer the Internet, and in the
>forefront of so many of its developments, that we feel confident the
>majority of our Quicken for Macintosh customers will appreciate this new
>path in Quicken's evolution. As you know, Quicken 98 already works with
>your Web browser to access remarkable new features and enhanced
>functionality at Quicken.com.
>
>This decision has not been an easy one, and we apologize in advance for any
>inconvenience it may cause. I'm confident, however, that this business
>decision will enable us to better serve all our customers - including Mac
>users - with innovative enhancements to our products and services. This
>decision does not impact our current technical support options for our
>Quicken for Macintosh customers. Moreover, our Tax Group is already at
>work developing next year's desktop version of MacInTax.
>
>We wanted to inform you personally of this decision because we appreciate
>the energy and commitment that you have demonstrated to help us deliver
>Quicken 98. We believe that the Quicken 98 product is the most powerful
>release of Quicken we've ever offered. In fact, we currently plan to
>continue to sell it in the stores and through our direct sales department
>so that previous version Quicken Mac users can benefit from its advanced
>features. There will be many opportunities in the future for you to
>continue to be a part of Intuit's beta testing process; we hope that you
>will continue to contribute.
>
>We value the contributions of Mac users to the development of Quicken,
>especially those of our beta testers, and we're committed to a continuing
>relationship with the Macintosh community. We appreciate your support and
>input, and look forward to continuing our dialog with you in the years to
>come.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Mark Goines
>Sr. Vice President and GM, Consumer Division
--
remove PAS-DE-SPAM to reply
Joe Ragosta
Bullshit. Please stop with the lies.
I stated that the number of companies leaving the Mac was not greater than
the number adding Mac apps. I NEVER stated that no companies were dropping
Mac support. That's a typical strawman argument that losers like you use
when you don't have any real arguments.
--
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
See the Complete Macintosh Advocacy Page
http://www.dol.net/~Ragosta/complmac.htm
Joe Ragosta
In article <6h9c4d$26o$1...@flotsam.uits.indiana.edu>,
glha...@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Gregory Loren Hansen) wrote:
> In article <joe.ragosta-17...@wil69.dol.net>,
> Joe Ragosta <joe.r...@dol.net> wrote:
> >Dear Intuit:
> >
> >I have been a loyal user of Quicken and MacinTax for 8 years. I have been
> >happy with your products and have recommended them to friends.
>
> I'm curious about these open letters I see now and then. Is it just
> posted to us, is it also e-mailed to the company, or did you lick a stamp
> and drop it in the mail?
>
> The latter, of course, is the most effective of the three.
>
> (I'm not aiming at you in particular, Joe. I'm curious about the "open
> letter" phenomenon. By the way, I thought it was a concise and effective
> letter.)
I sent an e-mail.
I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
off Apple's board.
M Rassbach
Tony Minkoff wrote:
> This really sucks. I'm surprised that sales are so poor. Just about
> everybody I know who owns a Mac owns Quicken.
Perhaps because it's about the only package of it's type?
Yet, on the PC there are 3-4 alternatives to Quicken. Ahhh the advantages of
owning a niche Computer eh?
M Rassbach
Joe, products get cancelled all the time. I'm sure supporting the niche
market of Apple was no longer profitable for Intuit.
And, to remain profitable, I'm sure they had to cut non-essential products.
And, well Joe, you are using a non-essential product to them.
Joe Ragosta wrote:
> Dear Intuit:
>
> I have been a loyal user of Quicken and MacinTax for 8 years. I have been
> happy with your products and have recommended them to friends.
>
> Your decision to cancel Quicken for the Mac has cost you a customer. Just
> to make it clear what it has cost you, you will no longer be selling me a
> copy of :
>
> Quicken for Macintosh
> Quicken for Windows (yes, I have both)
> MacinTax
>
> You may see only Quicken for Macintosh sales, but like many Mac users, I
> only buy cross-platform solutions. So, you'll be losing three software
> sales instead of the one sale you think you're losing (not counting the
> friends who I will no longer recommend Intuit to). If you decide to
> reconsider your decision, I'll be happy to reconsider mine.
>
NeXT Newbie
> I stated that the number of companies leaving the Mac was not greater
than
> the number adding Mac apps. I NEVER stated that no companies were
dropping
> Mac support. That's a typical strawman argument that losers like you use
> when you don't have any real arguments.
Ok Joey, spin this: People with macs are leaving for the pcworld because
specific software is not available for the mac but is for the pc. How does
new software coming out that many people dont care about help the fact that
software people do WANT isnt available, and thus people who hates windblows
STILL switch to the winblows?
If people STILL switch to winblows because they need the software AND they
detest winblows and love the mac, this is a preety sad picture and shows
the software problem is a HUGE problem and isnt mitigated by your well I
looked in macweek and blah blah blah.
Ted King
In article <joe.ragosta-18...@elk82.dol.net>,
joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
>
> I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
> Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
> off Apple's board.
>
Admitting that I don't know the exegesis of programming, I still can't help
but wonder if the costs of porting Quicken to Macs is really higher than
the profit received from doing so. If an analysis lead the CEO of Intuit to
approve such a move, then one would think he would have the sense to remove
himself from Apple's board of directors, acknowledging the somewhat
detrimental effect his decision as CEO of Intuit is having on Apple. If he
uses his common sense, no kicking should be required. (A cynical
speculation - maybe he wants to hang around long enough to pick up some
more money on stock options since Apple's stock is has been on a upward
trend lately.)
Ted King
Jason S.
Joe Ragosta wrote:
>I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
>Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
>off Apple's board.
Isn't that up to the shareholders?
--
If FreeBSD actually did that, I would concede that FreeBSD was any more
"correct" than Linux is, but not even the FreeBSD people can justify
that kind of performance loss.
-- Linus Torvalds on comp.unix.advocacy
Eric Bennett
In article <davking-ya0230800...@news.lodinet.com>,
dav...@lodinet.com (Ted King) wrote:
> Admitting that I don't know the exegesis of programming, I still can't help
> but wonder if the costs of porting Quicken to Macs is really higher than
> the profit received from doing so.
That's not really relevant. What matters is whether Intuit thinks it can
make *more* profits by using the Mac Quicken resources on something else.
Obviously they do.
--
Eric Bennett (www.pobox.com/~ericb)
Cornell University Biochemistry Department
Lawson English
Jason S. <ja...@jhste1.dyn.ml.org> said:
> Joe Ragosta wrote:
>
> >I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
> >Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
> >off Apple's board.
>
> Isn't that up to the shareholders?
>
Not this year. Apple's board of directors is elected 1/3 per meeting. Even
though all-but-one of the BoD have never been approved by Apple
stockholders, only 3 of them are up for "re"-election this meeting. And not
the guy from Intuit, as I recall.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Want Apple to license Cyberdog for third-party development? Go to:
<http://www.pcsincnet.com/petition.html>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Ragosta
> Joe, products get cancelled all the time. I'm sure supporting the niche
> market of Apple was no longer profitable for Intuit.
>
> And, to remain profitable, I'm sure they had to cut non-essential products.
> And, well Joe, you are using a non-essential product to them.
I don't have any problem with that.
I was just pointing out that they were counting me as only a single sale
(Mac Quicken) when in fact, I was three sales. They're going to lose all
three.
Joe Ragosta
Comments to Intuit can be sent to:
or
Telephone their customer service number at 1-800-446-8848 (U.S.
only; overseas is 1-520-295-3406) and complian.
or
Send a *snail mail* letter (nothing works like a barrel of real
letters!) to
Intuit, Inc.
Customer Suggestions
2650 East Elvira Rd. Suite 100
Tuscon AZ 85706-7180
Joe Ragosta
Mac Requests, constantly fighting for Mac products, has just opened a
petition for the now-defunct Quicken for Mac OS. Following the April 17
announcement by Intuit that Quicken development for the Mac would be
dissolved, we have decided to counterattack with this petition. We hope
to prove to Intuit that Mac users need this product, and we will not go
down without a fight. Who knows, we might even change their minds about
this whole decision. If you rely on Quicken as a valuable piece of
Macintosh software, sign you name on our petition.
Mac Requests is also petitioning for six other titles: Final Fantasy VII,
Jedi Knight, Uprising, Ultima Online, QuickBooks and NaturallySpeaking.
These petitions will be closing soon, so if you haven't signed up yet,
you better do so now.
Head directly to the Petition Center:
<http://mac.prohosting.com/petition.html>
Mac Requests Home Page: <http://mac.prohosting.com>
Joe Ragosta
In article <01bd6b27$6c04ea80$1bf0bfa8@davidsul>, "NeXT Newbie"
<mac...@concentric.net> wrote:
Nice try.
People make decisions for all sorts of reasons--most of them based on
perception rather than reality. There are a lot of people running around
saying that Mac application support is dropping, so that's the perception.
I'm not disagreeing that the _perception_ is that there isn't enough
software.
My point is that the facts don't support this. If you have any evidence to
the contrary, please feel free to provide it. That would be evidence
saying that the total number of Mac developers is falling. You've never
provided it, nor has anyone else.
NeXT Newbie
Dont even waste your time, the cyberdog users have petitioned like heck
and look where it didnt get them. Anywhere.
They put a bullet through its head, get over it.
NeXT Newbie
> > Ok Joey, spin this: People with macs are leaving for the pcworld
because
> > specific software is not available for the mac but is for the pc. How
does
> > new software coming out that many people dont care about help the fact
that
> > software people do WANT isnt available, and thus people who hates
windblows
> > STILL switch to the winblows?
> >
> > If people STILL switch to winblows because they need the software AND
they
> > detest winblows and love the mac, this is a preety sad picture and
shows
> > the software problem is a HUGE problem and isnt mitigated by your well
I
> > looked in macweek and blah blah blah.
>
> Nice try.
>
> People make decisions for all sorts of reasons--most of them based on
> perception rather than reality. There are a lot of people running around
> saying that Mac application support is dropping, so that's the
perception.
> I'm not disagreeing that the _perception_ is that there isn't enough
> software.
And you are wrong, the fact is their ISNT enough software. Even if it
turned out their was MORE software out for the mac than the pc, their still
wouldnt be enough software.
Why? Because EVERY DAY mac users switch to pcs because the mac lacks SOME
PARTICULIAR software that they want.
I could care less if it turned out their is 1000 more mac titles than pc
titles. Quickbooks isnt out for the mac. Soon quicken wont be out for the
mac. Quake 2 isnt out for the mac. Diablo isnt out for the mac, on and
on....
And your agendized response to this is to offer a strawman. Get peoples
attention AWAY from the fact that people every day are switching because
particuliar titles arent on the mac, and instead focus that more mac titles
are coming out than are disapearing. BFD.
Tony Minkoff
In article <joe.ragosta-19...@elk45.dol.net>,
joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
> In article <01bd6b27$6c04ea80$1bf0bfa8@davidsul>, "NeXT Newbie"
> <mac...@concentric.net> wrote:
> >
> > If people STILL switch to winblows because they need the software AND they
> > detest winblows and love the mac, this is a preety sad picture and shows
> > the software problem is a HUGE problem and isnt mitigated by your well I
> > looked in macweek and blah blah blah.
>
> Nice try.
>
> People make decisions for all sorts of reasons--most of them based on
> perception rather than reality. There are a lot of people running around
> saying that Mac application support is dropping, so that's the perception.
> I'm not disagreeing that the _perception_ is that there isn't enough
> software.
>
> My point is that the facts don't support this.
As of a couple of days ago, I'd say the facts *do* support it. Quicken is
one of the most popular applications for home users. Furthermore, it's a
popular application without a lot of real quality alternatives. (I.e., if
Microsoft were to stop making Word for the Macintosh, that would be
annoying, but at least there are other quality word processors available.
Four years from now, if Quicken for Macintosh doesn't resume development,
the then-four-year-old Quicken 98 may still be the best home accounting
software available.)
> If you have any evidence to
> the contrary, please feel free to provide it. That would be evidence
> saying that the total number of Mac developers is falling.
As you have often pointed out yourself, Joe, the *total number* of Mac
developers isn't what matters. (If it is, the Mac is in a sad state,
because the total number of Mac developers is far below the total number
of Windows developers.) What matters is the ability of users to get the
software they want/need. For home users, this may consist of word
processing, personal accounting software, internet client tools (e-mail
clients, web browsers, news readers, etc.) and games. For small business
owners, this may consist of office software, small business accounting
software, intenet use tools, maybe some web-design tools or low-end server
software. (These lists are not meant to be exhaustive; just examples.)
Quicken and QuickBooks are very important, and their loss is devastating.
Allen Ethridge
>Admitting that I don't know the exegesis of programming, I still can't help
>but wonder if the costs of porting Quicken to Macs is really higher than
>the profit received from doing so. If an analysis lead the CEO of Intuit to
>approve such a move, then one would think he would have the sense to remove
>himself from Apple's board of directors, acknowledging the somewhat
>detrimental effect his decision as CEO of Intuit is having on Apple. If he
>uses his common sense, no kicking should be required. (A cynical
>speculation - maybe he wants to hang around long enough to pick up some
>more money on stock options since Apple's stock is has been on a upward
>trend lately.)
The worst Intuit's CEO can be accused of is jumping the gun. Eliminating
Quicken on the Mac in favor of quicken.com is entirely consistent with
Apple's long term strategy of eliminating desktop computers in favor of
NCs. I imagine that Intuit's CEO will receive, at the very least, a pat
on the back from Steve.
Allen
(if I repeat it often enough you will believe and then it will
become true)
Allen Ethridge
In article <richdean-180...@mg131-007.ricochet.net>,
rich...@PAS-DE-SPAM.clark.net (Richard Dean) wrote:
>Below is an email I got as an Intuit beta tester. Note that they seem to
>be saying Mac users can now look forward (ack!) to using quicken.com for
>their financial needs (not!).
It's like this. Steve Jobs vision of the next great thing doesn't include
desktop computers. All computers are either servers or NCs. NCs are
basically just really smart terminals (first came the 3278, then the
X-terminal and now the MacNC). With NCs, corporations own the applications
and your data. You just download the data and rent the appllication
temporarily. And if Steve is right, Intuit gets a head start on owning
Macintosh users' data by cancelling Quicken for the Mac and encouraging
quicken.com. And if Steve is wrong Intuit still has the Windows market,
and the Mac desktop machine will be gone anyway.
Personally, I think Intuit's CEO is making a smart move. He wins either
way. And I think Steve Jobs vision is rather poor. But if Steve is
right, well, the idea of big corporations owning my data is enough to
scare me completely away from computers.
Allen
(the above is speculation. I can't read Steve Jobs' mind.)
Allen Ethridge
In article <joe.ragosta-18...@elk82.dol.net>,
joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
>I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
>Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
>off Apple's board.
As I just said in another post, Intuit's CEO is just following Steve Jobs'
lead - NCs are the future, not desktop PCs. Or so Steve hopes.
Allen
Joe Ragosta
In article <ethridge-190...@ppp16-52.dllstx.onramp.net>,
ethr...@onramp.net (Allen Ethridge) wrote:
> Personally, I think Intuit's CEO is making a smart move. He wins either
> way.
I don't see it. He's just lost all of his Mac Quicken customers PLUS some
of the MacInTax customers and some Windows Quicken customers.
M Rassbach
Allen Ethridge wrote:
> In article <joe.ragosta-18...@elk82.dol.net>,
> joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
>
> >I also sent an e-mail to leade...@apple.com. If they can't convince
> >Intuit to keep doing Mac stuff, they ought to at least kick Intuit's CEO
> >off Apple's board.
Rather childish reaction there Joe. The Intuit CEO is demonstrating
leadership, and that's why he's on the Apple board.
> As I just said in another post, Intuit's CEO is just following Steve Jobs'
> lead - NCs are the future, not desktop PCs. Or so Steve hopes.
Apple's Mac is a niche product on the desktop, so they are trying not to be a
niche player in a different market catagory.
Mark Borok
In article <tminkoff-190...@putc5198019.cts.com>,
tmin...@cts.com (Tony Minkoff) wrote:
What matters is the ability of users to get the
> software they want/need. For home users, this may consist of word
> processing, personal accounting software, internet client tools (e-mail
> clients, web browsers, news readers, etc.) and games. For small business
> owners, this may consist of office software, small business accounting
> software, intenet use tools, maybe some web-design tools or low-end server
> software. (These lists are not meant to be exhaustive; just examples.)
> Quicken and QuickBooks are very important, and their loss is devastating.
I just read the article in question, and so far no one here has pointed
out that Intuit is maintaining MacInTax because sales of that have
actually been RISING.
So do we take that to mean that there are fewer or more Mac users? Or that
Quicken is already so mature and feature-rich that people see not reason
to upgrade? What are their sales like on the Windows side? I personally
don't use financial software, so this is all mysterious to me.
--Mark
> --
> Tony Minkoff
> tmin...@cts.com
> anthony...@ccmail.mitchell.com
--
Mark Borok
"Restless Graphics"
Animation and multimedia design
http://www.mindspring.com/~mborok
Remove "spamless" from email address to respond
Tony Minkoff
In article <joe.ragosta-19...@elk50.dol.net>,
joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
> In article <ethridge-190...@ppp16-52.dllstx.onramp.net>,
> ethr...@onramp.net (Allen Ethridge) wrote:
>
> > Personally, I think Intuit's CEO is making a smart move. He wins either
> > way.
>
> I don't see it. He's just lost all of his Mac Quicken customers PLUS some
> of the MacInTax customers and some Windows Quicken customers.
Joe, while *you* may be a Windows Quicken customer who would have
purchased the next version of Quicken for Windows but now won't because
you're pissed at Intuit for dropping Quicken for Macintosh, I imagine that
people like you number somewhere in the hundreds. How many people
regularly buy updates for both Windows and Macintosh versions of Quicken?
And of those, how many are so loyal to the Macintosh that they'll actually
boycott the Windows version to spite Intuit for halting development on the
Macintosh version? Any money that Intuit loses to that phenomenon will be
lost in the statistical noise.
Joe Ragosta
In article <tminkoff-190...@putc5198049.cts.com>,
tmin...@cts.com (Tony Minkoff) wrote:
> In article <joe.ragosta-19...@elk50.dol.net>,
> joe.r...@dol.net (Joe Ragosta) wrote:
>
> > In article <ethridge-190...@ppp16-52.dllstx.onramp.net>,
> > ethr...@onramp.net (Allen Ethridge) wrote:
> >
> > > Personally, I think Intuit's CEO is making a smart move. He wins either
> > > way.
> >
> > I don't see it. He's just lost all of his Mac Quicken customers PLUS some
> > of the MacInTax customers and some Windows Quicken customers.
>
> Joe, while *you* may be a Windows Quicken customer who would have
> purchased the next version of Quicken for Windows but now won't because
> you're pissed at Intuit for dropping Quicken for Macintosh, I imagine that
> people like you number somewhere in the hundreds. How many people
> regularly buy updates for both Windows and Macintosh versions of Quicken?
> And of those, how many are so loyal to the Macintosh that they'll actually
> boycott the Windows version to spite Intuit for halting development on the
> Macintosh version?
Perhaps. But the number is greater than zero and probably significant.
Regardless, if all the people who feel the way I do were to write letters
to Intuit, perhaps they would be able to factor some real numbers into
their calculations.
Trevor Zion Bauknight
> Perhaps because it's about the only package of it's type?
>
> Yet, on the PC there are 3-4 alternatives to Quicken. Ahhh the advantages of
> owning a niche Computer eh?
There's M.Y.O.B., but that's probably overkill for balancing your
checkbook. Then again, it seems to me that turning on a computer to
balance your checkbook is overkill. If you need all the advanced
budgeting, etc., then maybe you do need Excel or M.Y.O.B. Anyway, if they
keep *selling* the current Quicken, what could it possibly cost them in
comparison to the profit? Some products simply don't need to be upgraded
every year...the last time I saw an upgrade, it appeared to be quite a lot
of fluff on top of a good foundation.
It doesn't look good, but with Campbell on the Board, I can't help but
think that Something Is Up regarding Apple announcements in the near
term. Might be good. I know Allen has been harping about NCs for about
twenty postings now...I do see that as the future in corporate
environments where having hundreds of networked desktop PCs, each needing
separate app installations and support, is wasteful in the extreme. The
home market isn't going that direction for quite a while, if ever. The
bandwidth is currently the big issue...that and the fact that people don't
want to rent apps and store their data where it might be compromised
(though the Stanford example doesn't speak well of local backup
practices).
The web is going to be the medium of choice for certain things...perfect
for banking and things like that which Intuit provides at Quicken.com. I
don't trust NationsBank to provide *any* Mac software, let alone *good*
Mac software, so I'd just as soon see them serve online bankers securely
through the web.
But there is still a whole range of applications which will never be
converted to NC format, and plenty of people at home and in small business
use those things: content creation, engineering, audio/video production,
etc...
Trev
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