Reviews of Spb's Finance Coming Out

[Janak Parekh]

Looks like people were really anticipating this program, as both <a href="http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=94">PDAGold</a> and <a href="http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=140">BostonPocketPC</a> have already published reviews of the program. In short, it seems both of them like the program very much. I've never been one to plan finances on my Pocket PC, but maybe I'll have to start playing with this solution, as it looks powerful enough to take care of my relatively simple finances.

[ikesler]

They both seem to like it............... but I agree that until the versions that sync with Money/Quicken........ the app isn't fully rockin! It does look good however, and I am considering it. I wonder how much the upgrade will be if you buy now, for the syncing version?

[hcbethel]

Can you import files from SPBQuick into this?

[Jason Lee]

I don't like ms money. It is a pain in the butt to use. The only reason i have ms money installed on my desktop is to back up pocket money. I don't need a powerhouse app to keep track of my checkbook.

This is the perfect solution for me. The only worry i have is that the data file is gonna get huge after some time. I don't want to waste all of my oooh soo precious space.

I think i will be needing this program. :D

[HOLLYWOOD_]

I love the idea that you can view your Budget with this software. As soon as the version that syncs with Money comes out, I will purchase.

[jasonc]

My only concern is that the current version with no synchronization is selling for $19.95. They're probably going to add at least $10 more for the ability to synchronize which would bring it up to $29. Kinda pricey for PocketPC software... that's almost as much as a full blown version of Microsoft Money (http://shopper.cnet.com/4007-5_9-0.html?tag=top&qt=microsoft+money&x=0&y=0).

[Mojo Jojo]

So far it seems like a nice program, certainly a couple steps above MS money for PPC. I'll keep my eye on it but I think a few more basic items would round the base register out a bit better.

What I am looking for would be this app with a few tweaks, like being able to decide which columns to show in the registry section. I am not too fixated on having the date shown all the time and would rather see longer payee names or other fields that I choose. WOuld also be cool if there was a purge function... so you can remove older transactions based on date.

Anyways if there are suggestions for other apps would be appreciated, but I will still keep my eyes on this one and see how it goes. =)

[jkendrick]

Can you import files from SPBQuick into this?

you can import and export via QIF which I assume Quick can do.

[jasonc]

I've been playing around with the app for a couple of days now and I too wish it had a few additional features:

* I wish it would display totals for the Spent and Remain columns under the Budget tab. I'm a budget freak and I like to know the total amount I have budgeted and how much left I've got left in my total budget.

* I wish it had the abilty to filter the reports based on a search string. You can choose individual categories, etc, now, but it would be cool if I should perform a search on "Walmart" for example and see how much I've spent there over the past month or so...

[Duncan]

Once the version that syncs with MS Money is out then I'll be very interested. Until then I'm afraid it's a big 'so what?' from me...

[jkendrick]

I've been playing around with the app for a couple of days now and I too wish it had a few additional features:

* I wish it would display totals for the Spent and Remain columns under the Budget tab. I'm a budget freak and I like to know the total amount I have budgeted and how much left I've got left in my total budget.

* I wish it had the abilty to filter the reports based on a search string. You can choose individual categories, etc, now, but it would be cool if I should perform a search on "Walmart" for example and see how much I've spent there over the past month or so...

Yeah, in my review I noted that the single most important filter for me is by PAYEE which is what you are describing. Never could figure out a way to do it in Finance and Spb never responded to my question about it.

[vassiliphilippov]

Regarding Money and Quicken editions:

there are three categories of people:
* People that use MS Money
* People that use Quicken
* People that do not use any desktop PC finance software

And each of these categories need a separate edition of Spb Finance. Sure, people who use MS Money need Spb Finance Money Edition not Spb Finance Stand-Alone Edition.

Current edition of Spb Finance is for people who want to keep track of personal finance data without desktop PC.

We work on Money and Quicken Editions now and will release them soon.

We also plan to add search by payee and total in budgets features in the next version.

Vassili Philippov
Spb Software House

[petvas]

I would all suggest to consider Cash Organizer Deluxe 2003. It is certainly the best and a bit overpriced...

[ikesler]

Regarding Money and Quicken editions:

there are three categories of people:
* People that use MS Money
* People that use Quicken
* People that do not use any desktop PC finance software

And each of these categories need a separate edition of Spb Finance. Sure, people who use MS Money need Spb Finance Money Edition not Spb Finance Stand-Alone Edition.

Current edition of Spb Finance is for people who want to keep track of personal finance data without desktop PC.

We work on Money and Quicken Editions now and will release them soon.

We also plan to add search by payee and total in budgets features in the next version.

Vassili Philippov
Spb Software House

So if a user needs the verision that works with Money/Quicken..... they should wait until then to purchase? Or can they upgrade with a lower/no fee?

[BTS]

Regarding Money and Quicken editions:

We also plan to add search by payee and total in budgets features in the next version.


That's great news! I was hoping to have a total on the budget screen.

That being said I have been giving this software a test drive. I really like it and find that MS Money is too bloated for my needs. On the Palm platform I used Quick Budget which interfaced with any number of finance programs.

SPB Finance now allows me to finally stop searching for an app to track my budget on the PPC. I'm not really needing they sync as I find that more and more my Toshiba is becoming my primary PC.

[dh]

I've been using the trial for a few days and I like it. I've tried all of the others but have always found them too much of a pain to use so I give up.

I'm not interested in synching with a desktop so this could have been designed with me in mind.

All I want is to be able to have a portable solution that is simple to use. So far this is looking great.

I must agree with the PDAGold guy that a good pint of proper beer is even better. I'd go for an Abbott or the ultimate, Tim Taylor's Landlord. (Wonder if they still make it). OK, or an Adnam's Broadside or a Pedigree or ........

[lmtuxinc]

I have also tried it out, and its much better than mastersoft money. I thought Cash organizer was to complicated for a pocket pc.

I would like to sync to my microsoft money file.

Alan

[adbosch]

Mastersoft Money handles repetitive transactions (aka standing orders / automatic entry of periodical fixed expenses and income e.g. monthly, yearly, etc. transactions). So does Cash Organizer (the Planner). I can't find this feature in Spb's soft.
This has always been a decisive factor for me in considering this kind of program, because lots (most) payments tend to be periodical and each 1st of the month I have to pay a small list of things.
Did I miss something in the evaluation version or is this feature really missing in SPB?

[jasonc]

I've used Cash Organizer a little bit.. I really didn't care for the cluttered interface. Yes, it has lots of features, but it seems that Finance has provided a framework that will expand easily for more functionality in future versions without cluttering up the interface. We'll see though...

[petvas]

I find Cash Organizer Deluxe great. I like the interface, it's meant for the advanced user and still it is quite simple for the novice user. It can be used as a standalone solutions or to sync with MS Money...