More on Microsoft's new Accounting package

Any guess as to the price range?

If you go to that website, they talked about $200 range for entry level.

Laura wrote:

After being shafted for years by QuickBooks I'm ready.

I'm not very keen on the outsourced, online, payroll. I'm also a bit wary in general of using an Office-like product for bookkeeping. I've been an Office user since at least '97 and I prefer it to other office suites. However, it seems to me that its getting buggier as the years go on. I upgraded to 2003 and it was all I could do not to revert back to 2001. Will SBA be as prone to the Office weirdness?

Yes it probably will be weird like the Office Suite - it's going to integrate with it.

I don't think I'd care if they outsource the payroll, but I did find it a little problem that there is NO basic payroll included in it. You must use ADP if you want payroll in it. That I think might be a pitfall for them and I told them that in an email. Of course - they didn't reply and I see they didn't give it much consideration.

Another choice I think is welcomed since QB & Peach really are the only choices.

Ten licenses for $299 for in-house use (including development, training, and production). In addition you get ten licenses for Windows XP, Office, Publisher, etc. plus everything from Microsoft Notes to Small Business Server. The CMA (Customer Management) package takes FIVE CDs to install, SQL Server a like amout. You can use all this stuff, you just can't re-sell it. On our initial shipment (shipments come 4 times per year), I estimated there was $35,000 (at retail) worth of software in the box.

Check the Micros~1 Partner program.

I will be attending the 2005 New Jersey Accounting, Business & Technology Show, May 17-18. I will report back my findings. The boys and girls from Intuit as well as Best Software (Peachtree, and Accpac) will be there also. Should be very interesting.

For what.? If you recall your history, it was the guys from Microsoft that invented the term BOGU.

In any event I'm normally a MS fanboy but that embarrassing display on MTV the other night with the announcement of the 360 kind of left me cold.

Unlike QB there is only one level.

There will be a Do-it--yousrself level just like QB.

I'm also a bit wary

Yes it will have bugs like all programs.

Ask your self the following question: If I am a small business owner and want to process payroll either in-house or completely outsourced who would I trust more to help me accomplish this task, Intuit, Microsoft or ADP? I don't know about the rest of you but when I hear the word payroll I think ADP. A pitfall, I really don't think so. Partnering with ADP is an absolutely brilliant move.

Allan,

How did that show go? Any thoughts?

-- Leo