Intuit Disables Features in Quicken To Force Upgrades 617
Numerous people submitted a blurb from BoingBoing about Intuit disabling features in older versions of Quicken. Why the BoingBoing submitter and Mr. Doctorow are so upset about this I don't know; when you buy software that's dependent on a for-profit company to keep working, what do you expect?
Microsoft Money does this, too (Score:5, Informative)
Internet-based services available for two (2) years after activation of Microsoft Money or 1 September 2007, whichever is earlier. See the Microsoft Money Internet-based services policy http://money.msn.com/Money/2005/GBR/IBSP.asp [msn.com] for details.
If you don't upgrade, you'll be able to use the software as before, but not the Internet-based services (AFAIK).
I work at a bank (Score:5, Informative)
Microsoft Money on the other hand still works since it connects directly to the bank's OFX server. Although my bank only supports 2001 and newer, we have users that are actually connecting with Money 1999 with no problems.
You don't have to upgrade (Score:5, Informative)
I received a similar letter a few weeks back and immediately called my bank to find out if this was really going to affect my ability to use their online banking services. They told me that this will NOT cause any problems and I DON'T have to upgrade to continue using their online banking system. The only thing that I'll lose is my ability to Intuit's help desk, which I'll never do anyways.
Call your bank and check. You probably don't have to bother with it.
That is Incorrect (Score:5, Informative)
Quicken's Sunset Policy [intuit.com]
FAQ [intuit.com]
Intuit is not very smart (Score:3, Informative)
Well, it appears that Intuit did not learn their lesson, as this is likely to turn into another PR nightmare for them. How do companies become so dumb?
Re:official line? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:official line? (Score:2, Informative)
Try MoneyDance (Score:5, Informative)
I looked at some open source programs at the time, but the big draw for me to MoneyDance initially was it will automatically download transactions from my bank, and there's a great matching algorithm to stick the transactions in the right budget category.
Re:Whatever happened.. (Score:5, Informative)
Intuit in general are bastards.
Any time you try to import a text transaction file (QFX), the program calls home to see if the organization you downloaded from paid its "Quicken Tax".
When I called tech support because I was getting an error message when trying to import, Intuit told me that "my bank doesn't support Macs", even though I already had the QFX file.
Me: "I don't understand. I have the file, but Quicken won't import it."
Tech: "Your bank doesn't support Macs."
Me: "Why does my bank need to 'support' Macs? I have the text file, but Quicken won't import it."
Think how ridiculous it would be if Excel wouldn't import a CSV file until it called back to MS to verify that author paid an "MS Tax" (insert DRM/Palladium comment here)?
Anyway, I got around the issue by opening the file and changing the "Institution ID" to a bank that has "paid the tax". By simply changing a few characters in the file, Quicken happily imported it.
Re:What does the contract say? (Score:2, Informative)
It's under the Termination Provision:
Re:MOD RACIST PARENT DOWN (Score:5, Informative)
"Yellow journalism" refers to the use of yellow ink in the printing of an old sensationalist newspaper, The New York World.
It was brought to the pinnacle of sleaziness by William Randolph Hearst, who used his empire to destroy the hemp industry, foster anti-immigrant sentiment, and commit numerous other evils.
I realize it sounds racist, but it ain't.
Re:But, you are trusting a company you don't trust (Score:3, Informative)
I did last year after the DRM fiasco, and had no problems at all.
Re:Why not GnuCash? (Score:3, Informative)
*Retirement of Online Services for older versions of Quicken
In an ongoing effort to provide reliable high-quality products and services, Intuit periodically retires (also known as "sunsets") older versions of Quicken, thereby discontinuing Online Services & Live Technical Support for these versions.
Under this policy, the most current version of Quicken (currently Quicken 2005), plus the prior two versions, will be supported, subject to certain exceptions. Sunsetting older versions of Quicken allows us to focus resources on enhancing our products and providing support for more current versions, which are used by the vast majority of Quicken customers. The result: a better customer experience for millions of Quicken users.
When a Quicken product is scheduled to be sunset, Intuit will provide affected customers with advance notice, generally by means of this Web site. We update this Web site periodically, so please visit us again for more information as it becomes available.**
wouldn't be a problem if they published those sunset dates on their boxes - but guess again do they... "will work for 4 years" or something on a box would be fair, when that's exactly what they intend to do - it's not even about if the software would keep working, it's a built in(or coming from an update) death date that's PLANNED and has nothing to do with keeping them operational costing them(expect them costing in the way that they could try to force the client to upgrade.. extort money).
mods, hey, how about reading the story before moderating????
Re:Why not GnuCash? (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.intuit.com/support/quicken/sunset/ [intuit.com]
dunno how boing boing makes up stuff that appears on intuits site...
Re:MOD RACIST PARENT DOWN (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22yel
Parent Assumption Wrong, Article Correct (gasp) (Score:5, Informative)
Here is a the link, (from the article quoted in the Michael's story), to the Intuit statement:
http://www.intuit.com/support/quicken/sunset/ [intuit.com]
where Intuit states (amidst the spin doctoring):
Re:Irrelevant issue (Score:3, Informative)
From the Quicken Software License Agreement:
Your access may be limited from time to time, depending on the service provided by your internet service provider or your financial institution or other third party. You may be billed for these Online Services by your financial institution or other third party, not Intuit, and such financial institution or other third party may have its own service agreement which will govern the Online Services it provides. You agree to be responsible for all telephone charges associated with your Internet and Online Service usage. You may be required to register with Intuit or a third party in order to use Online Services. Your use of Online Services may be subject to additional terms and conditions. All Online Services are subject to change.
I see no mention of "perpetual use" there.
Re:And what alternative do you have? (Score:2, Informative)
The bank was FAXING customer financials to the junk yard owner for several years. He finally sued to recover the costs of fax supplies - and presumably effort.
Re:Whatever happened.. (Score:3, Informative)
There used to be a website about it, but I seem to have missplaced the link.
Expectations (Score:3, Informative)
Once I've purchased something, whether it's a truck or a piece of software, I expect it to keep working. If the stereo or the rear window defogger fail, I expect to be able to get them repaired (possibly at my expense). If the stereo and rear window defogger fail because Ford deliberately did something to turn them off, I expect to sue Ford's ass off.
If a feature of the software stops working due to a deliberate action of the vendor, I expect to call them up and have them turn it back on. Failing that, I expect to sue them, or join a class action suit.
If when I bought the software, the packaging and license clearly stated that the XYZ feature would only work for three years, that would be another matter.
Since we're bashing Intuit... (Score:4, Informative)
I was horrified to get a notice from Paytrust recently about them joining with Intuit. I assume they were bought by Intuit.
Intuit has gotten so anti-consumer over the years. I almost wish Microsoft had won the lawsuit between the two companies, just out of spite.
When the Quicken yearly upgrade routine began in the late 90's, I migrated to GNUCash, then evenually went to using a basic OpenOffice spreadsheet for my account handling. I had been a loyal, paying user since the DOS days.
I was a major Turbo Tax paying customer for many years, too. Then they pulled that stupid DRM scheme a few years back. I tried an alternative suggested by a Slashdot poster (Tax Act, I think?), but that was only for a year, as I felt it was an inferior product. The next year, I went to H&R Block, which I'll proabably continue to do until I can file a EZ form again (maybe in a few years).
I absolutely love Paytrust -- I manage all of my bills and loans with it. However, I'm drafting a letter to physically mail to them once I've converted all of my accounts to an alternative or back to the check and post office routine again. I must tell them that Intuit has proven itself to be anti consumer, so I can't in god faith remain with an affiliated company.
I doubt they'll take notice, though. Such a shame.
This is the result of "software as a service" (Score:3, Informative)
Imagine if you bought a car that relied on special gas that the manufacturer would stop producing in 3 years. Would you buy such a car?
Lee