New Version of Quicken Released -- Last week, Intuit announced the availability of Quicken Deluxe '98 and Quicken Basic '98 for Macintosh and Windows. New features include easier account reconciliation and QuickEntry, a separate component of Quicken Deluxe, that streamlines entering routine daily expenses. The Deluxe version costs $59.98 and comes with a $20 rebate coupon for those who upgrade. The Basic version costs $39.95 and comes with a $10 rebate coupon for people who are upgrading. If you bought Quicken 7 after 16-Aug-97 directly from Intuit, you should automatically receive a free update; if you bought it elsewhere, contact Intuit to learn how to upgrade for $9.95.

The new version requires at least a 68030-based Macintosh running System 7.1 with 12 MB installed RAM (16 MB with Mac OS 8), 45 MB disk space, color monitor, and a CD-ROM drive. It seems that Mac Quicken users won't have access to some Internet communications capabilities of the Windows versions; an Intuit sales rep provided contradictory information when queried, and at press time we hadn't heard back from Intuit's PR department. Although we're pleased that Intuit continues to release Macintosh versions, we hope that in future years the company will also release Mac versions of products such as QuickBooks and Quicken Home & Business. [TJE]

<http://www.intuit.com/corporate/press_releases/ 091697.html>