QB2009 registration torture

Posted by BetaB4 on June 28, 2009, 1:38 pm

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It doesn't look like Microsoft Office Accounting is caught up yet in terms
of features etc., but it looks like they are trying to get there. Right
now, it costs roughly the same as QuickBooks, but with less features.
Meanwhile, QB has been pushing QB2009 with one-day discounts, and even
one-day "free" deals (after mail-in rebate) stores like Staples. So, maybe
they feel Microsoft chasing them.

I think that Microsoft should offer their Microsoft Office Accounting either
for free, or for like $25, or maybe for free with any paid add-on service
such as payroll. That way, they would build up a huge customer base, and
then as they improve the software, they will be able to compete with
Intuit/QuickBooks.

Haskel LaPort wrote:

> Also forgot Microsoft Small Business Accounting.

>> MYOB, Simply Accounting and Peachtree just to name a few.

Posted by dpb on June 28, 2009, 3:00 pm

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Haskel LaPort wrote:

> Also forgot Microsoft Small Business Accounting.

>> MYOB, Simply Accounting and Peachtree just to name a few.

...

>>> Unfotunately, they have an almost 100% share of the market ...

"A September 5, 2005 Business Week article said that QuickBooks had 74%
of the market. A June 19, 2008 Intuit Press Release said that as of
March 2008, QuickBooks' share of retail units in the business accounting
category reached 94.2 percent, according to NPD Group."

According to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickBooks>

That they have the lion's share is unquestioned; it seems they have
increasingly begun to utilize that circumstance since they achieved a
significant market share to make terms of use far more onerous to the
user and lucrative to Intuit. They obviously have to remain in business
but there's much of what they've done that seems to me to have no
justification _except_ to generate revenue.

--

Posted by Haskel LaPort on June 28, 2009, 6:01 pm

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> Haskel LaPort wrote:

>> Also forgot Microsoft Small Business Accounting.

>>> MYOB, Simply Accounting and Peachtree just to name a few.

>>>

> ...

>>>> Unfotunately, they have an almost 100% share of the market ...

> "A September 5, 2005 Business Week article said that QuickBooks had 74% of

> the market. A June 19, 2008 Intuit Press Release said that as of March

> 2008, QuickBooks' share of retail units in the business accounting

> category reached 94.2 percent, according to NPD Group."

> According to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickBooks>

> That they have the lion's share is unquestioned; it seems they have

> increasingly begun to utilize that circumstance since they achieved a

> significant market share to make terms of use far more onerous to the user

> and lucrative to Intuit. They obviously have to remain in business but

> there's much of what they've done that seems to me to have no

> justification _except_ to generate revenue.

Given that in the past Intuit gave away the product using the term
"onerous", may be a tad extreme. In any event generating revenue is the
reason they are in business.

> --

Posted by George on June 28, 2009, 8:06 pm

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Haskel LaPort wrote:

>> Haskel LaPort wrote:

>>>

>>> Also forgot Microsoft Small Business Accounting.

>>>

>>>> MYOB, Simply Accounting and Peachtree just to name a few.

>>>>

>> ...

>>>>> Unfotunately, they have an almost 100% share of the market ...

>> "A September 5, 2005 Business Week article said that QuickBooks had

>> 74% of the market. A June 19, 2008 Intuit Press Release said that as

>> of March 2008, QuickBooks' share of retail units in the business

>> accounting category reached 94.2 percent, according to NPD Group."

>> According to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickBooks>

>> That they have the lion's share is unquestioned; it seems they have

>> increasingly begun to utilize that circumstance since they achieved a

>> significant market share to make terms of use far more onerous to the

>> user and lucrative to Intuit. They obviously have to remain in

>> business but there's much of what they've done that seems to me to

>> have no justification _except_ to generate revenue.

> Given that in the past Intuit gave away the product using the term

> "onerous", may be a tad extreme. In any event generating revenue is the

> reason they are in business.

>> --

I doubt anyone is saying they shouldn't be able to generate revenue.
What folks resent is the inability to use the product they purchased
without a mandatory muscling session. I can't think of anything else
sold that way where you just can't politely refuse and be able to use
what you purchased.

Imagine going to the "intuit hotel". You make a reservation and pay with
your credit card you have stayed there before and they know you. Its a
long day and you walk up to the desk. Instead of being given your room
key/card you are told that it is mandatory for you to spend ten minutes
providing additional information about your travel habits, additional
personal information and you must listen to multiple sales pitches
before they hand you the room key. Would that work for you?

Posted by dpb on June 28, 2009, 8:06 pm

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Haskel LaPort wrote:

>> Haskel LaPort wrote:

>>>

>>> Also forgot Microsoft Small Business Accounting.

>>>

>>>> MYOB, Simply Accounting and Peachtree just to name a few.

>>>>

>> ...

>>>>> Unfotunately, they have an almost 100% share of the market ...

>> "A September 5, 2005 Business Week article said that QuickBooks had

>> 74% of the market. A June 19, 2008 Intuit Press Release said that as

>> of March 2008, QuickBooks' share of retail units in the business

>> accounting category reached 94.2 percent, according to NPD Group."

>> According to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickBooks>

>> That they have the lion's share is unquestioned; it seems they have

>> increasingly begun to utilize that circumstance since they achieved a

>> significant market share to make terms of use far more onerous to the

>> user and lucrative to Intuit. They obviously have to remain in

>> business but there's much of what they've done that seems to me to

>> have no justification _except_ to generate revenue.

> Given that in the past Intuit gave away the product

It's been quite some time since that occurred... :)

The problem generally isn't initial but recurring and upgrade costs.

> ... using the term

> "onerous", may be a tad extreme. In any event generating revenue is the

> reason they are in business.

Hey, it's usenet--ain't that the spot for hyperbole????

Sure, forget about service, etc. :)

I don't have a problem w/ Intuit making a profit; I have a problem w/
deliberately breaking a product's previous functionality removing
components in order to increase revenue...

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