Microsoft Money 2003 Financial Suite

Tidy up

The rest of the improvements mostly revolve around catching up and tidying up. The portfolio toolbar can now be customised for easier access to just the tools you want to see, plus you get built-in access to the FT 'yourmoney' website. If you have to manually compare downloaded transactions from your bank to those already in the software bank registers, this has been streamlined to allow for easier matching. Plus, you now get Digita's TaxSaver 2002 Deluxe tax return compilation software - just in time for the self-assessment deadline.

With this latest release, Microsoft hasn't moved the goalposts any distance, whereas the US release of Quicken 2003 has an improved interface and added investment features, which will bring it alongside the Microsoft application. Money 2003 has an even more cluttered home page, which might put the Intuit team slightly ahead on looks and usability.

In the final analysis, though, Money 2003 is still extraordinarily good value at £35 compared to £60 for Quicken 2002 Deluxe & Business (see Reviews, issue 93, p130). It also manages to pack in an amazing amount of personal finance management. There's little here for the upgrader, but the first-time buyer should certainly take a look.

Author: Tim Woodward